September 15th Tuesday Roundtable- economic indicators

It's been a while since we heard from Steve Lerch, Executive Director and Chief Economist at the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council on the state of the economy in Washington. The pandemic drags on, and many in port positions around the state want to know what the implications on the economy might be.

This Tuesday we continue to expand our focus on the economy and opportunities by taking a look at two businesses important to ports in Washington: the current state of agriculture in Washington and how are small businesses faring through the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve invited two dynamic speakers to talk to us:

• Rianne Perry, International Marketing Manager with the Washington State Department of Agriculture will update us on tariffs and the status of phase I trade agreement with China and give us a snapshot of how agriculture and food processing industry is responding to COVID-19. She will also update us on what WSDA is learning as they refresh their marketing efforts.

• Patrick Connor is the Washington State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). NFIB’s Research Center has produced a monthly Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) report, and its Small Business Optimism Index, since 1986. In addition, the Research Center has been closely tracking the impact of the coronavirus, and the government’s response to it, on small businesses, releasing nearly a dozen surveys – and counting – since the pandemic began. Patrick will provide an overview of recent findings that may be of greatest interest to port districts and their tenants.

Please join us as focus in on the how businesses vital to ports' mission are performing in this turbulent time.