February 3, 2014

The City of Langley will host artists, musicians and performing artists at a networking luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Langley Methodist Church at 3rd and Anthes Streets in Langley.

The arts are appreciated and featured in the daily life of the “Village By The Sea.” Langley Mayor Fred McCarthy has a 12-month plan for connecting with a different sector of the economy each month and February is the month of focus on Artists and Entertainers.

The plan includes visits by city council members and the mayor to businesses or performance venues throughout the month. During visits, public officials will get to see artists and or entertainers in their element and develop an appreciation for their artwork or performance skill. At the luncheon they are invited to City Hall to receive a short briefing on current economic and demographic data, to share success stories from their employment sector, to network, and to support each other and their businesses through contacts and information.

The first of these luncheons was held Jan. 28. IT/Knowledge workers came to lunch with three city council members, four city supervisors, the director of the Island County Economic Development Council and the mayor.

Please RSVP for the luncheon to Cheryl Knighton  at (360) 221-4246, ext. 0.

Mayor McCarthy and the Council Members would like to connect with artists and entertainers who live or work in the City of Langley and/or identify strongly with Langley and live elsewhere. This could be a great opportunity for artists and entertainers to network with other professionals and to support their artwork.

Starting on the first Tuesday of March, and through the remainder of the year, workshops in improving business practices and using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in, Instagram, Pinterest, Pay Pal, etc.) will be offered from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. at a convenient location to be determined. The business practice improvement workshops will also be offered on the first Tuesday of alternating months from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will include 1) Developing a Business Plan, 2) Obtaining Local Bank Financing, 3) Utilizing the Resources of the Sno-Isle Library System to Help Your Business, 4) Small Business Administration Funding and 5) Insurance for Business Owners.

The goal of these visits, luncheons, and trainings is to be intentional about economic development in Langley and to attract new businesses and residents to relocate and live here. Artists and entertainment professionals are encouraged to contact Cheryl Knighton at (360) 221-4246, ext. 0 to schedule a visit. Artists, arts organizations, and entertainers will be contacted during the month by the mayor’s office to schedule visits as well.

The outcomes desired from these efforts are to develop traditional and non-traditional markets for artwork and entertainment and to boost the economy of the city in terms of measurable increases in retail sales tax, hotel/motel tax, real estate excise tax, and improved employment statistics.