Laserfiche WebLink
development plan. <br />We have included in this application a copy of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment that <br />CenterFuse submitted to the City of Ellensburg in June 2019. These amendments align with <br />the goals and strategies of CenterFuse to create a proactive economic development <br />environment. <br />8. Describe any research your organization has conducted which shows the need for <br />this position. Please include the data upon which your claims are based for our <br />review. <br />It is well documented that economic performance in rural regions of the US lag behind urban <br />ln order to stabilize and ultimately thrive, Harvard Business School's lnstitute for Strategy <br />and Competitiveness points to six key steps for boosting rural economies; these are <br />1. Rural economic development should focus on the unique strengths of each area, <br />rather than concentrating on ameliorating generic weaknesses <br />2. The appropriate economic unit for strategy purposes must include not only rural areas <br />but also adjacent urban centers <br />3. Rural economic development should address and harness the efficient spatial <br />distribution of economic activity rather than attempt to replicate urban economies <br />4. A single national rural policy is unlikely to be meaningful and successful <br />5. Each community should bear responsibility for its economic success, not the federal <br />government <br />6. Federal and state governments need to provide rural regions with the necessary tools <br />and financing mechanisms to develop and executive an effective strategy <br />Stauber in 'Why lnvest in RuralAmerica' discusses the need for a set of agreed-upon <br />outcomes including survival of the rural middle class, reducing concentrated rural poverty, <br />and sustaining and improving the quality of the natural environment. <br />The Executive Director position, in concert with the board, is focused on achieving high <br />economic performance that includes curating new business and grow existing businesses <br />that provide living wage jobs, encourage economic activity for all, and protecting our natural <br />assets. ln doing so, the Executive Director contributes to the growth of human capital <br />contributing to our community and economy, an increase in regional competitive investments <br />and facilitating investment in infrastructure that support the expansion of new competitive <br />advantages. <br />As per the Ellensburg Comprehensive Plan 2017 chapter on Economic Development, <br />Ellensburg's employment target tor 2017-2037 is the addition of almost 7,000 jobs. Overall <br />countywide employment is projected to annually grow an average of 2o/o; with 80% of <br />employment growth projected to occur in incorporated areas and their Urban Growth Areas <br />Further, the Plan calls out local development organizatlons to prepare an economic <br />development vision and strategy for Ellensburg which identifies the types of land use <br />designations and the relative priorities of capital investment needed to foster economic <br />development and promote living wage jobs. Centerfuse's Executive Director is advancing <br />land use needs and capital investments to secure living wage jobs for people in Ellensburg.