The Port of Douglas County, located in the north-central
Washington city of East Wenatchee, said Feb. 18 that it has hired a Kittitas
County official as its new economic development manager.
Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce economic development
director Ron Cridlebaugh was selected from a pool of 19 applicants, including six
finalists who were interviewed for the post.
Cridlebaugh has held the position of executive director for
the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce, Ellensburg Business Development Authority
and Economic Development Group of Kittitas County. During that time, he has
assisted hundreds of small businesses.
Cridlebaugh’s experience also includes involvement in the
operation of the Ellensburg Business Incubator and MicroLoan Programs. The
incubator program nurtures small and start‐up businesses, while the
MicroLoan program provides small business loans to businesses that haven’t been
able to qualify for traditional financing.
Additionally, he has handled the business recruitment for
Kittitas County along with managing industrial properties owned by the
Ellensburg Business Development Authority and City of Ellensburg. He has also
has managed the Ellensburg and Kittitas County tourism programs and has guided
downtown revitalization projects.
“We hope to utilize his extensive experience in business
development and recruitment, downtown revitalization and collaborative work
efforts to move economic development forward for Douglas County and the entire
region,” Port of Douglas County Executive Director Lisa Parks said in a
statement announcing the hire.
Cridlebaugh’s expected to begin work at the port on March 17.
