Board of Clark County Councilors

Regional Economic

Development Landscape

2015 Activity

• 8 Recruitment wins
• 7 Expansion wins
• 17 Business Growth wins
• 105 unique business visits

CREDC

Clark County

GPI

2016 Initiatives

Lands for Jobs

Economic development: What does it look like?

Presentation Overview

• Economic Development in Clark County
• What is economic development?
• What does economic development activity look like?
• Who are the players?
• What are Clark County’s main economic development challenges?

• New company moves into/is recruited into the area

• Existing company expands/invests capital

• Existing company stays in our community

• Successful event that brings hundreds to our community

• New or improved park

• New or improved library or other public buildings/facilities

• Improved main street entrance to community

• New store fronts, sidewalks and street lights

• New funding for organization

Accelerating Business Growth & Innovation

What is Economic Development?

“Economic development is about positioning the economy on a higher growth trajectory.”

(Feldman, 2014)

Whither our economy?

An introduction to economic development in Clark County

Economic Development Update to

Board of Clark County Councilors

Economic Development: A Team Sport

Presented by: Jeff Swanson, Economic Development Director

February 3, 2016

Infrastructure & Property Development, Recruitment

• Utilities (electric, water, waste water, natural gas, etc.
• Port Districts
• Government (Federal, State, Local & Tribal)

Tourism

Business Development & Recruitment, Coalition Building, Business Climate & Quality of Life

Presented by: Mike Bomar, President

• Visitors & Convention Bureau
• Chambers of Commerce
• Main Street and Downtown Associations

• Economic development councils
• Business Community
• Chambers of Commerce
• Small Business Development Centers (US SBA)
• Government (Federal, State, Local & Tribal)

What are Clark County’s main economic development challenges?

February 3, 2016

Workforce Development

Access to Capital, Funding

& Technical Assistance

• Revolving and Micro-Loan Funds
• Angel Investors
• Small Business Development Centers (US SBA)
• Government (Federal, State, Local & Tribal)

• School Districts (K-12)
• Career & Technical Education (CTE)
• Community Colleges
• Vocational Schools
• Higher Educational Institutions
• Business Community
• Economic Development Council
• Government (Federal, State, Local & Tribal)

• Structural changes in the economy

• Labor force demographics and changing preferences of workers

• Land, storm water, transportation and utilities infrastructure

Structural Changes in the Economy

Other Economic Development Priorities

Clark County Employment Land Study

Questions?

LFJ To Date

• Determine the supply and readiness of employment land sites
• Build consensus on terminology for large parcels and site readiness
• Inform discussion about future land use tools and policies
• Opportunity for alignment with greater Portland’s 2014 large lot study
• Creates framework for ongoing updates

LFJ Committee

Board Awards

Thank you!

• 2011 volunteer land inventory assessment
• 2011 lands for jobs (LFJ) committee formalized
• 2012-2015 LFJ subcommittees established, meet regularly
• 2014 discussions begin on next steps for 2011 project
• 2015 RFP released for employment lands study and project contracted
• 2016 Project launches

• Staff Leads: Elizabeth Scott & Mike Bomar
• Formalized in 2011
• Members include both public and private sector partners
• CREDC serves as a convener to promote this community-led initiative
• Input and directives also come from quarterly EcDev Partners (EDP) meetings

High Level Investors

Land for Jobs

Economic Development Plan Update

Project Timeline

Ongoing LFJ

Efforts 2017

PHASE 1B

(March-May 2016)

PHASE 1A

(December 2015-February 2016)

Mike Bomar, President

mbomar@credc.org

Phone: 360-694-5006

• Engage stakeholders and project advisory group
• Site inventory completed

• Outreach campaign for stakeholders
• Form project advisory group
• Develop project website
• Frame consensus on key metrics
• Develop target industries profiles with infrastructure demands

• Study will influence economic development plan update slated for 2017
• Outcomes of the report will shape LFJ committee initiatives
• Policy tool can be used for future comprehensive planning

PHASE 2

(June – October 2016)

Legislative Priorities

• Prepare a detailed development analysis to determine market opportunities and economic impacts of potential industrial users as well as actions, requirements, and costs needed to address any barriers to site development