CWU Hosts 8th Annual Economic Outlook Conference

October 18, 2006

Ellensburg, Wash. - Economies ranging from Ellensburg to Ireland will be discussed at the 2006 Economic Outlook Conference at Central Washington University, presented by the College of Business (COB).

The eighth annual event will be held Friday, Oct. 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the new Student Union and Recreation Center Theatre on CWU's Ellensburg campus.

"This year's conference will again focus on key global, national and regional issues that may impact the economic vitality of the central region of Washington," says John Lasik, COB associate dean and conference organizer.

Three of the conference sessions are free and open to the public.

• At 10:10 a.m., Dr. John Mitchell, of the Portland, Ore., based M & H Economic Consultants and Western Regional Economist for U.S. Bancorp, who is also a frequent commentator on the regional economy and regularly publishes analyses and forecasts about the Pacific Northwest, will make the presentation, "Into Year Six - Fingers Crossed." It will focus on the past and potential performance of the central Washington economy in relation to national and global economic trends.
• At 1 p.m., Paul Sweeney, and economist with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, will present "The Reason's for Ireland's Miracle and its Unfinished Business," focusing on how that nation went from being one of Europe's poorest countries to one of its most prosperous in just 16 years." Sweeney is also the author of "The Celtic Tiger, Ireland's Economic Miracle Explained."
• And, at 1:40 p.m., Ted Barkley, Ellensburg city manager, and David Bowen, Kittitas County commissioner, will make a joint "Economic Development Update for Kittitas County."

For additional information, visit the COB Web site at www.cwu.edu/~cob or call 509-963-2933, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD 509-963-2143.

The conference is made possible through the generous support of Cashmere Valley Bank, the Economic Development Group of Kittitas County and State of Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

Contact: Lasik (509-963-2933/fax 509-963-3042/e-mail: lasikj@cwu.edu)