EDASC top 10 activities of 2021

With 2021 in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look back at EDASC’s 10 top activities of 2021, presented in no particular order.

1. Skagit County Economic Recovery Plan: EDASC in late 2021 completed its Skagit County Economic Recovery Plan, a 46-page plan featuring 14 programming recommendations for funding by the county. Moving forward, EDASC plans to act on the county’s selected recommendations in 2022 and beyond.
2. Workforce: Answering the needs of its Investors, EDASC launched the Skagit Job Board, available as a no-cost perk to EDASC Investors. It also hosted three virtual job fairs.
3. Business Attraction: EDASC supported the arrival of Silfab Solar, a solar panel manufacturers that plans to employ about 400, and Commercial Aircraft Interiors, which plans to employ about 80. EDASC was also involved with the arrivals of  Mocean Canoes and Bounty Marine.
4. EDASC Moves: EDASC relocated for the first time in at least three decades, moving to new offices on E. College Way. The location offers advantages for EDASC staff and its clientele, including ample off-street parking, a central location near Interstate 5, and a substantial savings in rent.
5. Awards: EDASC won a pair of awards from the Washington Economic Development Association, including the first award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It also won Emerging Professional for Tamsin Bell.
6. Grant Funding: EDASC secured a pair of competitive grants from the Northwest Business Development Association ($30,000) and Umpqua Bank ($3,500). The funding covers activities for small business and entrepreneurial support, particularly for underserved communities.
7. Skagit Tourism Bureau: The Skagit Tourism Bureau was formed and hired its first CEO Jake Buganski. The organization was formed to meet the tourism marketing needs of Skagit County, and is a collaborative effort among lodging businesses, municipalities, chambers of commerce and EDASC.
8. JEDI Speaker Series: EDASC in partnership with the county chambers of commerce hosted six Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Speaker Series virtual events. These events covered topics such as unconscious bias, strategies for hiring, leveraging JEDI principles as part of your competitive advantage, and more.
9. Leadership Skagit: Leadership Skagit, a program of EDASC in partnership with Skagit Valley College, resumed in-person learning with one of its largest classes ever. The program provides experiential leadership training for emerging and established leaders.
10. Skagit Housing Consortium: EDASC began facilitating the Skagit Housing Consortium, a collective effort to address housing availability and affordability, which is an economic development and community health priority. Moving forward, the consortium plans to form a 501c3 to continue tackling this challenge.