Kittitas County EDSP 2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON PAGE 5 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN Figure 3. Plan at a Glance GOAL 1 COLLABORATION Unite upper and lower County government and organizations in shared goals and action that benefit the County as a whole. STRATEGIES 1.1. Unify economic development organizations behind a common vision and improve collaboration, communication, and goal tracking to deliver successful outcomes for the County. 1.2. Continue to promote the County’s identity and high quality of place to support tourism, business attraction, and talent attraction and retention. 1.3. Forge a closer relationship among CWU, the City of Ellensburg, the County, and the local business community. GOAL 2 ECONOMIC RESILIENCE Provide residents with tools and resources to access jobs and opportunities in the area, including entrepreneurship. STRATEGIES 2.1. Strengthen the County’s talent pipeline by aligning development, attraction, and retention efforts with the needs of current and future employers. 2.2. Improve coordination between CWU and employers to create opportunities for learning and employment for students and community members alike (e.g., internship programs). 2.3. Align and strengthen the network of entrepreneurial support organizations. GOAL 3 BALANCED GROWTH Direct and manage the growth of the County to build a dynamic community that remains an attractive and affordable place to live. STRATEGIES 3.1. Encourage the development of a diverse housing stock to meet the needs of a growing population. 3.2. Position the County for targeted real estate development, including commercial and light industrial space, to meet business needs. 3.3. Support business growth and retention and focus recruitment efforts on industries that align with community values. 3.4. Create a vibrant quality of place by supporting the creative economy and investing in shared community and outdoor recreation assets. GOAL 4 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT Develop the County’s infrastructure to meet its current and future needs and position it to amplify the advantage of its central location. STRATEGIES 4.1. Engage the public in conversations on the benefits of community investment in economic infrastructure and quality-of-place amenities. 4.2. Identify and prioritize infrastructure investments that would support economic development (e.g., transportation, aviation, utilities, water access). 4.3. Explore new options for funding community investments (e.g., Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Projects, MAPS, model). GOAL 5 PRESERVATION Preserve the legacy of the County, valuing its assets and resources to turn them into opportunities for future generations. STRATEGIES 5.1. Preserve the agricultural legacy of the County by supporting local farmers, pursuing value-added opportunities, and leveraging agricultural knowledge for innovation. 5.2. Partner with CWU and others to develop knowledge-based industries tied to the County’s natural assets, such as outdoor recreation, agriculture, and sustainability/resilience-oriented opportunities. 5.3. Use community planning to preserve the County’s character while addressing its growth needs.