New Vision established a goal this year to meet with 25 Western Washington businesses or company advisors such as realtors, venture capital firms, and others to discuss our Valley’s advantages for growing companies. To date we have met with 21 companies or business representatives.  

The results are good so far. 

“We have met with 15 companies and six realtors/developers”, said New Vision’s Lisa Smith. “As a result of these sales calls, we have at least four companies interested in Yakima County in terms of current or future investments.”

The companies meeting with New Vision represent varied industries. 

Five firms operate within the alternative energy sector, four are warehouse distribution firms, and a few others are suppliers to the local food processing industry. 

In some cases the sales calls have precipitated interest in Yakima Valley businesses. 

“We met with one company that is now talking with Amtech about producing some of their

components,” Smith said. “Another firm asked us to connect them with local trucking firms so they could address some of their unique logistical issues. 

“Our efforts are producing dividends and we are confident that we will make the rest of our sales calls by the end of 2009.”