Kittitas County EDSP 2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON PAGE 16 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN 4.2.4.1. Add signage off key I-90 exits, like Cle Elum’s entrance at exit 84 and Ellensburg’s Canyon Road entrance. 4.2.4.2. Support CWU’s wayfinding initiative, which will improve the university’s visibility throughout the community. 4.3. Explore new options for funding community investments (e.g., Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Projects, MAPS, model). 4.3.1. Design a public investment strategy to spur private investment and talent retention/attraction in the County. It should build off the communication recommendations outlined in strategy 4.1, focusing on transparency about the cost and value of the investment and building trust through incremental successes. 4.3.1.1. Convene leaders from the City to evaluate possible structures and funding mechanisms for a MAPS initiative. 4.3.1.2. Launch a public call for project ideas once the funding structure is determined. 4.3.1.3. Establish a leadership group made up of the parties involved in the funding process to review and refine the publicly proposed projects. 4.3.2. Evaluate the potential for a port district. 4.3.2.1. Develop a roadmap for the district to clearly communicate the potential return on investment. 4.3.2.2. Use the tools and actions outlined in strategy 4.1 to educate and engage the community in discussion about the value of a port district. • Tell stories of successful port districts, like the Port of Moses Lake (see text box). • Consider limiting boundaries of a potential port district to a smaller area, for example, east Kittitas. 4.3.2.3. Advocate for enabling legislation, as necessary. Goal 5. Preservation Preserve the legacy of the County, valuing its assets and resources to turn them into opportunities for future generations. The County has a history of dependence on natural-resource-based industries, like agriculture and logging. As changing circumstances threaten farming and present environmental risks, the community will need to implement innovative approaches to improve its resiliency. Examples include identifying and conserving water sources, mitigating wildfire risk, and improving conditions for agriculture. There is an opportunity to not only preserve the County’s legacy, but also leverage its existing knowledge base to bring these industries into the future and provide opportunities to the generations to come. Port of Moses Lake, Washington The Port of Moses Lake was created in 1965 to fund the opening of the Grant County International Airport and support development in the area. The port operates the airport, which is used primarily by private firms, military, and Boeing for flight testing. Property leases and rentals constitute the majority of operating revenues, and it is policy of the port to only lease, and not sell, property. The port employs 18 full-time and 2 part-time employees. Over 60 industries are represented at the port, employing over 3,500 people. Source(s): https://www.portofmoseslake.com/