What does the future hold for downtown Clinton? Are its economic glory days gone forever or will it see a commercial resurgence and a return to prosperity?
It’s a question community leaders have struggled to answer for years, and they’ve made strides in identifying solutions and long-term strategies to combat the area’s steady economic decline. But, ultimately, we believe no effort can succeed without the ongoing support of area residents and property owners. Clinton’s fate rests in all of our hands.
Functions such as Clinton Future Search Conference, and organizations like the Clinton Community Council and chamber of commerce have worked hard to turn things around. They’ve not only brought the conversation of revitalization to the forefront, but their efforts have seen the birth of the seasonal Clinton Thursday Market, and the forging of partnerships and levied support from government, such as the Port of South Whidbey.
While the port is currently working on a market study to identify industries most likely to succeed in Clinton, many of the collective efforts so far have focused on slowing ferry traffic — fancy flashing radar speed signs and lately the community council’s hopes for a roundabout on Highway 525, the busy state route that bisects the town. Improving the area’s walkability is a worthy goal indeed, but it’s not a fix-all solution.
To be successful, commercial property owners and area residents must play a greater role in their own salvation. Downtown is currently peppered with vacant storefronts, some of which are in key locations, and nothing could warn prospective business owners away more than a string of empty commercial spaces. They’re a cancer, a warning sign that screams “Don’t invest here, Clinton is closed.”
Getting property owners to the discussion table and finding ways to help them attract new businesses is an essential key to unlocking the area’s economic success.
Clinton has been graced recently with some brave new businesses, however: Blueschool Arts, Make Whidbey and South Island Crossfit, which recently moved from Freeland, to name a few. If South Whidbey residents want to see the area rebound and return to a state of commercial relevance, the courage of entrepreneurs must be answered with community patronage.
A business that relies on charity support will never survive — they must have something people want — but we all make choices about where to spend our hard earned dough. So if you care about Clinton’s fate, choose to get a brew or burger at Cozy’s, buy a car at one of the used car lots instead of heading to Everett, or learn some cool moves at Armstrong’s Taekwondo.
Working to slack the ever-constant 30-minute ferry traffic tide will undoubtedly make a difference in Clinton’s economic recovery, but the future also depends on each and every one of us.
