Columbia River Economic Development Council briefs Clark County on $1.7B in wins, Apex program and land‑study rollout

My name is Eric Holmes, and I am serving as the interim president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council, Holmes said as he opened the presentation to the Clark County Council on Nov. 5, 2025.

CREDC described itself as the state‑designated associate development organization (ADO) for Clark County and the surrounding region, working as a public‑private connector to recruit businesses, retain and expand existing employers, and provide programs and policy input. Abby Russell, CREDC policy committee chair and operations manager at the Port of Richland, said the organization coordinates with the Washington Department of Commerce and serves Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties.

CREDC officials told the council the organization has recorded several multi‑year wins and measurable results. Over the last four years, CREDC reported it attracted about $1.68 billion in capital investment, about 3,900 jobs and 42 project wins; recent projects include nearly $300 million in capital investment since 2021. CREDC also cited marketing work such as the “Just North” campaign and said its activity generates indirect business‑to‑business…