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KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />PAGE 13 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN <br />3.3.1.6. Develop a communications system with City and County governments that notifies various <br />department representatives within these entities how they can mitigate issues that might impede <br />growth or lead to a specific company closure or departure. <br />3.3.1.7. Establish a monthly numerical target for business visitations. <br />3.3.1.8. Offer tech support to small businesses. <br />3.3.2. Position Bowers Field and Business Park as an aviation training and light manufacturing hub. <br />3.3.3. Create an initiative to support the region’s outdoor manufacturing and recreation industries. The Growing <br />Outdoors Partnership established in North Carolina is an example (see text box). <br />3.3.3.1. Engage a variety of regional partners— <br />economic development, business <br />community, and others with a stake in <br />outdoor manufacturing and recreation—to <br />garner support and funding and foster <br />industry growth. <br />3.3.3.2. Leverage existing assets to minimize <br />development costs. <br />3.3.3.3. Identify potential programs to support the <br />initiative, such as education and training <br />options, job boards, an accelerator, regional <br />branding, and supply chain connections. <br />3.3.4. Leverage the presence of breweries in Kittitas County <br />and CWU’s craft brewing program to cultivate the craft <br />brewing sector. (Cities that have benefited from this <br />approach include Fort Collins, Colorado; Asheville, <br />North Carolina; and Walla Walla, Washington.) <br />3.3.4.1. Engage industry and economic development <br />stakeholders to pursue growth opportunities in the craft brewing sector and attract visitors. <br />3.3.4.2. Support the creation of an industry showcase that builds Kittitas County’s reputation in the <br />industry. <br />3.3.5. Support the development of timber industries, such as small diameter cross-laminated timber (CLT) and <br />biomass production. <br />3.3.5.1. Gain an understanding of the small diameter CLT industry to evaluate its value proposition. <br />3.3.5.2. Evaluate the potential for biomass energy production in the County. <br />3.4. Create a vibrant quality of place by supporting the creative economy and investing in shared <br />community and outdoor recreation assets. <br />3.4.1. Pursue creative district designation in the City of Ellensburg. <br />3.4.2. Develop amenities (family-oriented, indoor). <br />3.4.2.1. Consider developing a community recreation center or recruiting organizations such as the YMCA <br />that could fill this gap. <br />3.4.3. Utilize County and City-owned property for catalyst development projects. <br />Growing Outdoors Partnership (GOP) <br />Formed in 2018, GOP is an initiative designed <br />to expand Western North Carolina’s outdoor <br />manufacturing and recreation industries. The <br />GOP focuses its efforts on workforce <br />development, entrepreneurship, growing <br />markets through regional branding, <br />connecting the cluster and supply chain, and <br />economic development. Initiatives include <br />new degree programs, certificates, <br />continuing education, a new outdoor industry <br />job board, access to capital, an outdoor <br />accelerator, and more. Since its inception, it <br />has generated $10 million in investment, <br />added 426.5 jobs, and created an <br />international industry conference. <br />Source(s): https://outdoorswnc.com/