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<br /> <br />Chapter 10 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br />KITTITAS COUNTY <br />Page 123 Comprehensive Plan <br />Strengths Weaknesses <br /> Diversified industry makeup: <br />» Renewable and alternative energy <br />» Strong agricultural markets <br />» Support of small business and the microenterprise culture <br /> Proximity to major metro areas: Seattle, Portland, Spokane <br />» Strong capabilities in logistics and distribution <br />» Highway accessibility <br /> University presence: <br />» CWU, YVCC, PNWU <br /> Stellar quality of life: <br />» Abundance of outdoor recreation <br />» Diverse interesting culture <br />» Climate <br />» Exceptional community healthcare <br /> Downtown vitality <br /> Abundant [sustainable] natural resources <br /> Strong and diverse labor force <br /> Young demographic <br /> Premier sports facilities and event location <br /> Lack of family-wage employment opportunities <br /> Low K-16+ education attainment <br />» Workforce skills gaps <br /> Complacency towards growth and economic <br />diversification <br /> Environmental obstacles and regulations <br />» Predictability of legislation <br /> Crime rate perception <br /> Bilingual challenges <br /> Few industrial and commercial development sites <br /> Loss of natural resource jobs <br /> Recreation for children is limited <br /> Limited professional services including CPA’s, dentists, <br />consultants, doctors, and engineers <br /> Water capacity <br /> Pay disparity to major metro areas <br /> No port district in Kittitas or Yakima County <br />Opportunities Threats <br /> Capture spin-off growth from businesses from Western <br />WA metro areas <br />» Capture overflow from neighboring metro areas <br /> Improve visibility of available sites <br />» GIS inventory available <br /> Raise educational attainment <br />» Growth of talent, research, and facilities for higher <br />education <br />» Business education partnerships <br />» Alternative workforce education options <br /> Collaborative inter-county cooperation <br />» Work together to create a unified regional vision <br /> Develop and promote tourism <br />» Outdoor recreation options <br />» Capitalize on developing industries like wineries and <br />breweries, that focus on tourism in the region <br /> Facilitate small business development <br />» Accelerate small business through incubators and small <br />business networks <br />» Promote and support downtown redevelopment efforts <br /> Develop renewable and alternative energy facilities <br /> Cultivate and promote bilingual workforce <br /> Create arts culture <br /> Environmental challenges and regulations <br />» Water supply scarcity <br />» Declining forest health, fire danger <br />» Water quality uncertainty <br />» Planning and zoning barriers to new investment and <br />alternative energy and innovations <br /> Regulations and permitting business responsiveness <br /> Lack of economic resilience <br />» Diversification of industries <br /> Loss of young talent <br /> Limited economic development resources and incentives <br />» Lack of economic development resources and <br />incentives <br />» Limited small business advancement opportunities <br /> Distribution impacts from Urban Center traffic <br />congestion <br />Source: Yakima and Kittitas Counties Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, 2015 <br />Table 10-2 SWOT Analysis, Kittitas (and Yakima) County