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Kittitas County employment, the majority of these jobs being minimum wage. According to the 2014 Kittitas County Population Projection Review and Analysis, 56% of Kittitas County residents work outside of Kittitas County, with 16% of those commuting or telecommuting to King County. These statistics do not serve as a long-term sustainable path for the tuture. A recent ESD/CenterFuse project provided additional information about employment in Kittitas County. Between 2015 and 202A, business growth was nominal (2o/o) as was the change in number of employees (less than 5%). However, the good news is the average wage paid increased by over 23o/o. The top employer is govemment (which includes Kittitas Valley Hospital) with over 4,000 employees, followed by accommodations and food services (2,153) and retailtrade (1,833). The greatest number of businesses by sector is, in order, construction, healthcare and social assistance, and accommodation and food services. Looking at which employer pays the highest average wage, the top 3 NAICS business sectors are finance and insurance, then government and wholesale trade. Utilizing information found in the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan (adopted June 2019), the City of Ellensburg Comprehensive Plan (adopted December 2020), as well as the 2013 Yakima/Kittitas Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Plan, CenterFuse will continue to focus on the following elements: . Continue to analyze existing businesses to support and retain and assist in their success and potential expansion. Offer workshops and gatherings for existing businesses to assess and assist with needs for expansion and success.. Complete development of marketing materials and strategies to directly recruit naw businesses and industries to maintain a strong and diverse jobs and wage baseo New website to include cunent business climate, quality of life, demographics, and searchable database of available land and buildings. Social media strategieso Professional print materials. Help and support of initiatives related to housing, transportation, and education that affect our ability to recruit business and jobs . Collaborate with the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, Ellensburg Downtown Association, City of Ellensburg Departments and Commissions, and Kittitas County on strategy development and implementation along with offering our assistan@ on projects that forward economic developmenl in Kittitas County.o Work with the City and County offices of Community Development Office to address future zoning needs. Create a dynamic roadmap for businesses to demystify the startup process o Highlight and preserve the unique historic and natural attributes of Ellensburg and Kittitas County