Local News

When Richard Erickson came to Cathlamet 3.5 years ago, he had just retired from a business career in the Dallas, Tex., area to join his fiancee, Joan Harvey Chester, in her return to Cathlamet.
The Lower Columbia Economic Development Council was looking for a new executive director at the time, and people convinced Erickson to apply. Because of his similar economic development experience in Texas, he won the job.
“Now it’s time to really retire,” he said in an interview this week. “I originally planned to stay here two years. When (county Commissioner) Mark Linquist got ill, he asked me to stay on longer. When he passed away, the board asked me to stay another year to keep working on the projects we had in progress.”
Now is the right time to go. The Villa at Cape Horn, Joan’s bad and breakfast, is doing very well, he said, and she need his help there.
Erickson’s retirement is effective December 31. David Goodroe, a member of the Cathlamet town council, has been chosen as his successor.

Erickson said he feels his biggest accomplishment has been to get different community organizations and governmental entities working together “to bring the county back to what it was,” an economically vibrant county.
By creating good relationships with developers, the EDC has helped get $30 million worth of development on the ground, he said, and if the Cathlamet waterfront is redeveloped in the process of relocating the sewage treatment plant, that could be another $40 million development.
“Developers come here because they trust us,” he said. “I’m pretty proud of creating that trust.”
Erickson feels his most important project left undone is the development of a business incubator park. This park would provide work space and management advice for new business. The manufacturing could also be tied into the local high school vocational education program, thereby providing training in work skills and business operation.
“My replacement will continue that work; that project’s not dead,” he said.

Erickson acknowledges that his efforts haven’t always been popular. For example, his testimony in support of a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal has made him the target of criticism.
“I run everything by my board,” he commented. “They thought about it a long time and finally decided it offered potential economic benefits.”
Erickson led local efforts to obtain some initial benefits from the LNG plant developers, NorthernStar Natural Gas, for the plant would have an impact on county residents but provide no tax revenue as it would be sited in Oregon.
As a result, the company has agreed to provide $100,000 a year in funding for projects in the county while the project is under consideration; if the plant is approved and constructed, payments would increase to $500,000 a year for 40 years.

Members of the community and organizations and governmental entities need to plan for growth and development, Erickson said.
Erickson was part of the citizen group that worked on the update of the county comprehensive plan that was submitted to the county board of commissioners last year.
Although many people apparently don’t like the concept, the comprehensive plan should include recommendations for zoning, he said. This is the key for making sure a community has space for business, industry and housing for all income levels, he said.

Erickson said he has worked on a variety of plans for the EDC.
He plans to stay with the EDC as a member of its board of directors.
“My replacement, David Goodroe, has good skills in business development and management,” Erickson said.
“We have done a lot of studies and a lot of planning and we can expect that we have a very bright future in Wahkiakum County.”