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INTRODUCTION <br />The Ellensburg Development Business Authority (EBDA) is a public development <br />authority as authorized by RCW. 35.21.730 and created by the City of Ellensburg in <br />1994 (City of Ellensburg Ordinance No. 3895). The mission of the EBDA is to <br />strategically recruit businesses and connect them to resources so they can start, grow, <br />and prosper. <br />This report accomplishes Phase I of a four phase approach, described below. Phase I <br />answers two primary questions: What Is the EBDA's competitive business position, and <br />how will EBDA strateglcally leverage this position to recruit businesses to Ellensburg, <br />and to connect businesses to resources so they can start, grow, and prosper. <br />The EBDA formed a subcommittee In December 2017 to provide a framework by which <br />these questions, and others, may be answered, as well as the strategy to reset EBDA's <br />role in economic development with a future focus. <br />The strategy and action plan is founded on data and informational resources available <br />in the State of Washington. Our primary communities for benchmarking competitive <br />factors include Bellevue, Issaquah, Wenatchee, Moses Lake and Yakima. <br />The results of our research provide critical information leading to an understanding of: <br />• Marketable strengths that EBDA can capitalize on <br />• Deficiencies that may be corrected cost-effectively <br />• Development opportunities <br />• Issues that Impact Ellensburg or the region's economic development future <br />• Obstacles to development <br />Gaining clarity on what the EBDA's economic development product is, and our related <br />strengths and opportunities as well as obstacles and deficiencies wlll inform the work <br />and shape the future of this organization. <br />In addition to the development of this workplan, the EBDA recognizes the importance of <br />the EBDA Subcommittee known as "The Downtowners", which was established in the <br />fall 2011 to address large projects in the downtown that were barriers to revitalization. <br />This group Is Included in the scope of the EBDA workplan for the continued growth and <br />improvement of the historic city center of the community. <br />APPROACH <br />As noted above, a subcommittee of the EBDA was formed to approach future work in a <br />strategic manner. To systematically approach this work, the subcommittee decided to <br />take an incremental look at four phases to accomplish the work. These four phases are: