Chamber Meets with Partners, Discusses Rural Development

The Chamber met with Congressman Derek Kilmer and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small during the duo’s tour of the Olympic Peninsula to visit with elected leaders and economic development professionals.

The February 14 meeting was held at Little Creek Casino Resort and highlighted issues such as capacity and technical assistance; workforce housing and inventory limits; infrastructure serving residential and commercial purposes, childcare, and more. There was some conversation about opportunities to identify and seek funding, the funding implications of the Build Back Better bill, and what steps can be taken to optimize fundability of projects. A priority for rural communities is to ensure that funding is allocated in an equitable way and not only reserved for shovel-ready projects or programs.

Congressman Kilmer stressed, “We want these infrastructure dollars to come here. If there’s something I can do to support you as you’re navigating some of these opportunities, don’t hesitate to reach out directly to me or my team. We want to help,” Kilmer said.

The Mason County itinerary also included visits to Mason PUD 3 project sites, a roundtable with community partners to discuss investments in expanding broadband, and a meeting with tribal leaders to discuss strategies to support and enhance government-to-government relations.

The Chamber makes it a point to be at the heart of important issues like workforce development, quality of life, and civic engagement. We are a convener of meaningful conversations. We have built strong relationships with business leaders, government officials, and community stakeholders. Access to these individuals gives us a powerful voice to represent our nearly 400 members and 10,000 employees on issues that matter. To learn more, contact heidi@masonchamber.com or call us at (360) 426-2021.