I admit it, I am a bit biased with regard to local businesses succeeding. I have written many times on shopping locally and supporting our local businesses. But recently I have more to take to heart as the city, along with its Economic Development Commission and the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce, hosted a gathering of North Bend business people and talked about the issues facing them. The meeting, a preface to an upcoming economic summit, was a good thing and will lead to better communication between the various business interests.

It was good to see the city staff take an interest in the business community by attending the event, and I also applaud Councilman Mark Sollitto and Mayor Joan Simpson for attending. It can sometimes be tough to listen to concerns about something one has invested so much of themselves in, but in the end the result will be a better business climate within North Bend.

So as a first step toward improved relations there were several areas that were discussed. Opening lines of communication was most important, including the realization that we are still a small community and a phone call can go a long way toward working through an issue.

Unfortunately, within King County, and the state for that matter, everything has been so formalized. And guess what? Formality costs money. Seattle and the Puget Sound region may be wrestling with whether the Boeing 7E7 will be built here but North Bend is wrestling with whether they can attract livable wage jobs or a new hotel. Survival, in both cases, depends on the success of open communication.

And we all need to quit making excuses. Yes, there is a water moratorium thanks to the state’s inability to get the Department of Ecology to work it out, but there are things the city, along with the EDC and chamber, can do to improve the local economy. One effort that is now underway is the southern gateway project, which will enhance the entrance to North Bend from Interstate 90. We can also work toward the Comprehensive Plan’s annexations along the city’s urban growth boundaries.

But most importantly, the first steps are being taken and for that we should all be thankful for local businesses, the EDC, the city and the chamber.