Kittitas County Economic Development Partnership MOU_Final Draft (5)

Home Browse Search

Exhibit A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE FORMATION OF THE KITTITAS COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (referred to as “MOU” and/or “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Kittitas County, the municipalities of Ellensburg, Kittitas, Cle Elum, 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, and diversified economy in Kittitas County; and WHEREAS, the Parties pledged in 2023 to collaborate under a cooperative framework to implement the Kittitas County Economic Development Strategic Plan (“the Plan”) through 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 resources 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 planning agency with the purpose of developing and promoting communication, understanding, 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 economic 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 opportunities and improving housing affordability, while deliberately safeguarding the agricultural roots, rural and historic character, and natural beauty unique to Kittitas County. 2. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Agreement is to establish the Kittitas County Economic Development Partnership (KCEDP) as a collaborative action entity to facilitate,