EDASC names Aaron Weinberg Economic Development and External Relations Manager

Aaron Weinberg is set to become EDASC’s new economic development & external relations manager, responsible for business recruitment, retention and expansion, and investor and community relations.

The move is effective February 1.

“I’m looking forward to working more closely with existing and prospective businesses to support sustainable economic growth in Skagit County while leaning into my communications background,” Weinberg said. “Looking ahead in 2022, I’m excited to begin work with the EDASC team on the recently-completed Skagit County Economic Recovery Plan, which outlines recommendations addressing workforce shortages, technology and business training, access to capital and more.”

For the past three years, Weinberg has been EDASC’s communications manager, developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy connecting businesses with economic development programming. Of note, Weinberg responded quickly at the start of the pandemic shutdown with web resources for Skagit County businesses and workers that served as a model for economic development organizations statewide.

With the departure of Economic Development Manager Tamsin Bell to a new position with the Economic Development Board of Tacoma/Pierce County, Weinberg will take over duties working with new and expanding businesses and a variety of business assistance and capacity building projects.

He will continue be involved with EDASC Investors and managing communications, with the assistance of Matthew Johnson Money, EDASC’s program support coordinator.
“Aaron Weinberg is an extremely valued team member and was the natural choice to move into this expanded role,” said John Sternlicht, CEO of EDASC. “He has done a tremendous job for EDASC and this community during his three years as Communications Manager, and his knowledge of our economy and businesses formed since his journalism days provides an impressive foundation for this expanded economic development and external relations position.”

Before coming to EDASC in February 2019, Weinberg worked as development director at a small Bellingham-based healthcare nonprofit, helping coordinate events, communications, marketing, and fund development since 2017.

Prior to that, he had worked as a journalist, freelancing several years before joining the Skagit Valley Herald in 2012. There, he worked as a copy editor and sports reporter before transitioning to business reporter in 2015. In that role, he enjoyed covering business topics in the county, from value-added agriculture to advanced manufacturing.

Weinberg earned his B.A. in journalism from Western Washington University.