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PROJECT NARRATIVE <br />1. Requaat De•crlptlon: Plea•• describe the work thla position wlll perform. lnclUde • Job description and <br />any other pertinent infonn•tlon. <br />These funds will be used to help fond staffing for the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce <br />Economic Development Depat1mcnt The ~ functions of the department are to provide <br />assistance to the businesses at are looking to locate within the county, to provide assistance to <br />those businesses already doing business here, and to assist individuals who are looking to start a <br />new business. The department also tracb and maintains information pertinmit to the business <br />community such as inc.entives. grants and demographics. Multiple staff members share <br />responsibilities to support and accomplish these functions and taaks. The funds requested will <br />a.tao support staffing, management and oparation of the two Catalyst Co--working Spaces. <br />2. I• this a new poe-illon for your organization? If ao, pleue d•crlbe why thl8 poaltlon la needed, If not, <br />why I• It • nec,aary for this fund to continue to •upport th .. poaltion? <br />The positions and related support staffing descn"bed above currently exist, but are not fully funded <br />1hrough other revenue sources. The Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce is the only county-wide <br />organization offering businesses technical assistance, aasistance with site selection as well as <br />business start-up assistance. As the County's designated Associate Development Organization we <br />maintain an inventmy of business resources, track incentives, make business referrals to the State <br />and Federal Dcpar:tments of Commerce and are respoDSl'blc for reporting all activity to the State <br />Dept. of Commerce. We regularly conduct surveys with local bUBincues to keep up with loeal <br />trenda and uncover barriers that inln'bit economic vitality. <br />3. WIU your organization be capable of •upportlng tbl• position In the future Without support from this fund? <br />PleaH dncrlbe ~our pJln and Include target d_. for fmpiementatlon and compktUon. If no plan 18 <br />cumHtHy In place and/or no plans ere being made, plene e.xpl•ln why. · <br />No, the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce cannot continue to support its current efforts of <br />business recruitment, retention and assistance without these funds. The Wuhiogton Sate Legislature <br />realized this and provided a provision in RCW 82.14.370 section 3 c (ili") to fund an "economic <br />development office''. The legislature also recogniz.ed the importance of consultiQg with a local <br />authority on economic development in making the decisions for use of these funds in RCW 82.14.370 <br />section b "In implementing this section, the count shall consult with cities. towns, and port dirtricts <br />located within the county an the 8880Ciate dcveloptnent organization serving the county to ensure that <br />the expenditure meets the goals of chapter 130, Laws of2004 and the requirements of (a) of this <br />IIUbscction." <br />(Please see Attachment A for remainder of answer) <br />4. WIii this position Hl'VS the needs and/or lnternts of multiple Jurisdictions andlor organizations? Please <br />explaln In detail. <br />Yes, we work throughout all of Kittitas oounty and with all of the municipalities. We are cmrently <br />worldng elosely with the State Department of Commerce on multiple site location requests, local <br />business assistance and fonding opportunities. Thnlllgh our bUBiness retention and start-up efforts we <br />provided assistance to 15 businesses that were looking to located within Bastem Washington and <br />conducted 6 site visits. By conducting surveys and hosting industiy roundtables we have been able to <br />identify some of the issues facing our businesses and channel them to the appropriate city, county or <br />state entify. We continue our partnerships with the local municipalities, Central Washington <br />University, the FJlensburg Downt.own.Association, Cle Blum Downtown Association, SBDC and the <br />Yakima Dewlopmcnt Association with projects like Cle Elum Main Street and master plan, the <br />Enterprise Challenge Business PJan Competition and small business incubation through the Cataylst <br />Co-working Spaces. <br />7