Published December 2001

In 2001, a lot got done;
in 2002, a lot more to do

As 2001 comes to an end, looking back at a year of great accomplishments in Snohomish County would be a good way to set the stage for the task ahead in 2002. While not immune to unsettling economic times, all signals point to continued strengthening of quality economic development throughout the county.

The Snohomish County Economic Development Council received this year a strong financial commitment from investors representing both private and public sectors. The more than 100 contributors from throughout the Puget Sound region pledged over $5 million — 30 percent more than the goal — to realize our vision of building a vibrant, diversified, competitive and sustainable economy here within the next five years.

The successful investment campaign launched Snohomish County as a strong economic player regionally, statewide and throughout the West. The investment allows the EDC to more than double its budget and to concentrate its efforts on two primary areas of focus — business development and community development.

Our Business Development Strategic Initiative seeks to retain, expand and attract high-technology, biotechnology and energy-friendly manufacturing businesses that bring growth potential and quality employment opportunities. Our goal is to generate 4,000 new "living wage" jobs over five years.

We're already seeing these new jobs materialize as more and more companies choose Snohomish County for their business location. In the past year, the EDC has helped businesses such as Sparling Engineering and Cypress MicroSystems of Lynnwood and Advanced TelCom Group of Everett begin their high-tech operations in our community.

In addition, many other companies, including Helix BioMedics and Northwest Biotherapeutics of Bothell, and CombiMatrix of Mukilteo, have chosen Snohomish County for their new business location.

Successful economic development also requires a community that is prepared to accept and serve the needs of growing businesses.

The EDC's Community Development Strategic Initiative goal is to develop a well-balanced, business-oriented infrastructure that will energize and manage growth in Snohomish County. We have formed task forces to examine and seek solutions to our most pressing community development issues: easing transportation bottlenecks, increasing the availability of reasonable-cost energy supplies and streamlining government permitting and land-use requirements to reduce delays while ensuring quality development.

We also received support in this ambitious effort from communities and citizen groups throughout Snohomish County. Several cities, including Everett, Mill Creek, Bothell, Snohomish, Sultan, Arlington and Lynnwood, have engaged their citizens to help craft new legislation and policies to advance economic development.

A special EDC citizen-developer task force provided impetus for the Snohomish County Council passage of a groundbreaking county demonstration ordinance to allow the building of transit- and pedestrian-friendly urban centers. These are downtown-like developments featuring a mix of moderate-height office and residential buildings, street-level retail and nearby park and recreation centers within walking or bicycling distance of nearby housing developments.

Several cities, including Everett and Mill Creek, are well into planning urban-center developments as well.

All this is occurring amidst a local economy that shows remarkable strength and diversity.

Snohomish County government received the highest bond rating possible by Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Relying on important economic data and guidance from the EDC, the firms cited the county's economic transition from being totally reliant on wood products and aerospace to increasingly focused on attracting and growing electronic manufacturing, high-tech, telecommunications and biotechnology industries.

Snohomish County has the ingredients to build a prosperous and comfortable community for all citizens: available and affordable land, a robust infrastructure, an educated work force, reasonable housing costs and a united community vision to meet our goals.

We extend our sincere thanks for the support received from the business community, the public sector and involved citizens who have all contributed to the past year's successes, and we seek this continued, vital support as we move ahead to 2002 and beyond.

Deborah Knutson is President of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council. She can be reached at 425-743-4567 or by e-mail to dknutson@snoedc.org.

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