EVERETT — One of the Northwest’s largest electrical contractors will move its headquarters to Everett next year, leaving behind the company’s birthplace in Skagit County.
Valley Electric Inc. plans to move from Mount Vernon into a new 34,000-square-foot building in southwest Everett by March or April. The new headquarters will allow the firm to consolidate existing offices in Mount Vernon and Bothell, said Ernie Ward, Valley Electric’s owner and general manager.
"Our staff is fairly evenly split between Mount Vernon and Canyon Park," said Ward, who employs between 500 and 600 people. "Everett was as far north as we could get our people who live in Seattle to go, and as far south as we could get our Mount Vernon people to go."
Ward said most of his employees who live in Skagit County plan to continue working for Valley Electric despite their new commute. A number of his employees already live in central Snohomish County as well.
The company’s new building will be on Merrill Creek Parkway east of Hardeson Road in the Seaway Center area. Ward bought the property from Rinker Materials.
Ward and his wife, Patti, started Valley Electric in 1982 after moving to Skagit County from Indiana. While they will continue to live there, Ernie Ward and the city of Mount Vernon haven’t seen eye-to-eye in recent years over Mount Vernon’s plans to annex the industrial area that hosts the company’s leased headquarters. An expansion project for the business also contributed to tension with the city.
His troubles there weren’t enough to justify moving the business, but they were a factor, Ward said.
"I had been frustrated enough with the problems the city gave me that I considered it. It helped take the emotional tie out of it," he said.
About two-thirds of Valley Electric’s electrical projects are in King County, vs. a much lower percentage north of Everett. Add to that the chance to consolidate the two offices, and the move makes sense, Ward said.
"We’re really happy to have them here," said Lanie McMullin, economic development director for the city of Everett. "They have said they considered Everett in the beginning because of the friendly business atmosphere."
Ward said he’s found the city to be mostly reliable in working through the permit process for the new headquarters.
"I would not go so far as to say delightful, but they haven’t been obstructionist," he said.
Specializing in industrial and commercial electrical projects, Valley Electric has completed numerous major projects over the years in Snohomish County. The firm did all the electrical work in the Everett Events Center and for the remodels of both Mariner and Everett high schools
Other large projects Valley Electric has worked on include Safeco Field and the electrical work at the chemical weapons incinerator near Hermiston, Ore.
During the last fiscal year, the firm completed more than $80 million dollars worth of electrical work, Ward said.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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