Cities, chamber join forces to hire economic development director

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, May 20, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

David Eatwell is the new director of economic development of the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce.

Contributed photo

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To describe his position, the West Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s new economic development director borrows a term from Malcolm Gladwell’s best-selling book, “The Tipping Point.”

“My role is to be the connector,” David Eatwell says. “I see my job as a person who puts people with needs together with people with resources.”

In a partnership between the cities of Cascade Locks, Fairview, Troutdale and Wood Village, the chamber selected Eatwell, 59, to fill its newly created post. The consortium collaborated with the chamber to fund the position, which is designed to strengthen existing businesses, recruit new businesses and spearhead the development of available commercial land in the region, says Chamber Executive Director Alice Freuler.

Eatwell most recently worked with the Puyallup (Wash.) Main Street Association since 2007. There he procured more than $320,000 in operational and project grants and initiated a facade improvement program to restore eight downtown commercial buildings.

“I think his experience is superb,” Freuler says. “His understanding of communities makes the right fit for an economic development position.”

A native of Lebanon, Eatwell has a background in community economic development and media production.

He was a student at St. Francis seminary, now the Springdale Job Corps, in Springdale, attended Willamette University and served seven years in the Air Force as a meteorologist and broadcast information specialist.

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