Chelan leaders promote diversified economy and maintain the Chelan Valley is open for business

'Chelan is open for business,' reminds the city of Chelan on its website. So are local businesses that drive the economy in Manson, Stehekin and throughout the Chelan and Wenatchee valleys.

Forging the path forward amid a changing economy brought community leaders together this week to discuss best uses of lodging, or hotel-motel tax revenues paid by visitors to market the tourism-based economy. Potential changes to uses of agriculture lands and new agri-tourism land uses and a continued robust marketing strategy were among the ideas proposed at a Chelan County Commissioners, Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce hosted 'listening session' on Monday. The Chelan City Council received input from the Historic Downtown Chelan Association and others Tuesday night.

"How can we expand marketing and marketing support for those shoulder seasons (fall, winter and early spring) and keep working with the Chamber to fund them to do increased marketing," was one idea expressed, according to Chelan Mayor Erin McCardle.

"When we have a small business community dependent on tourism and we have a big smoke event, a fire event, how fragile that (tourism economy) really is," said McCardle on KOZI Community Connection. "Tourism is down quite a bit in the month of August, that's our second largest revenue generating month."

Diversifying the economy is in focus.

The Chelan City Council has applied for a Washington State Department of Commerce Community Economic Revitalization Board grant of up to $75,000 to help fund the development of an economic diversification strategy.

"Let's plan long term, let's come up with a strategy that makes sure that we're ready to pivot," said Chelan City Administrator Laura McAloon. "(So) we're not so reliant on one form of revenue."

"Chelan’s economy is built on a strong, diverse foundation. While tourism remains a vital engine, employment data shows significant strength across healthcare, agriculture, education, and construction—sectors that support year-round stability and long-term resilience. Strategic investments in infrastructure, land use, and workforce development are unlocking new possibilities across the region," proclaims the city on its website.

"We are a tourist town," shared Historic Downtown Chelan Association (HDCA) Executive Director Aimee Sheridan. "It's (tourism) currently the bread and butter until potentially a diversification of our economic engine. We need to be marketing, like any brand would market. You can't stop marketing because then people make other choices."

"We need to really support that work that the Chamber is doing in terms of tourism marketing," Sheridan added. "Making sure we're doing the right kind of marketing so that our businesses can stay open, employ people, generate sales tax for city services, and continue to make our valley quality of life great."

HDCA's Economic Resilience and Disaster Readiness program promotes a five-track initiative built to help downtown Chelan merchants stay strong through wildfire smoke seasons and strengthen year-round ties between downtown and the people who live in the Lake Chelan Valley.

The program also includes digital marketing support for local businesses, a locals-first “Love Where You Live” campaign, and ChelanShops.com, a directory that connects residents and visitors to downtown businesses online.

The Chelan County Commissioners spent part of this week’s legislative meeting discussing the potential benefit of modifying land use regulations.

"Providing an opportunity for agri-tourism as part of the economy," commented

Chelan County Commissioner Shon Smith. "We are primed, we are ripe for it. I think it would be a good opportunity for us to take a look at here in the real near future, what other counties are doing."

"Especially with our resource lands, commercial-ag resource lands," added Commissioner Kevin Overbay. "What can and can not be done, (under terms of the Washington State Growth Management Act). How we do it and where we do it, while still protecting the private property rights of neighbors."

Commissioner Brad Hawkins shared that the wine industry "would like to be able to host events and serve food and have concerts and weddings, and when you put all of that together, threading that needle so there's no impacts to adjacent property owners as well as meeting the land use standards for agriculture purpose."

Agri-tourism, or what some may call commercial agriculture and tourism based development links agricultural production or processing with tourism to attract visitors to a working farm, ranch, or agricultural business.