Auburn is aggressively carving out a place for itself in the changing global economy.
Having already established productive economic, educational and cultural ties with Tamba, Japan, civic and business leaders have opened talks with dignitaries from Guanghan, China, and Pyeongchang, South Korea, host of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
“We’re in this global economy, whether we like it or not,” said Duanna Richards, neighborhood programs manager/Sister City liaison for the City of Auburn. “Either you join it or be left behind.”
The latest whirlwind tour took Auburn representatives to South Korea and Japan to explore the possibilities.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Linda Elliott, vice president of the Auburn Washington Sister City Association, which joined City and business leaders on the October visit – three days in Pyeongchang and three more in Tamba. “It can bring some wonderful things to our community. … It will be good for us.
“We made some successful connections,” Elliott added. “The personal connection is really important … for us to get to know them, and for them to get to know us.”
Similar in size, nature, character and need, each city hopes to help the other, whether the purpose is educational, cultural and financial.
Mayor Pete Lewis signed a letter of intent to establish a friendship exchange with Guanghan last week. Councilmember Sue Singer will serve as chairperson for the the Auburn/Sichuan Friendship Exchange Committee.
The Chinese have expressed interest to invest here and along the West Coast. China is not in the business of buying City Hall, but their pitch to expand foreign trade has piqued the growing interest of small-town USA.
“What we found is they need to import a lot of things … nuts, fruit, Washington apples,” said Doug Lein, the City’s economic development manager who made the trip overseas. “It’s all about connectability … building relations.”
China isn’t the only market.
The City also signed a contingency agreement with Pyeongchang and inked a formal memorandum of understanding with Tamba’s regional representations to further business, educational and cultural exchange.
Auburn developed an Italian Sister City relationship years ago and is reestablishing ties with the country. Mola di Bari might join the Auburn lineup one day.
The Auburn-Tamba partnership has a longer history, more than 40 years, and was built on the trusting foundation of a strong youth ambassadors program. That relationship has since made deeper inroads with business.
Lately, Lein and Co. are brokering deals with ambitious Japanese merchants. To wit, a Tamba commercial flower company wants to test the market here. A Tamba fishing gear factory is negotiating with an Auburn business to become the national distributorship for its products. A high-end Matcha green tea producer wants to export and fill an Auburn warehouse.
A saki brewery has had positive conversations with Jim Wilson, owner of the Auburn Wine & Caviar Co., about doing some trade.
The idea behind all this is to spur commerce and jobs.
“Everything we try to do is to help local companies become more profitable, do more business and hire people,” Lein said. “It’s a trickle-down effect. We want to put more people to work.”
Especially now. With sagging sales tax revenues forecast in a recession-pinched state, outside business can only help.
Auburn continues to extend a handshake.
Just as the Lions Club helped shape the Tampa relationship, Green River Community College remains a strong partner in a promising China tie-in. The college has a large contingent of foreign students from China and supports a solid aviation program, similar to Guanghan.
The connection already is there. So too is the mutual understanding that one city, however far away, can help the other in many ways.
Tamba, Guanghan and Pyeongchang are willing to deal. Auburn is willing to listen.
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The Auburn Washington Sister City Association annual membership meeting is 6 p.m. Nov. 2 at the City Hall Council Chamber, 25 W. Main St. Public invited to learn more about the program. Volunteers needed. PowerPoint presentation of group’s recent trip overseas. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Duanna Richards, the nonprofit board’s secretary, at 253-931-3099.
