Roundtable focuses on a local economic force: the military

Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 9, 2017

EVERETT — Snohomish County on Thursday hosted a first-of-its-kind event to highlight and build on the military’s role in the local economy.

County Executive Dave Somers said the primary goals for the Military and Defense Roundtable are to diversify the regional economy and connect employers with well-qualified potential employees.

“I’m committed to doing as much as we can to assist our region’s military bases, active duty and reserve members of the armed forces, and their families,” Somers said in a news release.

Military operations and the defense industry provide thousands of jobs in the county and contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the local economy. Naval Station Everett is the fourth-largest employer in the county.

The roundtable is part of an economic development initiative that Somers’ administration launched last year. The initiative identified military and defense as one of nine crucial industries for the county.