Published June 2002

EDC is busy promoting, developing economy

It’s amazing how much work the Snohomish County Economic Development Council staff is doing to promote the county as a great place to do business. It’s work that EDC President Deborah Knutson hopes will result in a stronger, more diversified county economy.

Unfortunately, the entire business community doesn’t always hear about all of the EDC’s activities. In addition to public meetings, seminars and special programs, the EDC is engaged in a diverse array of behind-the-scenes work.

Last May, the EDC’s investment campaign for its new 2001-2005 Strategic Initiative attracted commitments totaling more than $800,000 from 100 public and private investors, totaling 22 percent more than the campaign’s goal.

Now that initiative is being carried out. The EDC board’s vision is to “create a diversified 21st-century economy that will attract and retain high growth/high wage, technology and manufacturing business and investment opportunities that will enhance the quality of life for the citizens and communities of Snohomish County.”

In pursuit of this vision, the EDC is continuing its efforts in key areas, including marketing and business recruitment; business retention and expansion; infrastructure, land use and permitting; and work-force development.

During just the first quarter of 2002, the EDC staff:

• Formed a Brand Development Team from public and private representatives throughout the county to provide marketing ideas and seek funding to develop marketing materials for the September launch of the branding campaign.
• Outlined content and structure for an updated EDC Web site and identified a firm to create the site.
• Produced Herald Business Journal columns by President Deborah Knutson on the role of biotechnology in the Puget Sound regional economy; the launch of the public/private Evergreen Crescent Initiative for economic development in east Snohomish county and the EDC hosting of Alliance 2002, a procurement conference and trade show.
• Provided material for news media articles in The Herald, Seattle Times and Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce about a two-day workshop on research and technology parks.
• Conducted editorial board meetings at The Herald, Seattle Times, Seattle P-I, Daily Olympian and Tacoma News Tribune to discuss efforts to recruit Boeing’s Sonic Cruiser R&D and assembly work to the county.
• Sponsored the Invest Northwest Conference in Seattle to increase Snohomish County awareness among key biotech companies and prepared to represent Snohomish County and Washington state at Toronto’s Bio ’02 biotech industry conference in June.
• Coordinated with Snohomish County and the University of Washington to host a workshop on research-and-technology parks and reviewed the potential for Snohomish County to develop such parks.
• Conducted an Investors’ Roundtable luncheon to share the 2002 work plan and review successes of the 2001 plan.
• Met with The Edmonds Economic Development Committee, KeyBank, Bank of America, Cascade Bank, Providence Hospital, Stevens Hospital and the Bothell City Council to present the 2002 EDC plan.
• Developed the Business Retention & Expansion survey to be given to approximately 200 companies.
• Delivered a presentation to the Washington State Office of Women and Minority Owned Business Enterprise that was so well received the EDC has been asked to provide future programs and quarterly seminars for the group.
• Attended the Association of Government Marketing Assistance Specialists conference in Newport, Calif.
• Provided — along with the NW Women’s Business Center — business counseling to 550 existing county and area businesses through telephone and counseling conferences.
• Organized and hosted Alliance 2002, “Opportunities for Small Business,” a conference and trade show at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.

The activity list goes on.

At a time when Snohomish County needs more economic development to bolster the soft economy, the EDC is working hard on a variety of ventures that target that goal.

If you’re impressed with this partial list of their activities, remember — it only highlights one quarter of the year.

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