EDASC's 'Top 10' of 2024

Here we review the EDASC staff's picks of the top 10 notable accomplishments from 2024.

EDASC receives Accredited Economic Development Organization designation

The International Economic Development Council, the world’s largest economic development professional association, honored EDASC with the Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) designation in February 2024. Not only was EDASC one of just 78 organizations to receive this esteemed accreditation, it is also the only economic development organization in the entire Pacific Northwest to have received the AEDO designation. The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly accepted standards in the profession. Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that EDASC has attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well placed, and their business is in good hands. IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle announced the award at EDASC’s Economic Forecast Night.

Startup School launches

Startup School, EDASC’s 12-week entrepreneurial training program, began in March 2024 with a Spanish-language cohort and was followed by an English-language cohort starting in September. In total, 38 entrepreneurs graduated from the program in 2024. Their business ventures include a food truck, a cleaning service, and a roofing company. Startup School is a partnership between EDASC and the My Own Business Institute (MOBI) at Santa Clara University. EDASC developed the program and engaged MOBI to provide the online curriculum. In addition, SBDC Washington advisors were on hand during classroom sessions to answer questions about the business concepts being discussed. The program is already getting noticed, with WECU awarding EDASC an Education First grant for $22,000 to help fund the Startup School over the next two years. Read more about Startup School on page xx.

EDASC makes significant impact on small businesses

EDASC once again made a significant positive impact on the Skagit business community in 2024, supporting businesses of all sizes from aspiring entrepreneurs to those with hundreds of employees. EDASC supported about 460 different businesses for about 1,400 touches total. To accomplish this, EDASC works with numerous partners on programming. For instance, EDASC held a Meet the Buyers event in partnership with APEX in February, connecting businesses with government buying departments, and continued hosting APEX in office throughout the year for technical assistance and marketing workshops. EDASC continued supporting entrepreneurs – about 350 touches – through RAIN Catalysts, Startup School and partnerships with the Small Business Development Center and the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship. It worked with the Department of Commerce on multiple workshops and conferences, including the Family-Friendly Workplace Employer Cohort Program. And, as always, EDASC continued to work with a pipeline of prospective businesses with over 180 touches.

Leadership Skagit continues its momentum into next 20 years

In 2024, Leadership Skagit celebrated its first 20 years and set the stage for the next 20 successful years of leadership development in Skagit County. In May, alumni and supporters celebrated with an event at Christianson’s Nursery, with graduates representing nearly all 20 classes in attendance. In September, EDASC welcomed Gina Eakin as the new program liaison. As a Leadership Skagit alumna and past volunteer facilitator for the program, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. The program is going strong, with 26 participants in the 2024-25 class. Enrollment for the 2025-26 class is now open. 

Continued focus on workforce development

EDASC continued its workforce development programming in 2024, connecting employers with support services, developing pipelines in collaboration with education, and hosting hiring events. EDASC held three job fairs, connecting Skagit employers with hundreds of job seekers. EDASC also continued to host the Skagit Job Board on its website, a no-cost perk to all EDASC Investors. After EDASC’s September job fair, one business commented, “It was a great turnout, and we met great potential candidates. We look forward to future events!” For the year, EDASC had nearly 400 workforce-related touches helping Skagit businesses.
EDASC connects small businesses with state agencies
EDASC hosted eight state agencies as part of the Small Business Requirements & Resources Workshop at Skagit Valley College in November. The workshop drew 30 small business owners to hear from the agencies in a workshop setting followed by an opportunity to interact one-on-one with state representatives. The SBRR workshops were launched in 2019 by the Washington State Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT) and include contributions from the Employment Security, Revenue, and Labor & Industries departments. These workshops aim to bridge the gap between small business owners and the often-complex regulatory landscape. They equip entrepreneurs with the information needed to avoid costly penalties, improve operational efficiency, and access cost-saving programs. EDASC partner organization CIE hosted the workshop for Spanish speakers.

EDASC receives $175k in grants

As a 501(c)(3), EDASC seeks grants to help fund programs and operations. It’s an important way to diversify the revenue streams supporting EDASC programs assisting Skagit businesses. This year, EDASC received $175,000 in grant funding, including the following:
•    WECU Education First – Startup School, $22,000 over two years  
•    Federal Home Loan Bank – matching WECU funds, $33,000 
•    Northwest Business Development Association (NWBDA) – Economic Development Investment Grant $25,000. This is the third grant NWBDA has awarded EDASC.
•    Skagit Community Foundation – Leadership Skagit program support, $5,000 
•    Washington State Department Commerce Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness – Grant Writer Program (all funds going to contract with a grant writer), $21,700 
•    Washington State Department of Commerce – Community Based Organization, Skagit County Public Participation Grant, $65,000. This grant was funded by cap-and-invest dollars generated by the Climate Commitment Act. 
•    Washington Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance - Small Business Requirements and Resources Workshop, $4,000 

Gaining an understanding of child care needs

EDASC began tackling employee retention and recruitment challenges stemming from limited access to child care or other care needs through impactful partnerships with the Center for Retention and Expansion of Child Care, the State Department of Commerce’s Family-Friendly Workplaces Program, the Northwest Educational Service District 189 and the Northwest Career and Technical Academy. EDASC also gathered data from businesses on how child care needs impact their employees and brought in the three-month Family-Friendly Workplaces Child Care Cohort program through its partnership with Commerce. This program helped a dozen Skagit employers develop customized solutions to child care issues their employees face.
Participating in Skagit County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 
EDASC has partnered with SCOG (Skagit Council of Governments), Skagit County, the Port of Skagit, and others since the beginning of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process, which ramped up during 2024. The CEDS serves as a countywide plan for economic growth and development. In 2024 SCOG worked with a consultant to create an entirely new CEDS for Skagit County, convening community meetings and providing online opportunities for comment, reaching hundreds of county residents. EDASC and others participating on the steering committee worked to ensure that all relevant economic development strategies meshed in the context of the CEDS, which turned into a truly far-reaching and actionable product. The SCOG Board adopted the CEDS at its December 2024 meeting, and has tasked EDASC with the ongoing benchmarking, reporting and facilitation necessary to implement all the recommendations.

EDASC at the forefront of housing issues

EDASC continues to facilitate the Skagit Housing Consortium, which provides an open forum for all interested in housing issues to share best practices and support workable solutions. The monthly online meeting features guest speakers from around the state offering ideas and strategies from their own experiences. Participants include those from the nonprofit and development communities, municipalities and interested residents. The consortium seeks to ramp up activities further in 2025 to help generate public support for increased housing availability as this is a prime obstacle to job growth in Skagit County.