Published: Thursday, December 11, 2008
County to create plan to stimulate economy
EVERETT -- Snohomish County's elected leaders agreed Wednesday to create an economic stimulus plan in response to a financial crisis that has crippled most of the nation.
"It is critical that Snohomish County government focus on taking action to preserve local jobs and business and attract new ones to our region," County Council Chairman Dave Somers said.
The plan is likely to evolve from a series of meetings with local business and community leaders. Those meetings have not yet been scheduled, but are expected to begin in January, said Christopher Schwarzen, spokesman for County Executive Aaron Reardon.
The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties asked both Reardon and the council to take a proactive step in response to the local economy, Schwarzen said.
"It was further proof that we needed to do what we were already talking about," Schwarzen said.
Reardon, Somers and other county leaders plan to comb through money and opportunities available to the county from the state and federal governments, and partner with nonprofit groups to attract economic growth. Reardon has already told county department heads to do everything they can to stimulate innovation and business development.
The stimulus plan is only the latest in a series of actions by county leaders in response to the national financial crisis. The County Council approved a 2009 budget late last month that accounts for a projected $21 million shortfall compared with 2008 revenue.
Nearly 100 county workers will be told to leave their jobs by the end of the year, and department budgets have been stripped to bare bones.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
"It is critical that Snohomish County government focus on taking action to preserve local jobs and business and attract new ones to our region," County Council Chairman Dave Somers said.
The plan is likely to evolve from a series of meetings with local business and community leaders. Those meetings have not yet been scheduled, but are expected to begin in January, said Christopher Schwarzen, spokesman for County Executive Aaron Reardon.
The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties asked both Reardon and the council to take a proactive step in response to the local economy, Schwarzen said.
"It was further proof that we needed to do what we were already talking about," Schwarzen said.
Reardon, Somers and other county leaders plan to comb through money and opportunities available to the county from the state and federal governments, and partner with nonprofit groups to attract economic growth. Reardon has already told county department heads to do everything they can to stimulate innovation and business development.
The stimulus plan is only the latest in a series of actions by county leaders in response to the national financial crisis. The County Council approved a 2009 budget late last month that accounts for a projected $21 million shortfall compared with 2008 revenue.
Nearly 100 county workers will be told to leave their jobs by the end of the year, and department budgets have been stripped to bare bones.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
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