NOLA

North Olympic Legislative Alliance

The Clallam County EDC is currently facilitating the meetings for the North Olympic Legislative Alliance, established as a Clallam County community initiative in 2017. Email info@clallam.org for info on participation.

NOLA’s Mission is to advance the economic development, business prosperity, and quality of life for the people of North Olympic Peninsula region by providing input with a shared purpose and unified voice to our elected representatives and officials.

NOLA’s purpose:

To provide a forum for the discussion and review of issues of interest to the North Olympic Peninsula on a county-wide basis for each county;
To promote those established interests, desires and needs of the people of Clallam and Jefferson Counties to government and elected representatives;
To create a clear and concise legislative advocacy platform for each county to provide a unified community voice for each of our respective counties to our state and federal legislators and governmental agencies; and
To be an advocate for our communities in dealings with legislative, governmental and private entities upon those issues that the NOLA selects.

Organizational Guidelines for NOLA:

NOLA is nonpartisan and nonsectarian and takes no part in nor lends its influence or resources, either directly or indirectly, to the nomination, election, or appointment of any candidate for political office in city, county, state, or national elections.
NOLA will work to reach consensus (75% or greater) among its partners to determine which policy, action or law of any level of government that impacts the business community of Clallam County should be the focus of NOLA action. The results will be communicated to the public, government leaders, and elected representatives.
Participants in NOLA shall not represent the interests of PACs or special interest groups.
When issues arise that cannot easily be resolved by NOLA partners, they agree to table the topic to a future date for resolution.

Principles of Participation are incorporated in the NOLA process:

Partnership driven through expected involvement
Employ strategic thinking with a forward-looking perspective
Common sense for common good
Consistently provide clear and concise communication
Equally respect participants and the work they do
Be flexible, nimble and responsive to challenges and opportunities
Prioritization in the context of a future vision and plan

Process to develop top three priorities in Clallam County:

Six focused work groups will each develop up to four solution-based proposals. Those proposals will be then sent to all NOLA partners who will cull the list to the top three priorities.

The focused work groups are:

Business and Economic Development (includes Affordable Housing)
Health/Safety (Includes opioid addiction and homelessness)
Policy and Government
Transportation and Infrastructure
Natural Resources and Environmental
Workforce Development and Education

Partners of NOLA within Clallam County include representatives from:

Clallam County 3 Cities: Forks, Port Angeles and Sequim
Olympic Medical Center
Peninsula College
5 School Districts of Port Angeles, Cape Flattery, Crescent, Sequim, and Quillayute Valley
Clallam County PUD
Port of Port Angeles
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
Makah Tribe Hoh Tribe
Quileute Tribe
Clallam Transit
Olympic National Park
North Olympic Library System
Individuals with concerns for the county
Timber Industry Representatives
Community Bank Representatives
Automotive Dealer Representatives
Agricultural Industry Representatives
Real Estate Industry Representatives
Non-profits in the business, environmental and social services sectors
Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce
Sequim Chamber of Commerce
Forks Chamber of Commerce
Clallam Bay/Sekiu Chamber of Commerce
Peninsula Behavioral Health
Peninsula Housing Authority
Clallam County EDC
United Way of Clallam County
North Peninsula Builders Association
North Olympic Land Trust
Port Angeles Business Association
Port Angeles Downtown Association