Lt. Gov. Denny Heck received top billing as the keynote speaker at the Clallam Economic Development Council’s annual gala on March 10, but it was Cynthia Malane who received two standing ovations when she accepted the Olympic Leader Award on behalf of her late husband, Ryan Malane.

“Ryan loved this community,” Cynthia Malane said.

“This recognition would have been very humbling for Ryan, and I know it would have meant a great deal to him.”

Malane, vice president of marketing and co-owner of the Black Ball Ferry Line, died June 13, 2022, at the age of 48 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle.

During the COVID-19 lockdown when MV Coho ferry operations were canceled for 18 months, Black Ball relied on its reserves and on grants to survive but continued providing medical insurance for its 120 employees.

“He fought hard in these last few years, not only to keep his company afloat, but also by helping on several different committees that kept this area in the minds of others on both sides of the border,” Cynthia Malane said.

“He did this so that this community can continue being a unique, international, business-friendly place that he and I loved to call home.”

The “Strength, Resiliency and Partnership” gala at the 7 Cedars Hotel and Casino in Blyn celebrated the achievements of businesses and individuals like Malane and highlighted the accomplishments of the EDC during the past year.

In addition to the Olympic Leader Award, EDC Champion Awards were presented to Port Angeles Hardwood for Business of the Year, which was accepted by plant manager Jeremy Weist, and to the North Olympic Healthcare Network, whose COO Jackie Lebihan accepted its Nonprofit of the Year honor on behalf of CEO Mike Maxwell.

The gala also featured the installation of the 2023 EDC board of directors and its chair Terry Ward, Sound Publishing vice president and publisher of the Sequim Gazette, Peninsula Daily News and Forks Forum.

Heck, who was a five-time state representative from the 17th district in Clark County and served as congressman from the 10th district around Olympia from 2013-2021, spoke to the challenges rural counties face in developing and maintaining vibrant economies that foster opportunities for business and offer well-paying jobs.

Three things, he said, were key for that to happen: A regulatory environment conducive to growth, from better access to capital to faster and more efficient permitting; promoting the importance of jobs in the trades and creating programs that train people for them; and solving the housing shortage.

“We need more housing of all kinds for all our neighbors everywhere, that’s the fact of the matter,” Heck said. “We are so far behind in supply, we’re going to have to do a lot of things over a long period of time.”

Heck said he was nonetheless optimistic the state’s housing problem could be solved during this Legislative session in Olympia.

“I personally think this session is going to end up being known as the year of housing,” Heck said. “They are doing incredibly good work.”

EDC Executive Director Colleen McAleer focused her remarks on the county’s assets, citing the wide variety of business, governmental and nonprofit communities, their strong leadership and their ability to work together. Those qualities are key, she said, to acting effectively and collectively to create economic growth.

“The people you meet in Clallam County have so many diverse experiences to share, from those who have grown up here to our friends who have recently moved here or retired here and/or started their own business and have volunteered in our communities sharing their expertise,” McAleer said.

“It’s my absolute favorite strength about Clallam County.”

Particularly important, McAleer said, was the ability to forge strong partnerships such as the collaboration among the EDC, EDC Team Jefferson and the EDC in Greater Grays Harbor that resulted in a $1.3 million grant from the state Department of Commerce to provide marketing and legal services, as well as provide bookkeeping training, to 250 small businesses in the three counties.

“This is one of my favorite programs that I’ve been involved with,” McAleer said. “This is just a win, win, win.”

McAleer introduced Kelly Blume, who was one of 20 applicants to receive funding through the grant to study bookkeeping.

“My plan from all of this is pretty simple,” said Blume, who is taking classes online through Peninsula College.

“It’s to start my own bookkeeping business that supports other small business people in the community and help them achieve their financial goals.”

The Clallam EDC is the county’s designated partner with the state Department of Commerce to support and promote economic growth, advocate for business development and entrepreneurship and work with community partners to support overall quality of life for residents.

For more information about the EDC, see clallam.org.