Laserfiche WebLink
s <br />KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: October 14, 2024 <br />TOPIC: Comprehensive Economic Development <br />Strategic Plan <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Joshua Fredrickson <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff to prepare enabling documents for use of 2024 Fund 108 (Distressed County <br />Sales and Use Tax) <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic (CEDS) plan is a community <br />based economic development plan needed to be eligible for certain federal <br />funding <br />• CEDS are developed regionally, with Kittitas and Yakima County <br />• Most recent CEDS was updated in 2015 <br />• Central Washington University (CWU) has experience with developing CEDS <br />that meet Federal requirements <br />• Conference of Governments supports use of 2024 Public Facilities Fund 108 <br />(Distressed County Sales and Use Tax) to fund CEDS update <br />BACKGROUND: <br />A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) contributes to effective <br />economic development in communities and regions. This economic development <br />planning effort helps to engage community leaders, leverage private sector involvement <br />and assist in developing regional collaboration. Regions need to update their CEDS on a <br />regular basis, typically every five years, to qualify for the U.S. Economic Development <br />Administration (EDA) assistance under its Public Works and Economic Adjustment <br />Assistance programs. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />CEDS is a strategy driven plan for regional economic development. This economic <br />development plan is a prerequisite for designation by the EDA as an Economic <br />Development District (EDD). Central Washington University has experience with the <br />