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Ready, Respond, Recover:  Business Disaster Preparedness

PRESS RELEASES

• Ready, Respond, Recover Trains More Than 50 Area Businesses in Disaster Preparedness Strategy

• Conference on October 14, 2009 in Long Beach

• Local Non-Profit Awarded Disaster Recovery Grant
   
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Ready, Respond, Recover Trains More Than 50 Area Businesses in Disaster Preparedness Strategy

Pacific County EDC Conferences Give Back to the Community with Expertise and Donations

November 20, 2009 - Raymond, WA — As the country faces a flu breakout, and with winter storms approaching, the Pacific County Economic Development Council (EDC) recently took steps to help prepare businesses in Pacific and Wahkiakum counties for the unexpected. More than 50 businesses were trained in key elements of disaster preparedness at events held in both South Bend and Long Beach, Washington. Business leaders also received hands-on coaching to create their own business resiliency plans.

Doing its part to support the community, the Pacific County EDC is donating a portion of each conference registration fee back to the community. More than $450 will be given to local food banks, including Willapa Harbor Food Bank, Peninsula FISH Food Bank, and Reachout Food Bank, to help those in need today, and to help the community in case of future disaster.

"Business owners are so focused on day-to-day operations, critical disaster planning can sometimes seem out of reach," notes Cathy Russ, executive director of the Pacific County EDC. "We appreciate all the experts who shared their insights and made a difference in making our community more resilient in times of disaster. We also want to give special thanks to ShoreBank Pacific for sponsoring ten local businesses for this program."

The Ready, Respond, Recover Business Disaster Preparedness conferences included expert insights on critical planning issues such as communications, safety, finance, and information technology. Conference presenters included: Jon Kaino, Pacific County Commissioner; Wendy Freitag, Washington State Emergency Management Division; Randy Dennis, Dennis Company; Mike Peroni, Boistfort Valley Farms; Stephanie Fritts, Pacific County Emergency Management; John Didion, Pacific County Sheriff; Andy Mesojednik and Kris Liedtke, Bank of the Pacific; Keleigh Schwartz, beachdog.com; Shelly Pollock and Kenny Osborne, NW Insurance & Financial Services; Lesley Ferguson, Farmers Insurance; and Chief Flint Wright, Long Beach Police Department.

The Ready, Respond, Recover Business Disaster Preparedness conferences and training sessions were made possible through an EDA Disaster Recovery Planning Grant, and with the cooperation of the Columbia-Pacific Resource Conservation and Economic Development District (Col-Pac).

About the Pacific County EDC

The Pacific County Economic Development Council is a private non-profit organization that works in part with Washington State Department of Commerce, Pacific County, the four cities, the four ports, PUD No. 2, Pacific Transit System, and private business. More information about the organization and for tips on disaster preparedness visit www.www.pacificedc.org.

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Conference on October 14, 2009 in Long Beach

Scholarships Available to Area Businesses Thanks to ShoreBank Pacific

Long Beach, WA – After its first, highly successful conference last June, the Pacific County Economic Development Council (EDC) is presenting another 'Ready, Respond, Recover' conference to help Pacific and Wahkiakum County businesses prepare for and survive unexpected man-made and natural disasters. The conference will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at the Chautauqua Lodge in Long Beach, WA from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

Statistics show that almost 40% of small businesses that close due to a disaster event never re-open. 'Ready, Respond Recover' will provide expert advice to business owners and managers on critical issues like facility security, communications and finance. The Pacific County EDC is also providing free one-on-one coaching to business owners and managers that attend, to help them develop their own plan of action to survive disaster—whether a storm, fire, earthquake, vandalism, epidemic or an accident.

Registration for "Ready, Respond, Recover" is only $25 if payment is received by September 18, 2009, and $35 thereafter. Thanks to the generous support of ShoreBank Pacific in Ilwaco, the Pacific County EDC is able to offer free registration to the first ten businesses that register for the event.

"While we all like to think 'It can't happen to us', the winter storms of the last few years have shown that just isn't true," says Dustin Mead, VP Commercial Relationships Officer, ShoreBank Pacific. "Although business owners are already too busy running day-to-day operations, disaster planning is critical. An effective business disaster preparedness plan can help protect not only your assets, but also the safety of your family, employees, customers and community. We're pleased to support the Pacific County EDC's 'Ready, Respond, Recover' conference with ten free scholarships to help our local businesses be more resilient when disaster strikes."

Ready, Respond, Recover is made possible through an EDA Disaster Recovery Planning Grant, and with the cooperation of the Columbia-Pacific Resource Conservation and Economic Development District (Col-Pac).

More information about the event is available online at www.pacificedc.org/conference.htm, or call 360-875-9330 for north Pacific County and 360-642-9330 for south Pacific County.

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Local Non-Profit Awarded Disaster Recovery Grant

Columbia-Pacific RC&EDD (Col-Pac) was awarded an EDA Disaster Recovery Planning Grant in
the amount of $250,000. This investment will help minimize economic dislocations resulting from
natural and economic disasters improving responsiveness and effectiveness in the recovery
process.

Pacific County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) will participate in the grant as a recipient
of $45,000. The PCEDC will host two one-day Business Resiliency conferences for nonprofits
and businesses of Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties. This opportunity will bring experts
from the business continuity venue to provide valuable information to businesses to make the
necessary decision for a comprehensive business resiliency plan for successful business
ventures.

Upon the conclusion of the Conferences, the PCEDC will conduct a survey with businesses to
further data collection regarding their needs. Once needs are identified, PCEDC will host 1-4
follow-up workshops to continue the education on business resiliency and assist with plan
development.

By the end of the project, PCEDC will develop a tool kit on business resiliency and preparedness
to be distributed to businesses. The tool box materials will be posted on the PCEDC
website for greater business outreach.

This is what great partnerships are all about, said Cathy Russ, Director of PCEDC. Col-Pac is
a four-county regional partnership working with local Economic Development Councils assisting
with economic development.

North County phone: 360-875-9330
South County phone: 360-642-9330
Fax: 360-875-9335
edcpcog@pacificedc.org.

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