Snohomish County Business Journal


YOUR COUNTY.	YOUR BUSINESS JOURNAL.

Published July 2003

EDC ‘venture capitalist’
for county economy

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

“Think of us as venture capitalists for the whole county.”

“Innovate here.”

Those are just two of the slogans you’ll hear from the Snohomish County Economic Development Council, or see in their literature or on their Web site (www.snoedc.org).

Along with its leadership role in enticing the Boeing Co. to assemble its proposed 7E7 airliner, the EDC is involved in numerous other activities that help to develop and broaden the county’s tax base, strengthen its reputation as a tourism and business development center in the state and promote education for the area’s work force.

Snohomish County EDC board

The board of directors of the EDC represents a cross-section of the county’s foremost companies and government agencies, including board Chairman Mike Deller, EverTrust Bank; Reid Shockey, past chair, Shockey/Brent Inc.; John Mohr, Port of Everett; Dave Waggoner, Snohomish County Airport; Everett Mayor Frank Anderson; Randy Blair, W&H Pacific; Rin Causey, Workforce Development Council; and Curt Clausen, Bank of America.

Other directors include Richard Cooper, Everett Clinic; Bob Drewel, Snohomish County executive; Charlie Earl, Everett Community College; Edith Feild, Philips Ultrasound; Allen Funk, The Herald; Jerry Goodwin, Northwest Composites; Fred Gouge, Port of Edmonds; Jean Hales, South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce; Mal Harding, Pacific Northwest Bank; and Derek Heed, Colliers International.

Lori Husa, Wells Fargo; Marv Kastning, rural representative; Karl Kirn, Puget Sound Energy; Chris Knapp, Anderson Hunter; Deborah Knutson, EDC of Snohomish County; Paul Masten, Reid Middleton Inc., Lynnwood Mayor Mike McKinnon; John Monroe, Boeing; Carol Nelson, Cascade Bank; and Jack Oharah, Edmonds Community College.

Dick Paylor, Bothell City Council; Gary Patershagen, RMJ Associates LLC; Hank Robinett, Boyden Robinett; Caldie Rogers, Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce; Mike Ruhl, Opus Northwest; and Mike Sells, Snohomish County Labor Council.

Also, John Shaw, Stuchell Enterprises Inc.; Louise Stanton-Masten, Everett Area Chamber of Commerce; Brent Stewart, United Way of Snohomish County; Mel Takehara, Washington Mutual Business Banking; Allan Thoms, Verizon; Caryl Thorp, Moss Adams; Kathy Vaughn, Snohomish County PUD; and Carol Wilber-Edwards, KeyBank.

A private, nonprofit organization, the EDC works with businesses, citizens and government to support and develop the county as a vibrant economic center by helping to solve transportation issues, streamline construction permitting, protect the county’s natural resources, and retain and attract businesses that provide high-wage employment.

Although the EDC works with the county’s largest businesses — from Boeing to Immunex — most of its work is with small to medium-size companies, helping them with their business plans, finding sources for business loans and assisting them in seeking new markets for their products or services.

The EDC staff also works with communities throughout the county, from Edmonds, Darrington and Stanwood to Everett, Monroe and Gold Bar, assisting businesses and governments in finding and pursuing grants and developing business parks and stronger economies.

One of the EDC’s services helps businesses win government contracts. A Mountlake Terrace company won a $13.5 million contract through the EDC’s help. Last year, that program alone helped county businesses win more than $16 million in new business.

The EDC also created a model permit-streamlining program that allows businesses to obtain permits in a predictable and efficient manner. The program is being tested in several cities in the county.

Staff members at the EDC bring a variety of skills and expertise and years of experience to the issues it studies and works to resolve or improve.

EDC President and CEO Deborah Knutson has more than 20 years of experience in economic development, economic policy and business recruitment services in Washington state and abroad.

Vice President Michael Cade has been with the EDC for nearly 11 years, managing numerous business retention and recruitment efforts as well as working in community development, tracking and analyzing real estate trends and identifying commercial and industrial opportunities for rural economic development.

One of the EDC’s most proactive community development efforts is the Evergreen Crescent Partnership in central and eastern Snohomish County, designed to help the communities of Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Monroe and Sultan assess and create a diversified economy. Partners include the Snohomish County Planning and Development Services department and the Central Puget Sound Economic Development District.

Diane Dollar, policy director for the EDC, writes specific policy reports and oversees reviews of economic development policies and their implementation. She works to build supporting relationships though consultation with a variety of individuals and groups, businesses and industry organizations.

Debbie Emge is the EDC’s director of business resources, responsible for investor relations, business recruitment and expansion of membership in the EDC, as well as overseeing financial records and grants administration. A certified public accountant, she has more than 12 years of experience in accounting, tax work and financial consulting with nonprofits, small businesses and individuals, as well as operating her own financial-services business.

Steve Clagett, Centers Project director, develops and administers the EDC’s Centers Project, facilitating public and private partnering for mixed-use urban and neighborhood centers in the county’s designated urban growth areas.

Kurt Latimore, director of land-use permit process design, is a Boeing Co. loaned executive, working closely with pilot jurisdictions to implement the new permitting system designed by the permit-streamlining committee.

John Tamble, program manager of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, works to provide specialized and professional assistance to the business community in developing contracting and subcontracting opportunities with federal, state and local government agencies. Tamble has 25 years of federal contracting experience.

Business and research specialist Lisa Henthorn is dedicated primarily to the Procurement Technical Assistance Center program as assistant to Tamble, but she also researches and maintains demographic and statistical information about Snohomish County and its cities.

The EDC is headquartered at 728 134th St. SW, Suite 219, Everett, WA 98204. Call 425-743-4567 or visit the EDC’s Web site, www.snoedc.org.

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