Laserfiche WebLink
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />Strategic Action Plan <br />The most important aspect of any strategic plan is its implementation. Executing the wide range of actions <br />needed to positively impact a community's economic vitality requires extensive collaboration and cohesion <br />among local stakeholders. Further, strategic plans take years to implement, and as such cannot rely on specific <br />individuals to carry them forward. lnstead, they depend on organizations, strong networks, and enduring systems <br />for cooperation. <br />While Kittitas County has seen progress in the past decade, implementing economic development initiatives remains a <br />challenge. Specifically, barriers to communication and information sharing limit the County's effectiveness. <br />Kittitas County has an opportunity to coalesce behind this strategic plan to collectively foster a more vibrant and <br />resilient economy for everyone in the County. To that end, a few organizations will be primarily responsible for <br />leading the plan's implementation. They include the following. <br />r Kittitas County <br />. The City of Ellensburg <br />r Kittitas County Conference of Governments <br />. CentralWashingtonUniversity <br />. Economic development partners within Kittitas County (including the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce <br />and CenterFuse) <br />While these organizations will take the lead on strategic initiatives, they will require the support of other local <br />organizations and community stakeholders. Additionally, given the significant time and effort required to <br />implement economic development strategic plans, this plan also recommends that the City of Ellensburg and the <br />County partner in creating a fulltime position dedicated to carry forward the strategies outlined in the plan and <br />track progress toward goals. This position should be viewed as a step toward institutionalizing economic <br />development at the County and City levels to ensure continuity in the execution of strategic initiatives. <br />This plan outlines the strategies and actions needed to accomplish the five main goals. However, the tactical level <br />will be determined by the plan's implementers. <br />Goal 1. Collaboration <br />Unite apper and lswer County government and organizatians in shared goals and <br />actions that benef it the County as a whole. <br />Collaboration within a community is essential to making the most of available resources and building a dynamic <br />economy. Uniting the upper and lower County governments and organizations behind shared goals and actions <br />and increasing communication and cooperation will strengthen the County's ability to be a reliable partner in <br />attracting tourism, businesses, and funding opportunities. <br />By improving how Kittitas County stakeholders work together, there is a lot the County and the cities could <br />accomplish. For instance, developing a cohesive retail strategy would allow the County to be intentional in the <br />opportunities it pursues, while also increasing the tax base and improving access to services locally. lt could also <br />remove the barriers to doing business in the region by unifying planning and permitting standards. ln addition, it <br />could strengthen the community's identity by enhancing ties with and supporting cwU. <br />ln short, working better together will lead to greater success for the entire County. <br />PAGE 6 I ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN