Editing Omak, Washington (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Omak, WA - Breadline Cafe 01.jpg|thumb|right|Breadline Cafe]]
[[File:Omak, WA - Mirage Theatre 01.jpg|thumb|right|Mirage Theaters]]

Omak is the commercial center for the rural communities of Okanogan County and other nearby settlements.<ref name="sifce" /> It is the regional center for services and trade in the county. {{As of|2007}}, the city's economy is experiencing significant growth, according to the County of Okanogan.<ref name="countyokan">{{cite web |url=http://okanogancounty.org/demographics.htm |title=Okanogan County, Washington – Demographics |publisher=[[Okanogan County|County of Okanogan]] |access-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625135357/http://www.okanogancounty.org/demographics.htm |archive-date=June 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> It is an agricultural community with a reliant forestry industry. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, almost 90 percent of Omak's manufacturing jobs were in the city's two sawmills. Infrastructure services and retail trades were also major industries. About 425 private firms employed a total of 3,332 workers in local industries including manufacturing, retail and infrastructure, at this time.<ref name="sifce" /> Located within Greater Omak, the adjacent city of Okanogan serves as the administrative center for Okanogan County, the region's largest employer.<ref name="workforce">{{cite web |url=http://www.skillsource.org/WDC/WDC/content/Plans/Strategic%20Plan_Final2009_11.pdf |title=North Central Workforce Development Council – Serving Region 8: Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Adams & Okanogan Counties |publisher=North Central Workforce Development Council |date=May 1, 2009 |access-date=May 5, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

{{as of|2010}}, there are 1,859 civilians over the age of 16 employed in the city of Omak. Despite its recognition as an agricultural community, there were only 26 inhabitants employed in the agriculture and forestry industries, but the surrounding area has more agricultural jobs. Office and sale services were the largest occupation in Omak, comprising approximately 30 percent of the city's total employees, followed by business occupations, with 26.5 percent. Majority of residents work in public services.<ref name="acs" /> Approximately seven percent of people in Omak are unemployed, while 25 percent live below the [[poverty line]], including 34 percent of those under 18 and 10 percent of those aged 65 or over. The [[cost of living]] rate is 85.5 per unit, less than state and national averages. During the 2007–2011 American Community Survey, the city had a [[per capita income]] of $17,785 and an average income of $31,649 per household.<ref name="acs">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212211753/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |title=Community Facts – Selected Economic Characteristics – 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – Omak city, Washington |publisher=United States Census Bureau |date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=April 25, 2013 }}</ref> Omak's 98841 zip code maintained 265 businesses in 2011, with an average payroll of $78,884.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/zbpnaic/zbpsect.pl?Zip=98841 |title=98841 – Omak, Washington – Number of Establishments |publisher=United States Census Bureau |year=2011 |access-date=April 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418000155/http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/zbpnaic/zbpsect.pl?Zip=98841 |archive-date=April 18, 2005 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The city has a [[Walmart]] store, which was built in 1993 as the state's first such store,<ref name="historylink">{{cite web |first=David |last=Wilma |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8169 |title=Wal-Mart opens its first store in Washington at Omak on May 1, 1993 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |date=July 1, 2007 |access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> serving over 60,000 residents.<ref name="firstwalmart">{{cite news |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930502/1698904/enter-the-giant----largest-retailer-in-the-nation-steps-into-small--town-washington |title=Enter the Giant – Largest Retailer in the Nation Steps into Small-Town Washington |work=The Seattle Times |date=May 2, 1993 |access-date=February 24, 2013 |first=O. Casey |last=Corr}}</ref> The process of opening the retail facility took various discussions and approvals. Proposals in Omak began around 1992, in which {{convert|93,188|sqft}} of land were expropriated from the Omak Planning Commission.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sylvia |last=Nogaki |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920617/1497559/look-out-here-comes-wal-mart |title=Look Out, Here Comes Wal-Mart |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 17, 1992 |access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Sylvia |last=Nogaki |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920616/1497409/wal-mart-to-open-store-in-kennewick |title=Wal-Mart To Open Store In Kennewick |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 16, 1992 |access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> Local retailers feared that the chain would devastate their businesses, although other people felt that it would increase business at other shopping regions in the city.<ref name="firstwalmart" /> Shortly after its opening, numerous shoppers came to the Omak area looking for items. Walmart hired approximately 200 employees, boosting the city's economy significantly and becoming among Okanogan County's largest retailer for a short period.<ref name="historylink" /> The store was later allowed to remain open for 24 hours per day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walmart.com/storeLocator/ca_storefinder_results.do?sfsearch_city=omak&sfsearch_state=WA |title=Omak Walmart Supercenter Store #1947 |publisher=[[Walmart|Walmart Stores, Inc]] |access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref>

Omak's economy is also driven by a mixture of tourism. Nearby recreational destinations, with their mild climate, increase the local economy significantly. The local [[Harbor Freight]], [[Big 5 Sporting Goods]], North 40 and Walmart retail stores maintain license vendors for recreational activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors/county/OKANOGAN/ |title=License Vendors – Authorized License Sales Locations – Okanogan County, Washington |publisher=Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife |access-date=March 3, 2013 |archive-date=July 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713162229/http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors/county/OKANOGAN/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> There is a {{convert|1,541,470|sqft|adj=on}} shopping mall, the Omache Shopping Center, located in North Omak Business Park along U.S. Route 97,<ref name="Aerial Photographs" /><ref name="omache">{{cite web |url=http://www.omacheshoppingcenter.com |title=Omache Shopping Center, Omak, Washington |publisher=Black Realty Management |access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> which attracts residents from nearby rural communities.<ref>{{cite news |first=K.C. |last=Monattey |url=http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/nov/26/omaks-commercial-area-sees-big-changes/?print |title=Omak's commercial area sees Big changes |work=The Wenatchee World |date=November 26, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2012}}</ref> Established in 1987,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:U2HYDNhP6sAJ:www.omakcity.com/ESW/Files/2012_DRAFT_Comp_plan_PART_2_A_LAND_USE.docx+&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESj_NxYharcdDE9qX_SKyVlHQm_UxhakpbkOaD7nBpy17lamqXksSfPsCMHWtfo2SnS-abBOU6l2AZBIvEexsH4LiYLcBtcny_4zXJPYl4--sm6NVrRP2VydRJvKLIk8d6I5d_wH&sig=AHIEtbS1_UTe9QhKn5Qc9zoE9YQsY2B6PQ |type=[[Microsoft Word|Doc]] |title=2012 Draft Comprehension Plan – Part 2 A – Land Use |publisher=City of Omak |date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> the mall is home to 12 stores and services.<ref name="omache" /> Omak is the headquarters of two infrastructure organizations: Okanogan County Transportation & Nutrition<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.octn.org/ |title=Home – Contact Information |publisher=[[Okanogan County Transportation & Nutrition]] |access-date=May 5, 2013}}</ref> and [[Cascade and Columbia River Railroad]].