EVERETT — The state will have spent $7 billion to make it easier for people to get to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., including $665 million in Snohomish County.
Snohomish County officials are hoping to develop a largely volunteer network to convince those travelers to stop here along their way. And they’re also encouraging local businesses not to wait for opportunities to fall in their lap.
“The work is there for everything,” said Robert Boyd of Orca Creative Group Inc., a Woodinville firm that produces a number of products for events. “There are not enough resources in B.C. to deliver the games.
“If you’re just two guys in a welding shop, that’s two more welders than they have available. But you can’t just sit by and wait for it.”
Boyd, who lives on Whidbey Island, said his company has secured about $8 million in games-related work and is bidding on $12 million more in business contracts. He encouraged interested businesses to check out www.2010CommerceCenter.com for business opportunities in Vancouver.
Boyd was one of four panelists in a community forum called by Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon that was focused on organizing the area so it can benefit financially.
Reardon noted that 35 percent of the international visitors are expected to drive up I-5 to Vancouver, passing right through the county.
“How do we showcase Snohomish County?” he asked a crowd of about 70 people. “How do we do it so well that we continue to attract investment.”
Kim Bedier, manager of Comcast Arena at Everett Events Center, said she and others are already working hard to attract teams to train and practice in Everett or to attract related events here. She said she hopes next week to be able to announce a major figure skating event at the center and added that the facility may be considered as the site of a pre-Olympics event in speed skating.
“There will be more exciting news to come,” she said.
Russ East from the Washington State Department of Transportation talked about the $7 billion in road work, noting a big chunk is being spent in Everett to add lanes along I-5. The state will spend $70 million for more border crossing space, another $30 million to help speed people from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to I-5 and I-405 and $107 million for projects in the Bellingham area.
At the border itself, it will add 10 traffic cameras and new software to let travelers know how long the wait at the border is. It will also add a ferry run from Anacortes to Sydney, B.C., and an additional Amtrak run to Vancouver each day, East said.
Brett Magnan of the Tulalip Tribes said there clearly will be business opportunities for the Winter Games.
“We are the last stop, and we are the largest city just before the border,” he said of the Everett area. “People will be visiting us. I just see this as a fabulous opportunity for us all.”
The tribal government, which is building a new luxury hotel to be ready in June and is already talking about a second, embraced a cooperative effort to attract tourism.
Tribal members held a ceremony at the forum to bless the effort. Tribal artist James Madison was honored for development of the effort’s logo, which Madison said symbolized an elder telling his people to get together and celebrate for the event.
Zoran Rajcic, director of business operations for the Everett Silvertips, said he’s encouraged hockey teams from around the world to use Everett’s facilities for training camps before the games, but doesn’t expect to get any commitments before 2009.
And Boyd also suggested that people here look to make sure the Olympic torch travels through this area on the way to Vancouver as another way to stimulate interest.
“A tremendous amount of opportunity awaits us,” Reardon said.
Herald writer Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459 or benbow@heraldnet.com.
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