Laserfiche WebLink
8 | Old Heat CERB Feasibility Study <br />A new approach to economic development in the region <br />Kittitas County has excelled at traditional economic development methods such as retail and tourism-based businesses. <br />However, this has not been enough to build long-term prosperity for Kittitas County. <br />The Old Heat project introduces a new, research-driven approach that focuses on growing “accelerative” industries— <br />businesses that not only bring jobs but also expand skills, technology, and opportunities across the community. Instead of <br />chasing short-term investment, this strategy leverages Central Washington University’s talent and research to create an <br />innovation hub that trains workers, helps local businesses adopt advanced technologies, and attracts high-value sectors like <br />aerospace, agricultural technology, clean energy, and software. <br />By linking education, <br />entrepreneurship, and industry <br />under one roof, Old Heat <br />is designed to spark a <br />self-sustaining economic <br />ecosystem where knowledge <br />and opportunity stay in the <br />community, making Kittitas <br />County more competitive and <br />resilient for the future. <br />By linking education, <br />entrepreneurship, and <br />industry under one roof, <br />Old Heat is designed to <br />spark a self-sustaining <br />economic ecosystem where <br />knowledge and opportunity <br />stay in the community, <br />making Kittitas County <br />more competitive and <br />resilient for the future. <br />A NEW APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION <br />Kittitas County has excelled at <br />traditional economic development <br />methods such as retail and tourism- <br />based businesses. <br />However, this has not been enough to <br />build long-term prosperity for Kittitas <br />County. <br />The Old Heat project introduces a <br />new, research-driven approach that <br />focuses on growing “accelerative” <br />industries -- businesses that not only <br />bring jobs but also expand skills, <br />technology, and opportunities across <br />the community. Instead of chasing <br />short-term investment, this strategy <br />leverages Central Washington <br />University’s talent and research to <br />create an innovation hub that trains <br />workers, helps local businesses adopt <br />advanced technologies, and attracts <br />high-value sectors like aerospace, <br />agricultural technology, clean energy, <br />and software. <br />OURAPPROACH