EVERETT – For $4 million, the Snohomish County Economic Development Council says the county could have more high-paying jobs and a better climate for existing businesses.
The council formally kicked off its campaign to raise the money to fund its next five-year, $4 million plan last week.
The good news, leaders said, is that they’ve already got tentative commitments for close to $2.4 million.
“There will always be job losses in our economy,” said council chairman Jack Oharah, kicking off the new fundraising effort. To offset that, the community needs an ongoing program to attract new businesses.
“To win, we need to be in the game,” he said.
The council had a $3.5 million budget over the life of its last five year plan, which covered 2001-2005. Donations fell short, and the council never had the full amount to spend.
Compared to that five-year plan, this one is more focused on expanding jobs in specific industries and less on public policy work, officials said.
Over the next five years, the development council wants to help companies create 5,000 jobs in Snohomish County, he said. It’s looking at jobs with an average annual wage of $42,000.
The council also wants to attract $750 million in capital investment by businesses in the county, Oharah said.
To do this, it will focus on assisting three industries that already are in the county: aerospace, electronics and life science companies, and the companies that do manufacturing for them.
“We’ve really narrowed it down to our areas of focus, said Deborah Knutson, development council president. “How do you grow those sectors?”
The work will include improving work-force training in the county so companies in those industries can find workers.
The council also wants to coordinate with organizations to lobby for “legislation that works,” Knutson said.
A big part of the council’s efforts in the first year, she said, will be working to raise the region’s profile among the major site-selection companies, the consultants who help major corporations decide where to locate new facilities.
The council has met with these people in the past. It now plans to invite them here to see the area for themselves.
“It costs money to do this,” she said. “It costs money to do the meet-and-greet and relationship building.”
The council started its behind-the-scenes fundraising in the fall, when it contacted companies and government agencies that had given in the past to see if they would contribute in the future.
Over the next three months, the council plans to step up its fundraising, Knutson said. It’s particularly looking for corporate support. “We’ve been about 50-50 public vs. private, and we’d like to be a little more private,” she said.
Successful economic development is “going to require great people, collaboration and engagement,” said The Everett Clinic’s chief executive, Rick Cooper, who is helping to lead the fundraising effort. “We have much work to do.”
Reporter Bryan Corliss: 425-339-3454 or corliss@heraldnet.com.
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