Published January 2003

EDC reports hits,
misses for 2002

By Bryan Corliss
Herald Business Writer

The Snohomish County Economic Development Council did not hit its annual job-creation target, but did surpass its performance goals in other areas in 2002, President Deborah Knutson said upon issuing the EDC’s annual report in December.

The group’s recruitment efforts led to the creation of about 300 new jobs, with an average salary of more than $30,000, the report said. That’s more than $9 million in new payroll in Snohomish County, but it’s well short of the EDC’s annual goal of 800 new jobs paying $40,000 a year on average.

However, the group did register some unexpected successes.

The council’s Procurement Technical Assistance Program helped Snohomish County companies land more than $31 million in government contracts over the year. That was far more than expected, Knutson said.

The EDC also accomplished some key pieces of community development work over the year, including launching its Evergreen Crescent Partnership with the rural communities of Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Monroe, Snohomish and Sultan; developing a model permit streamlining process, which some cities in the county will test in a pilot program; and completing work on its new marketing program, centered on the slogan “Innovate Here.”

Having those pieces in place will make business recruitment easier in 2003, Knutson said.

The council’s report also notes that in 2002 it:

• Co-sponsored the “Invest Northwest” biotechnology conference.
• Co-sponsored a workshop on the development of research and technology parks.
• Hosted a biotech trade delegation from Taiwan and eight other international trade delegations.
• Completed a study on the cost of energy and on the county’s transportation needs.

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