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KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />PAGE 7 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN <br />Strategies and Actions <br />1.1. Unify economic development organizations behind a common vision and improve <br />collaboration, communication, and goal tracking to deliver successful outcomes for the County. <br />1.1.1. Form a coalition with regional economic development partners, including the Kittitas County Chamber of <br />Commerce (the Chamber), CenterFuse, local downtown associations, among others, that meet regularly, <br />and authorize a formal agreement among this group. <br />1.1.1.1. Establish communication and collaboration protocols. <br />1.1.1.2. Define roles for each organization and develop metrics to track progress against economic <br />development goals. Use City and County contracts as a guide. <br />1.1.1.3. Jointly report on metrics to community leaders on a quarterly basis. <br />1.1.2. Hire a full-time employee to oversee economic development and carry forward the recommendations included <br />in this strategic plan as part of an effort to formalize economic development at the City and County levels. <br />1.1.3. Build relationships with economic development personnel and public funding agencies, such as the Rural <br />Community Assistance Partnership, Washington State Department of Commerce, and other agencies. <br />1.1.3.1. Schedule biannual meetings with department heads and program managers at their places of <br />business. <br />1.1.3.2. Host these individuals in Kittitas County on an annual basis to showcase regional assets. <br />1.1.4. Develop a retail recruitment strategy. <br />1.1.4.1. Identify appropriate real estate. <br />1.1.4.2. Conduct a retail leakage analysis and consumer analysis. <br />1.1.4.3. Develop a marketing and outreach strategy to appropriate retailers. <br />1.1.5. Expand the role and membership of the Kittitas County Conference of Governments to coordinate and <br />collaborate across jurisdictions on regional planning efforts. Planning efforts should include areas such as <br />housing, parking, permitting, and public development agreements. <br />1.1.6. Develop a mapping tool (or unify existing tools) that makes current and planned parcel, zoning, and <br />infrastructure data publicly available. <br />1.2. Continue to promote the County’s identity and high quality of place to support tourism, <br />business attraction, and talent attraction and retention. <br />1.2.1. Develop a consistent and unified brand, marketing theme, and campaign that coordinates with the <br />messaging of municipalities, the Chamber, and downtown associations. <br />1.2.1.1. Promote the County’s brand to key decision-makers in the Puget Sound region, state, and <br />additional spheres of influence. <br />1.2.1.2. Promote relevant details, utilizing the quantitative and qualitative data contained in this plan, that <br />highlight what makes the County’s business climate competitive for emerging opportunities. <br />1.2.1.3. Regularly (quarterly or annually) create talking points for County leaders and partner <br />organizations that highlight positive developments in Kittitas County, success stories, and why it <br />is a desirable place to visit, live, work, and invest.