Enough of this Great Recession. Island County residents are getting tired of continuing budget cuts gutting important government services. They’re tired of the growing lines at food banks and the endless list of people seeking adequate, affordable housing. From Clinton to Oak Harbor, every community is marred by empty storefronts. Losses were big in 2010, including the departure of the third of Oak Harbor’s four new car dealers. And they were small, but meaningful. Movies Tonight closed in Clinton likely due to new technology, leaving another empty space in the Ken’s Korner Mall and signaling the passing of an age. For the entire island there is now only a single store dedicated to video rentals and sales and that’s in Oak Harbor.

Despite the gloom, optimism can’t be smothered. A new restaurant was built in Coupeville. Ebey’s Bowl was reopened after years of serving as a storage building. Where Frontier Chevrolet once stood, local entrepreneurs have started a car repair business. Best of all, Whidbey Island Bank, our only local bank, seems to be prospering. With the help of the feds it gobbled up two troubled mainland banks in 2010: North County and City Bank, both located in Snohomish County. We need a strong local bank to make the loans needed to help dreams come true by filling up those storefronts and putting people back to work.

Moving forward isn’t easy. Local governments can’t afford to subsidize new businesses but they can make sure the red tape to start a business is cut to a minimum. The state is broke, but it too can make it easier for people to start and operate a business by cutting back on unnecessary rules and regulations. In Island County, building housing in our cities should be easier. Individuals can help by keeping their shopping dollars on the island. Every dollar spent off the island means our tax money is going to support some other community.

Here’s to a more prosperous 2011. That goal should be number one on the agenda of every elected official, government bureaucrat, businessperson and general citizen. It’ time to dig ourselves out of this Great Recession.