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PROJECT NARRATIVE <br />1. Request Description: Please describe the work this position will perfnnn. Include a Job description and <br />any other pertinent Information. <br />The position of Executive Director to the Ellensburg Business Development Authority dba <br />CenterFuse, is provided by the City of Ellensburg through an Interlocal agreement. The Executive <br />Director reports to the CenterFuse Board of Directors, which is a Public Development Authority <br />established under RCW 35.21.730. <br />This position works with the CenterFuse board to create and implement economic development <br />strategies, meet with prospects to create new employment opportunities and connect them with <br />available spaces and resources, promotes one of two designated state Opportunity Zones as well as <br />the county -wide Foreign Trade Zone, coordinates economic development initiatives with other <br />regional entities with similar roles, and provides outreach to existing businesses to determine needs <br />development and expansion. In addition, CenterFuse manages the Ellensburg Business Incubator <br />located 2100 N Prospect and owns and manages a 11ght industrial facility at 3110 N Airport Road <br />Buildings at Bowers Field Airport. <br />A full job description is included <br />2. Is this anew position for your organization? If no, please describe why this position Is needed. If not, why is <br />it a necessary br this fund to continue to support this position? <br />The Ellensburg Development Business Authority (EBDA) dba CenterFuse is a public development <br />authority, authorized by RCW 35.21.730 and created by the City of Ellensburg in 1994 (City of <br />Ellensburg Ordinance No. 3895). Centerl=use, per RCW 43.330.010, is an Associate Development <br />Organization of I(Ittites County, defined as a local economic development nonprofit corporation <br />that is broadly representative of community interests. The mission of CenterFuse Is to strategically <br />recruit and support businesses and connect them to resources so they can start, grow, and prosper. <br />In the spring of 2017, operations of the EBDA were moved from management by the ICttitas County <br />Chamber of Commerce back to the City. In February 2018, this Executive Director position was <br />created in order to support a renewed focus on economic development. CenterFuse Is a volunteer <br />board which has had limited staff support to effect business outreach, to Implement marketing <br />strategies and outreach, or to participate in regional planning or other activities and tasks essential <br />to effective development. Over the past year, the position, partially funded by the distressed sales <br />tax revenue, has performed these tasks and taken on one of the most challenging elements of <br />economic development: creating a comprehensive resource to connect prospects with available <br />facilities and buildable land. The work performed by the position over the past 12 months has <br />positioned the board to begin outreach to prospective new business and to more effectively <br />manage the Business Incubator and airport business park. Detail is provided in the attached work <br />plan for CenterFuse. <br />