Economic forecasts presented in February for Snohomish County and its two largest cities, Everett and Marysville, include some positive aspects amid many challenges faced in the present recession economy.
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon is proposing to use $33 million in federally subsidized bonds available under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to stimulate new job growth.
“This bonding program can be used to fund public and private capital improvements that promote economic development and job growth throughout the county,” Reardon said in a February presentation to the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce.
The ReCAP Initiative will focus on projects such as essential public facilities and business infrastructure rather than on providing additonal funding for country programs and services, he said.
A list of projects will be developed by the Executive and the County Council. Likely projects, he said, would be improvements to the county fairgrounds in Monroe, providing permanent jobs in the future, as well as for public safety road projects.
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, also addressing the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce last month, emphasized continued cautious spending, which he said has helped keep the city financially stable.
“We have weathered the downturn remarkably well. Now we need to focus our attention on making sure business is financially stsrong,” he told members.
Among his major projects to support for a healthy economy, he said, is commercial air service at Paine Field.
“Businesses interested in relocating to the Everett area want air service if they’re going to come,” said Stephanson, a long-time supportor of the air service. “in our recruitment efforts, we’ve found one of the top five questions from businesses is, ‘Do you have regional commercial air service.’ It really is a no-brainer. I can’t see why we don’t embrace this in a more significant way.”
He also praised Naval Station Everett for its contributions to the community and local economy, and emphasized the importance of working to be sure the Navy assigns a future aircraft carrier to the Everett base while the USS Abraham Lincoln is out of service during a two-year refueling cycle.
He also emphasized that despite the local disappointment over Boeing’s decision to establish a second 787 production line in South Carolina, it’s only realistic to recognize Boeing’s reasons.
“Boeing is looking at their long-term surviability. They need redundency in their production options to be sure they can serve their customers’ needs. They’re doing why they have to do to be successful long-term. We in the public sector need to focus on improving the business climate in the state, county and city,” he said.
In Marysville, now the county’s second largest city following a Central Marysville annexation of 19,000 people to add to its 37,000 population late in 2009, Mayor Dennis Kendall sees 2010 as a time to move forward with several major projects to reduce traffic congestion, a significant challenge for the city.
He noted that in 2009 State Avenue was expanded to five lanes from 136th St. NE to 152nd St. NE and that more projects are planned for 2010, including Ingraham Blvd, an extension of 88th St. NE from 667th Ave. to 74th Dr. to serve the new Getchell High School when it opens this fall.
Another major project is the Lakewood Triangle Access/156th St. Overcrossing that will connect Twin lakes Blvd. and Smokey Point Blvd., providing a long awaited solution to traffic congestion created by construction of the the Lakewood Crossing Shopping Center at Smokey Point and I-5.
“Marysville will be working with a tight budget of $118.3 million, with a 34.1 million general fund budget for public services in 2010, “ he said, “despite lower sales and property taxes due to the recession.”
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