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The structuralchallenge lies in Kittitas County's reliance on low-multiplier
<br />industries. Education and healthcare are the largest employers, followed by
<br />accommodation and food services, While vitalto residents, these sectors do
<br />not generate substantial outside revenue, Education and healthcare remain
<br />the largest employers, while accommodation and food services rank second.
<br />By contrast, nearby King County is anchored by industries in scientific,
<br />management, and technical services-industries that act as true base sectors
<br />by pulling in external capital and supporting high-wage ecosystems. Without an
<br />industrial base rooted in advanced technologies, Kittitas cannot retain talent or
<br />generate meaningful wage growth.
<br />This imbalance results in consistent outmigration of skilled youth and
<br />underutilization of the county's above-average educational attainment (35%
<br />bachelor's degree or higher, compared to only 18% in Yakima). Old Heat
<br />addresses this gap by providing the missing bridge: a commercialization and
<br />technology hub designed to attract firms aligned with Washington's strongest
<br />clusters (aerospace, advanced manufacturing, agtech, Al applications) while
<br />also equipping local businesses to compete in broader supply chains.
<br />The strategy is explicitly designed to avoid repeating low-value economic
<br />patterns. Old Heat will not reinforce dependency on externally owned, low-wage,
<br />low-technology firms. lnstead, it aims to create a multiplier effect by anchoring
<br />technology-intensive enterprises, encouraging adjacent startups, and connecting
<br />CWU's applied learning and research with realcommercial pathways. ln doing
<br />so, Old Heat provides Kittitas County with the infrastructure and institutional
<br />platform to finally integrate with, rather than remain bypassed by, Washington's
<br />metropolitan innovation economy.
<br />15Yo
<br />20%
<br />150
<br />1SYo
<br />Professional, Scientifi c,
<br />tt4ot, & Admin Svcs
<br />Education Svc,
<br />Healthcare, Social Svcs
<br />Ms, Accommodation,
<br />Food Service
<br />Agriculture, Forestry
<br />and Mining
<br />22o/o
<br />23Yo
<br />23o/o
<br />21%Education, Healthcare,
<br />Social Svcs
<br />Education, Healthcare,
<br />Social Svcs
<br />Scientific, Mgt, &Admin
<br />Svcs
<br />Education, Healthcare,
<br />Social Svcs
<br />41o/o
<br />58%
<br />35Yo
<br />18lo
<br />61o/o
<br />68%
<br />58%
<br />60%
<br />$ 94,605
<br />$120,824
<br />$69,928
<br />$69,525
<br />38,6
<br />37.7
<br />37.9
<br />33.8
<br />7,705,281
<br />2,260,675
<br />44,357
<br />256,728
<br />WAState
<br />King
<br />Gounty
<br />Kittitas
<br />County
<br />Yakima
<br />County
<br />MEDIAN
<br />HOUSEHOLD
<br />rNcoME (2)
<br />4YR
<br />DEGREE OR
<br />HTGHER (2)
<br />TOP INDUSTRY FOR
<br />CIVILIAN EMPLOYED
<br />POPULATION 16 AND
<br />ovER (2)
<br />2ND INDUSTRY FOR
<br />% OF TOTAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYED % OF TOTAL
<br />EMPLOYMENT POPULATION16AND EMPLOYMENT
<br />ovER (2)
<br />REGTON PoPULATTON (1)EMPLOYMENT
<br />RATE {2)
<br />MEDIAN
<br />AGE (2)
<br />Table 3 - Median Wage Comparison Chaft
<br />Old Heat CERB Feasibility Study | 35
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