by An international spotlight will focus on Des Moines during the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010 in China, which Mayor Bob Sheckler will attend Aug. 31-Sept. 3.
“I just got confirmation that I will be allowed, as requested, to make a speech on behalf of the city promoting local development,” Sheckler told The Waterland Blog in an Aug. 19 interview.
“This excites me and challenges me. Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime, if ever. These are people who represent Fortune 500 companies,” Sheckler said.
“Des Moines, with a population of 30,000, has the opportunity to be promoted before all these international investors and developers in China.”
He added that “a lot of my ability to even go there is due to the city council’s support and help in paying for my trip.” The Des Moines Rotary Club also donated $500 to help with his airfare.
The World Emerging Industries Summit will be held in China from Aug. 31-Sept. 3.
Referring to his successful China trip last November – which he paid for himself and which landed a multi-million-dollar hotel for Des Moines on Pacific Highway S. – Sheckler noted, “If it wasn’t for that trip I wouldn’t have been invited [to this summit].
“This trip is based on relationships I built with government officials and investors I made then. Otherwise this invitation wouldn’t have come my way.”
That invitation came from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.
Sponsored by the Chinese government, the summit – “New Industrial Revolution & Green Economy” – will feature business talks on investment, cooperation and technology exchanges, and promotion of international economic cooperation in emerging industries.
International political leaders, ministers and elected representatives of federal, state, provincial and local governments, CEOs, representatives of industry and related international organizations, and top economists will attend.
“There won’t be a lot of time for one-on-one discussions, which makes my talk all the more significant,” Sheckler said.
Topping his list as he promotes the city will be the planned 89-acre Des Moines Creek Business Park just west of Pacific Highway north of S. 216th St. Des Moines will regulate land use planning and zoning since the business park is within its city limits.
The property is owned by the Port of Seattle, which supports Sheckler’s upcoming efforts in China to attract businesses to this planned development.
He will also highlight opportunities for commercial and residential development in the downtown Marina District, especially along Marine View Drive and 7th Ave. S.
“And there remain a lot of places for development along Pacific Highway in addition to the planned Waterview Crossing project and the 300-room hotel with a four- or five-star true Chinese restaurant.”
Sheckler recalled that the hotel originally was going to be built in Tacoma until he developed an international business relationship with its Chinese investor.
Earlier, he said the city’s efforts to attract international developers and investors have “to be a two-way street. We can’t just take and not give. They are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.
Chinese investors like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them,” Sheckler added. “And the marina is a huge attraction to them.”
I think Mayor Sheckler’s trip is just marvelous. I can’t understand the controversy over the city paying part of the airfare. If he turns this trip into dollars for Des Moines, what’s the big deal? How many other mid-sized Washington cities are sending their mayors to china for a summit? You go Mayor Bob. We’ll look forward to hear what you accomplished on this trip.
I agree with you Jan. Des Moines has to do something to get out of its rut! I mentioned in a previous posting I thought the council should pay for a subsequent trip should the opportunity arise. Thank you Mayor Sheckler for pursuing this potential investment venture!
WEvery time his previous trip is mentioned, there is a noted mention that he presumably paid for the trip himself. Why should Des Moines taxpayers pay for it this time? Someone should accompany the mayor to take offical notes of transactions or promises made, or monitor alcohol consumption – we might just get to pay for an unneeded restaurant or town center later on. I think this rube is getting taken, (and wined and dined), and the taxpayers will have to pay for it. Do other cities underwrite their council members travelling to foreign countries, or is Des Moines just some sacred ground that the Chinese seek to invest in? “Great views”, oh, please!
Gavroche’s comment is, as Mr. Spock would say, “highly illogical.” First, a local elected official who went to China at his own expense last year and brought home a hotel for the city is “getting taken”? Second, the last time I checked a list of invitees to a major international economic summit, the hosts were not given to inviting “rubes.” Third, while I am no whiz at math, the suggestion that “someone should accompany the mayor” to track his every move defies brilliance; i.e., it is patently absurd. Even if made tongue-in-cheek, it defies any bearing on reality: should the city really send a traveling companion to monitor this elected official at a cost of about $6,000? (Remember, the only cost to Des Moines is part of Bob Sheckler’s airfare; as an invitee, his expenses in China are paid for by the hosts.) While there are issues that bloggers on this site can disagree with the mayor on, this does not appear to be one of them – unless potential new investment in and development for the city (which, in fact, does have good viewes that investors do value) is seen as a threat, and not an opportunity.
Wow Ralph, are you still on the City’s payroll……sure sounds like it.
Not at all, Stupid. It is useful, however, to inject a modest dose of common sense into the dialogue of certain bloggers who appear to wear blinders and/or appear to oppose efforts by the city to attract investors and encourage development – and thus appear to have little if any interest in the economic revitalization of downtown Des Moines, which will come only from the private sector.
This footnote: Since when did advocating the attracting of investors and encouraging development to revitalize local economic activity – in any city – become confused with “being on the City’s payroll”? This is what the long-defunct Des Moines Chamber of Commerce should have been doing … it is what anyone in the Highline area and beyond who gives a damn about their city and this region should be urging their city councils to do … and it is what Des Moines residents, regardless of opinions of individual council members, should be working together to do rather than instead of engaging in round after round of seemingly endless petty bickering. I’ve been reporting (and editing stories about) Des Moines for 10 years and in this respect, the more things change the more they really do stay the same.
Ralph, I couldn’t agree with you more. Isn’t this blog’s name “Waterlandblog”?? When was the last time we actually had the Waterland festival? If we want to get back to the glory days, then revitalization is in order!
Byron – A good point indeed. The recently restarted Destination Des Moines organization is, as I understand things, in the process of planning a big Waterland Parade event for next summer. All privately funded including police services, etc. That will be a good first step on the event side of the ledger – which, in turn, should benefit from local revitilization efforts as well as help encourage them by increasing a “sense of community.”
As long as I’m here: Tom – I think if Chinese developers want to invest in Des Moines, the welcome mat should be out. Investment dollars are few and far between in this lagging economy that stands on the brink of a double-dip recession.
Ralph, I agree with your earlier comments as well. Your comment to Bryon however is just a little misleading. As you know and I have made very clear I do not support the parade in this economy with ANY cost to the city. The parade itself, not my cup of tea but if others want it so be it and they can pay for it. But reveal the whole truth….Destination Des Moines (a really great group of people by the way) has received most of its funding from the city. I think they call that pass through spending. And although I support the Mayor on his China trip I find it odd he and others can say there will be a parade when I don’t believe the full City Council has voted on the matter as of yet. Perhaps some members on the Council who I know read the WLB can comment on this.
hmm I don’t know… have you ever worked with a Chinese company? The only people that Chinese hotel/restaurant will benefit is Chinese People (when was the last time you saw non-Chinese working in a Chinese establishment?), and seeing as how we don’t have all that many Chinese i Des Moines… well, I dont see it benefiting us much… unless we want to start a China town in Des Moines.. otherwise most of the workers will come from Beacon Hill!
Nope, I dont think a Chinese Hotel/Restaurant will benefit us much (we already have some Chinese restaurants in downtown)… Anyways..why do we want investment? I like Des Moines as is(Downtown could use a little help though)…
I agree that investment is a good thing and that Downtown is in sore need of it… but (at the risk of sounding like a xenophobe) Chinese investment? Is that really a good thing?
Why go to China, when he could be trying to lure Dicks Drive In!?!?