Published November 2002

Economic study a ‘living document’
for growth

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

A five-month study of the north Snohomish County economy, commissioned by the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, offers statistics that chamber leaders hope will provide guidelines for growth for north-county communities.

“The immediate impact will be informing people about the details of the study,” chamber President/CEO Caldie Rogers said after it was presented at October’s North Snohomish County Economic Summit.

“This will be a living document, to track and monitor. Next year, I anticipate quarterly forums on specific subjects, eco-tourism for example, bringing in experts for discussions on how to do these things. We don’t want to wait two-and-a-half years in between summits,” Rogers said.

Copies of the 80-page study are available in print, on floppy disks or CDs for a nominal fee through the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce at 360-659-7700. Rogers hopes the study will stimulate ideas and activities that will help the entire north-county economy develop.

On Nov. 12, Ben Frerichs of Economic Consulting Services, who prepared the report, will be available at the chamber’s new offices in Quil Ceda Village from 3 to 6 p.m. to discuss details of the study with the business community.

Among the information gathered in the study:

• Northern Snohomish County saw its number of jobs grow nearly 52 percent between 1990 and 2000, an increase of 11,823 jobs, compared to the entire county’s overall job growth of 38 percent, with 63,939 new jobs.
• Arlington and the Smokey Point area accounted for more than half of north county’s job growth during that decade, with Arlington tallying an increase of 63 percent, with 3,796 more jobs, and Smokey Point growing by 153 percent, with a total increase of 2,452 jobs. Marysville contributed 30 percent job growth, with 1,691 jobs; Stanwood’s work force grew by 60 percent, with 1,276 more jobs over the decade; Lake Stevens grew 49 percent, with 924 jobs; Tulalip Bay grew by 27 percent, with 582 jobs, and Granite Falls grew 33 percent with 306 new jobs. Darrington was the only city with a shrinking economy, losing about 8 percent of its jobs, a total of 93.
• Retail trade is the mainstay in the north-county economy, accounting for nearly 24 percent of the area’s jobs, followed by manufacturing with 20 percent, then financial and real estate services.

RELATED: Cities report on economic progress, challenges

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