Palmer Board of Economic Development Honors Eight Businesses

Operating within the city carries some obvious benefits: more foot traffic and greater visibility in the core business district, police protection, utility access, and more. But choosing Palmer rather than the outlying area also incurs costs, such as levying and reporting sales tax, complying with more rules, and sometimes having to deal with urban afflictions that even small towns experience, such as vandalism or homeless people sleeping in doorways.

“They have a choice—they can go to the Butte or outside Palmer,” Ouzts explains. “We’re acknowledging people who invest in Palmer.”

Palmer Board of Economic Development member Janet Kincaid says the nominations are about recognition for businesses who help create the charm that attracts residents and shoppers to Palmer. A lifelong cheerleader of Palmer, Kincaid operates Colony Inn in the building that was the teachers’ dormitory during Palmer’s early days. At 92 years old, Kincaid notes that she still has an hourly job keeping books for Valley Hotel, owned by her daughter, and for Iron Horse Liquor Store within the hotel.

Kincaid doesn’t live in Palmer, but she touts the city’s benefits and belongs to several Palmer-based community groups, including the Board of Economic Development.

“It gives me a chance to participate in the city government without being a city resident,” Kincaid says.

She notes that the seven-member board’s mission is different from that of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, which champions businesses in the greater Palmer area. The Board of Economic Development is focused more on encouraging economic development within the city limits.

While the Board of Economic Development recognitions are new, the city regularly showers praise upon residents and property owners for other reasons. At its annual picnic, beautification awards are announced for residential and commercial properties, as chosen by the Palmer City Manager, and the mayor typically selects a citizen and business of the year.

The businesses recognized were not nominated through an application process. Community Development staff say strong candidates for future recognition include businesses that have recently grown, fostered business relationships, and demonstrated consistent dedication. The recognition falls into four categories: small businesses with fewer than eight employees, mid-sized businesses with eight to twenty employees, large businesses with more than twenty employees, and businesses without brick-and-mortar locations. All based in Palmer proper.

“It’s just kind of a recognition that, ‘Hey, you’re not operating in a vacuum. There are people aware of what you’re doing and pleased that you’re doing it.’” Kincaid says. “We so often forget how nice it is to be recognized.”