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THE OLD HEAT BUILDING Old Heat:A Multiplicative Enterprise for Regional Economic Development The Old Heat project involves re-purposing the facility to bridge the under- leveraged capabilities of the Central Washington region to the needs and opportunities of the larger WA state economic ecosystem. ln this respect, the facility and the activity related to it serve as a funnel for high-value industry to successfully integrate their supply chain activity into regional resources and capabilities. lt also serves as an on-ramp for local industry and entrepreneurship to be competitive in nationaland international markets through activities such as competitive technology integ ration, university resource collaboration, and supply chain support. To guide this work, Old Heat is organized around four core objectives that define its purpose and ensure that every investment, tenant, and partnership advances longterm prosperity for both the region and the state. OLD HEAT MAIN OBJECTIVES 1. High-Wage Job Greation and Rural Economic Mobility Old Heat converts state investment into high-paying and technology- based jobs in areas such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace, ag-tech, and clean energy. lt equips residents with technical skills that align with Washington's innovation economy, helping rural communities participate in high-wage sectors that typically cluster in metro areas. This approach expands opportunity across the state without expanding urban sprawl. 2. Technology Commercialization and Statewide Tech Diffusion Through the activities of Central Washington University (CWU), Old Heat connects state research capacity to regional industry commercializing technologies and spreading innovation beyond metro centers. By linking Central Washington to the state's major innovation hubs, it strengthens the overall Washington ecosystem, ensu ring that breakthroug hs developed in one region create jobs and value across all regions. 3. Adaptive Reuse of State Resources The project revitalizes a historic public building. lnstead of constructing new facilities, Old Heat transforms an underused structure into a hub for innovation, training, and business development. lt stands as a visible example of cross-regional collaboration that yields measurable economic returns and expands access to opportunities for Washingtonians often left out of the innovation economy. 4. Model for Statewide Replication of Strategic East-West Alignment The Old Heat project demonstrates how rural communities can convert legacy infrastructure into competitive, innovation-d riven economies. By strengthening Central Wash ington's con nections to statewide man ufacturi ng and technology supply chains, it makes the entire Washington economy more resilient and competitive. Old Heat provides a replicable model showing how rural and urban regions can function as one integrated system by sharing talent, technology, and opportunity across the state. Together, these four objectives establish the foundation for Old Heat's design and operations. Each translates directly into measurable actions that attract high-value industries, build local capacity, and ensure that technology, wages, and opportunity flow across regions rather than concentrate in one. The project is intentionally structured to serve as an "accelerator of accelerators," both through the programs it houses and through the broader regional innovation and development initiatives it supports. This approach is already gaining external validation. The National Science Foundation has funded CentralWashington University to increase institutional and regional capacity for advanced technology and worKorce development, a mission that aligns directly with Old Heat's purpose. The model guiding this effort, described in the following section, focuses on nurturing the dynamic agency of the region's communities as the true engine of long-term competitiveness. Rethinking Economic Development in Distressed Regions ln regions such as Central Washington, economic development has often been constrained by immediate challenges, such as limited housing, labor market mismatches, and underfunded infrastructure, which consume much of the attention and capacity of local decision-makers. This dynamic prevents long- Old Heat CERB Feasibility Study | 27