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Staffing for CenterFuse, Ellensburg's Business Development Authority (EBDA), has <br />transitioned over time, Shortly after being established in 1994, EBDA hired a full-time <br />Executive Director and support staff to manage daily operations and projects. Around 2004, <br />the EBDA, (then called the Economic Development Group of Kittitas County and Phoenix <br />Economic Development Group) using the City of Ellensburg's authority in city code chapter <br />1.62 and by action of Ellensburg City Council, determined the staffing of the EBDA to be on <br />a contractual basis with the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce. This contractual <br />relationship between the City and Chamber for staff continued until 2017, when Ellensburg <br />City Council canceled the contract for staffing with the Chamber, and in 2018, the City <br />created a position for a pad-time Executive Director who had city staff support for financials, <br />etc. Coming full circle, CenterFuse and the City entered into a new lnterlocalAgreement on <br />November 12,2020 whereby the City would no longer contract with a service provider nor <br />hire staff for CenterFuse and would no longer provide support staff for CenterFuse. <br />CenterFuse would hire their own employee and no longer rely on city staff support. <br />The need for the position is greater now more than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has <br />created havoc and opportunity for businesses. Some businesses view this time of crisis as <br />an opportunity to leave the hustle of urban areas and relocate to more attractive settings. <br />Ellensburg is geographically ideal for such businesses as we are centrally located at the <br />intersection of major interstates (l-90 and l-82), have a youthful, educated workforce, low- <br />cost utilities, commute alternatives (e.9. bike, walk, fare-free transit), and a welcoming <br />community. <br />ln the past, the City provided fiscal and accounting services. This is no longer the case. <br />Working with an Ellensburg accountant, these services are performed by the Executive <br />Director. <br />3. Will your organization be capable of supporting this position in the future <br />without support from this fund? Please describe your plan and include target <br />dates for implementation and completion. lf no plan is currently in place and/or <br />no plans are being made, please explain why. <br />It is the goal of CenterFuse to be a self-supporting organization. <br />ln 2017, the board and staff created a strategic plan for CenterFuse. This 2017 strategic plan <br />is being reviewed and updated in 2021. Annually a work plan is developed to support the <br />strategic plan, and the work plan is linked to the budget to connect resource needs. The <br />work to be accomplished through the implementation of the strategic plan specifies the <br />review of revenue needs for operations, including staffing, and charting a path forward that <br />provides for financial sustainability. The 2021work plan is included in this application <br />(question #5 response) and describes actions and tasks that lead the organization to self- <br />support. During 2021, the strategic plan will link to a five-year budget with scenarios leading <br />to financial independence. <br />4. Will this position serue the needs and/or interests of multiple jurisdictions <br />and/or organizations? Please explain in detail.