SPOKANE— The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR), chaired by Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen, will hold a meeting           co-organized with the International Trade Alliance (ITA) in Spokane.  Called “International Trade and Local Economic Development in the Inland Pacific Northwest”, the public hearing will take place on August 3rd from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Spokane City Hall Council Chambers, located at 808 West Spokane Falls Blvd.

The LCEDIR members and local legislators will attend the day-long meeting, in addition to Mayor James West who will make welcoming remarks.  A number of business and community leaders are expected to attend.  Executives of the International Trade Alliance, Spokane Economic Development Council, INTEC, SIRTI, AHANA, and the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce will present.  Area businesses actively engaged in international trade will address the panel in the afternoon, including representatives of the Spokane International Airport, Wagstaff, and Itron.  The day will end with a short tour for the delegation of Jones Double Reed Products, the Spokane-based leading manufacturer of double reeds for orchestral instruments.  

The ITA and its members are interested in increasing state legislators’ understanding of the Spokane region’s advantages in the global market and what might help or hinder continued economic development of the region.  “Many on the west side of the Cascades do not realize the diverse array of Spokane area companies involved in international trade and how important it is to our economy here,” says Roberta Brooke, executive director of the ITA.  “Trade is no longer just for the big businesses, it is for virtually any company, regardless of size, that has a product or service to market and a desire to expand.”

The International Trade Alliance is a trade promotion organization of the Spokane Region.  The ITA opens doors to international business opportunities for Inland Northwest companies looking to grow business in foreign markets. ITA’s mission is to develop and expand international trade for Inland Northwest businesses while enhancing the image and competitiveness of the region as an international community.

The LCEDIR is authorized by statute to study and review economic development issues, with special emphasis on international trade.  It is scheduled to meet in June, August and October during the 2004 interim, with one possible additional meeting.  The theme of the committee is “Looking for Solutions”, as it examines issues critical to Washington State’s economy.  For more information the please visit the Office of Lieutenant Governor’s website: http://www.ltgov.wa.gov.