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update began fourth quarter 2021 with a final report from TIP Strategies available <br />possibly year end 2022. <br />7. How will this position meet the economic development goals of the County and <br />region? <br />Economic development is "the intentional practice of improving the current and future <br />Ellensburg community's economic well-being and quality of life" (source IEDC). As per <br />the Employment Security Department (ESD) QCEW the top five Kittitas County sectors <br />in 2021 in terms of employment were <br />Sector <br />Number of 'obs <br />Share of employment <br />1. Local government <br />2,347 <br />15.5% <br />2. Accommodation and food services <br />2,250 <br />14.8% <br />3. Retail trade <br />1,893 <br />12.5% <br />4. State government <br />1,772 <br />11.7% <br />5. Health Services <br />1,223 <br />8.1% <br />All other industries <br />5,6761 <br />37.4% <br />Total covered employment <br />15,161 <br />100% <br />Per ESD: "Approximately 62.6 percent of all jobs in Kittitas County were in five, two -digit <br />NAICS industries or sectors (local government, accommodation and food services, retail <br />trade, state government and private health services). Hence, the Kittitas County economy is <br />not very diversified — like many other agriculturally based economies here in Central <br />Washington (Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan and Yakima counties, etc.)." <br />Job growth in Ellensburg over the past ten years is akin to Granger, WA at 4%. Wages <br />are increasing at a competitive rate in alignment with like communities, but higher <br />wages are in limited sectors, in particular government. <br />The top five Kittitas County industries in 2021 in terms of payrolls were: <br />Sector <br />Payroll <br />Share of payrolls <br />1. Local government <br />$142,602,829 <br />19.3% <br />2. State government <br />$130,413,335 <br />17.7% <br />3. Construction <br />$82,903,044 <br />11.2% <br />4. Retail trade <br />$62,209,812 <br />8.4% <br />5. Accommodation and food services <br />$57,525,390 <br />7.8% <br />All other industries <br />$233,488,754 <br />34.9% <br />Total covered payrolls <br />$737,885,909 <br />100% <br />Source: Employment Security Department/DATA Division, QCEW <br />These statistics highlight a long-term future path that is unsustainable. <br />Utilizing information found in the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan (adopted June <br />2019), the City of Ellensburg Comprehensive Plan (adopted December 2020), as well <br />as the 2013 Yakima/Kittitas Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Plan, <br />CenterFuse contributes to this work: <br />