Community Pride For Shopping: Reaction To Development Plan

As the City of Enumclaw weighs its options with its economic development plan, community members have ideas of their own about how to enhance the local business atmosphere.

After the Enumclaw Economic Development Strategic Plan was released, citizens responded on Patch with concern that the City may turn to "big box stores" like Walmart or Costco to boost the economy, which has affected Enumclaw less favorably than neighboring cities.

"Why can’t we just find a way to boost our downtown area as Leavenworth has done, or even for that matter Port Townsend, with their numerous small businesses?" Patch user Kimberly Fleming said. "There is a large mountain and ski resort right in front of us, why can’t we get that traffic here?"

Community Development Director Erika Shook said in a press release that the City does want to turn to local resources. For instance, the Economic Development Task Force suggested a buy local campaign and a feasibility study for agricultural products as strategies.

"If, as a community, we were able to create some community pride around trying to shop locally it can have a pretty amazing impact," Task Force member Charles Bender said.

Besides growing employment in local businesses, the Task Force suggested attracting more senior living communities and more tourists to Enumclaw. Increasing tourism would mean more hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts, as well as more activity at the Enumclaw Expo Center.

In the meantime, the City encourages residents to keep talking about how to find the balance between a strong economy and a unique community, preventing citizens from spending too much of their money elsewhere.

"Plain and simple, people develop shopping patterns and we need to establish a pattern in our direction," Patch user Hoke Overland said. "If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are got."

To learn more about this project or to provide comments, contact:
Erika Shook, AICP
Community Development Director
1309 Myrtle Avenue
Enumclaw, WA 98022
Office: (360) 825-3593 ext 5725
eshook@ci.enumclaw.wa.us