R2025-193 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Exhibit A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE FORMATION OF THE KITTITAS COU NTY. ECONOM IC DEVE LO PM ENT PARTN ERSHIP THIS MEMOMNDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (referred to as "MOU" and/or "Agreement') is entered into by and among Kittitas county, the municipalities of Ellensburg, Kittitas, Cl. Elur, South'Cle Elum, and Roslyn, the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, Ellensburg Downtown Association, Cle Elum Downtown Association, Roslyn Downtown Association, and central washington university (collectively, the "Parties'), all located within Kittitas County, Washington. wHEREAS, the Parties recognize the need for coordinated economic development to foster a vibrant, resilient, aid diversified economy in Kittitas County; and WHEREAS, the Parties pledged in 2023 to collaborate under a cooperative framework to implemeni the Kittitas bounty Economic Development Strategic Plan ['the Planf thiough the signing of the Letter of Mutual Partnership; and wHEREAS, the Parties now desire to formalize their continued commitment to the partnership by forming a collaborative entity to implement the Plan; and WHEREAS, the parties agree that a collaborative partnership will provide a better avenue to expand 1"erourt", maximizing investment of Kittitas County's Rural Counties Public Facilities sales Tax credit funding (0.9%) under Rcw 82.14.370 to ensure successful implementation of the Plan under the authority of the conference of Governments (COG); and WHEREAS, the Parties agree that the Conference of Governments, organized as a regional pianning agency with the purpose of developing and promoting communication, unierstbnding, and cooperation among the member jurisdictions under RCW 36.70.060 and Rcw 36.64.080 through Rcw 36.64.110, is the appropriate oversight agency for strategic economic development collaboration' NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows: 1. DEFINITION: we define econornic development in Kittitas county as the active work and intentional choices we make to foster diverse local businesses, recruit compatible industries, and create pathways to sustainable, living-wage jobs, driven by strategic decisions on community and infrastructure investment. It demands conscious effort to ensure this growth strengthens our quality of life by expanding oppoftunities and improving houii;g affordabili-ty, while deliberately safeguarding the agricultural roots, lurat aiO historic character, and natural beauty unique to Kittitas County. 2. pURpOSE: The purpose of this Agreement is to establish the Kittitas County Economic Developmeni p.rtn"rrnip (kCEOp) as a collaborative action entity to facilitate,