Building Skagit’s Tomorrow: A Blueprint for a Thriving Community
Think of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) not as a static legal document, but as Skagit County’s living roadmap for the future. At its heart, it’s an ongoing conversation. It brings together local residents, schools, government leaders, and private industries to ask a fundamental question: How do we build a community where everyone can thrive?
To answer that, the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) has mapped out a vision focused on growth, connection, and resilience. Here is how that vision comes to life.
Educational & Training Program
To expand education and training programs that align with the identified needs of local employers in key industry sectors. We help regional talent connect with Skagit County businesses in key industry sectors with middle schools, high schools, technical colleges, higher education institutions, and skills providers for career-connected learning.
Innovation & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
To grow employment in industry clusters that build on industry strengths in Skagit, including advanced, precision, and high-tech manufacturing; maritime manufacturing; agrotechnology; clean energy; and food processing. Skagit County is leveraging the recent US EPA Clean Ports Program grant to the Port of Anacortes and by partnering to convert port equipment to battery electric power to spur additional clean tech investment, train workers in clean technology, and grow jobs through enhanced port operations. Skagit County aims target a dynamic, richly networked innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for a full range of businesses, supporting early-stage, venture-funded (growth) stage and late-stage startups. Skagit County is leveraging the recent US EPA Clean Ports Program grant to the Port of Anacortes and partners to convert port equipment to battery electric power to spur additional clean tech investment, train workers in clean technology, and grow jobs through enhanced port operations. Skagit County aims to support public-private redevelopment at the Port of Skagit’s SedroWoolley Innovation for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Center and consider development of an innovation center based around the campus.
Business Climate
To advocate for a business climate that better serves small businesses. Skagit County aims provide technical support to local governments to improve permitting efficiency, decrease timelines, and streamline processes. Businesses can partner with EDASC, in conjunction with local jurisdictions, to develop materials to help businesses navigate permitting, licensing, and other administrative processes in Skagit County
Housing Supply and Affordability
To recognize housing supply and affordability challenges as central to economic prosperity throughout Skagit County and support significant expansion of both market-rate and affordable housing across the County as part of CEDS on-going governance and evaluation. Skagit County aims to continue to support the efforts of Skagit County’s North Star initiative to update land-use planning policies in a coordinated manner, identify properties suitable for affordable multifamily housing, and to promote faster housing production for people at all income levels. In order to support the incorporation of, and an increased emphasis on, by-right development regulation and zoning reforms that can modestly increase density in single family and multifamily zones across the four cities in Skagit County, and increase density near transit.
Infrastructure Provision
To support countywide efforts via planning and coordination to expand access to reliable, affordable, and redundant high-speed internet service in east county areas with limited availability as well as in urban areas where affordability and service reliability are issues. Skagit County aims to pursue additional funding to support the efforts of SkagitNet, a broadband company formed and operated jointly by the Port of Skagit and Skagit Public Utility District, to expand broadband coverage to rural communities in east Skagit County. Collaborate with and support PSE and Skagit PUD to find solutions to strengthen the grid’s resilience against agency -anticipated extreme weather events, climate risks and related incidents (including landslides, wildfires, flooding, and more). Skagit County can help locate and pursue funding for PUD prioritized projects to expand water supply for new development, including addressing current bottlenecks and ensuring adequate fire water supply.