The Draft Regional Economic Strategy public comment period is now closed

The Regional Economic Strategy is designed to establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties and allows local jurisdictions and eligible organizations to qualify for funding under U.S. Economic Development Administration programs, including funding programs created in response to the pandemic. The public comment period will run from October 11 – November 10, 2021.

The strategy is organized around three overarching goals:

• expanding economic opportunity
• maintaining global competitiveness
• sustaining a high quality of life

The strategy highlights important efforts already underway to reach these goals and identifies new ways for making progress.

Several new and expanded regional challenges were identified through the stakeholder engagement process:

• Equity
• Health
• Childcare
• Job Distribution
• Broadband
• Housing
• Business Recovery
• Industry Resilience

These new and expanded focus areas are highlighted alongside key long-term strategic areas that have been carried forward from the last adopted strategy.

The board is scheduled to adopt the strategy in December.