By John Wolcott
Herald Business Journal Editor
Six towns in eastern Snohomish County — Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Monroe, Sultan and Gold Bar — have banded together to win help for infrastructure improvements and economic development.
Dubbed the Evergreen Crescent Initiative, the alliance is named for the crescent shape the communities form along Highways 92 and 9 and U.S. 2. And it’s already gained support from three significant partners, the Snohomish County Planning Department, the Central Puget Sound Economic Development District and the Snohomish County Economic Development Council.
"As an escape from the urbanization of the I-5 corridor, their populations are steadily climbing with the addition of new housing and subdivisions," said Deborah Knutson, president of the county economic development district. "But new homes and residents don’t provide the financial foundation to allow these cities to adequately expand their infrastructures to support the additional population (and businesses)."
She said the communities all need expanded roads, upgraded water and sewer capacity, additional lighting and more developed town centers to not only alleviate present problems but also to attract new businesses and jobs that will help pay for growth.
Because such projects are expensive, the local economic development district has been working on ways to help the towns accomplish their goals by banding together, Knutson added.
Nearly 30 people met Thursday for an official launch of the economic development effort. Further meetings will examine community needs and common goals, followed by a selection of needed projects with advice from the three planning and economic development bodies.
"The (Evergreen Crescent Initiative) will give them a little more political clout and the expertise to compete with larger cities for development funds they may not have a chance to get alone," said Michael Cade, county economic development district vice president and chairman of the Evergreen Crescent Initiative Task Force.
Knutson said many of the cities’ needs focus on critical infrastructure projects, but they also must develop marketing programs and a "solid economic and community development strategy."
Because federal Economic Development Association funds need to be spent by Sept. 1, Cade said he expects "the group will need to move pretty quickly."
The group must complete enough of its market analysis and project ranking by spring to submit public works projects for this year.
Primary representatives for the three economic development partners will include:
The city representatives will be responsible for economic development plans for their respective cities; coordination with local planning commissions, chambers of commerce or other groups; communications with local elected officials; and any financial or service contributions to the group from the cities.
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