“I moved to Wenatchee in 1990 and served as an editor and reporter at the Wenatchee World Newspaper for about 20 years,” says Steve Maher, project coordinator at Our Valley Our Future. “The thing I’ve noticed over the years is that there is a lot of collaboration and working together that goes on here. I would say it’s almost part of our DNA when it comes to working together and collaborating.” This collaborative foundation extends back to 1892 when the Great Northern Railroad first connected the valley to national markets, followed by the construction of hundreds of orchards, canal systems, and two Columbia River dams. The geographic constraints that define Wenatchee have paradoxically become its greatest asset. “We live in a geographic bowl so you can pretty much see everything, which creates this familiarity and an environment I believe in where people can focus and work together,” Maher explains.“Here, you know everybody.” This physical intimacy has nurtured a culture where major infrastructure projects conceived decades ago continue to move forward, exemplifying remarkable institutional continuity that sets Wenatchee apart from communities where political cycles typically derail long-term planning. THE PARTNERSHIP MODEL THAT WORKS Modern economic development typically pits cities against private developers in adversarial relationships over permits, zoning, and community impact. Wenatchee has inverted this dynamic, creating what amounts to a regional consortium where public agencies, nonprofits, and private investors share both risks and rewards. The model has attracted national attention as communities nationwide struggle with infrastructure funding and development coordination. “The partnerships and the collaboration are key and unique to the Wenatchee Valley and to the city of Wenatchee,” says Laura Gloria, the city administrator. “Because of our size, we rely heavily on our partners here in the area, including the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority, Our Valley Our Future, the Wenatchee Downtown Association and the YMCA in co- creating economic development and quality of life. We can’t be responsible for all of it.” This interdependence has produced tangible results, 207 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08 WENATCHEE, WA
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