WEDA: Job Recovery & Economic Vitality Across Washington

Summary

A slide presentation titled Working Together for Job Recovery & Economic Vitality Across Washington, given by the executive director of the Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA) in Q1 2021. It sets out WEDA's 2021 Economic Recovery Legislative Agenda under three headings: strengthening the economic development ecosystem, fostering catalysts for job recovery and growth, and increasing prosperity for all of Washington. The requests include restoring ADO/EDC funding from $3.3M to $4.3M per year, authorizing tax increment financing and protecting the .09 percent sales and use tax for rural counties. The slides report pre-COVID results of local development organizations and describe COVID-19 response work, including $12B+ in PPP to over 102,000 small businesses in 2020. It closes with priorities on workforce development, housing, the clean economy and rulemaking.

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  Working Together for Job
Recovery & Economic Vitality
     Across Washington




  Suzanne Dale Estey, WEDA Executive Director
                    Q1 2021
What We Do
   Washington State’s only trade association laser-focused on
    economic development
   25th Anniversary
   WEDA is committed to recovering, retaining, expanding and
    recruiting jobs and investment in Washington State
   Our Strategic Goals – since COVID-19: Creating an imperative to
    empower communities across Washington with tools to recover
    from the COVID-19 crisis, assisting employers large and small in
    rebuilding, becoming globally competitive and growing jobs,
    while supporting an equitable economy and inclusive economic
    development.
   We Believe: The time is now to rebuild our economic vitality,
    increase the resiliency of our economy, and strengthen the
    economic development ecosystem at state, regional and local
    levels.
Statewide Economic Challenges


                                US Rate:
                                6.7%

                                WA State
                                Rate:
                                5.9%

                                Source: WA
                                State ESD
WEDA’s Top Legislative Priorities
WEDA’s 2021 Economic Recovery Legislative Agenda focuses on the
most critical actions lawmakers can take to recover, retain and grow
living wage jobs, foster vibrant communities, support equity and
opportunity for all and spark re-investment across Washington State:


   Strengthen the Economic Development Ecosystem


   Foster Catalysts for Job Recovery & Growth


   Increase Prosperity for All of Washington
Onward & Upward: Economic Recovery
Resources Forum – July 14-15, 2020
Key Learnings from the Forum, still applicable:
   Diversity, Equity and Inclusion must be central to our work
   Critical need for Child Care infrastructure and options
   Main Streets/small businesses need more help; must work
    with lenders on flexibility in lending to small, Main Street
    and microenterprises; lower hurdles to access capital
   Addressing broadband infrastructure gaps is essential
   Business and economic developers must share learnings/
    best practices broadly
Strengthen the Economic
Development Ecosystem
WEDA believes a robust economic development ecosystem at the
state, regional and local levels is crucial for sustained economic
recovery:
2021 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS:
   Support & protect state-level leadership in economic
    development, including full support for Business Recruitment,
    Retention & Expansion programs
   Continue to restore funding for regional capacity to coordinate
    and deliver economic development services. Build on 2019
    legislative investment of $1M and continue to restore ADO/EDC
    funding from $3.3M to $4.3M per year, funded by the General
    Fund. New during COVID: $2M in one-time federal CARES Act
    funding underway; $50K each ADO + more for some
 Strengthen the Economic
 Development Ecosystem
Associate Development Organizations/Economic Development Councils
   Governor Booth Gardner created “Team Washington” network in
    1985 – still high-performing 35 years later
   34 regional economic development organizations serve all 39
    counties
   Underpin the State’s economic development programs and initiatives
   “Ground game” for Washington State Commerce department
   Enhance economic development service delivery and results
    statewide by forming public‐private, state‐local partnerships
   Mission: confidential, client-based economic development that
    public-private partnerships are uniquely equipped to provide
 Strengthen the Economic
 Development Ecosystem
Associate Development Organizations/Economic Development Councils
COLLECTIVE RESULTS (pre-COVID):
   Over the last five years, local ADO/EDC partners have helped over 681
    businesses expand or develop new facilities and assisted 233 start ups.
   These companies have invested over $1.682 billion in land, buildings and
    equipment.
   These growing businesses have created over 11,928 new jobs
   EDC business clients are estimated to generate over $100 million in new
    tax revenues for Washington State and local communities. Every state
    dollar leverages a match of at least six dollars from other public and
    private sources.
Through COVID-19 Crisis, ADOs have worked in partnership with
Commerce, counties and cities to solicit, implement and fund thousands
of small business grants. In WA-Round One, over 26K applications were
received for 1,442 awards. ADOs also executed extensive outreach to
hundreds of nonprofit organizations and underserved communities about
resources such as federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
 Strengthen the Economic
 Development Ecosystem
Many other important economic development entities, players – ADOs/EDCs play critical
role as conveners and catalysts:
   Washington State Department of Commerce, including Industry Sector Leads
   Other state and federal agencies, WA Small Business Development Centers
   Ports (some are Associate Development Organizations)
   Counties
   Cities
   Tribes
   Universities
   Workforce development partners
   State industry cluster/trade associations (AFA, WTIA, LSW, WA Maritime Fed.)
   Association of Washington Business, Washington Roundtable, local Chambers of
    Commerce, private businesses, banks, Community Devel. Financial Institutions
   Utilities & Railroads
   Other coalitions/EDOs/regional EDOs/Economic Development Districts/MPOs
   Labor partners
   And many more: Visitor & Convention Bureaus, redevelopment agencies,
    Impact Washington, incubators
Foster Catalysts for Job
Recovery & Growth
WEDA supports investments in state infrastructure financing tools and programs
that catalyze business recovery, retention, expansion and recruitment at the
regional and local levels.
2021 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS:
   Continued Triage: direct Small Business support and enhanced technical assistance;
    must also work to lower hurdles to access capital
   Support strategies to help the devastated Tourism, Hospitality & Aerospace sectors
   Authorize Tax Increment Financing
   Invest in Infrastructure through state public works programs which support
    expanding businesses:
      o  Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), Public Works Trust Fund
         Transportation Improvement Board, Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) funding
   Support broadband capacity initiatives and investment
   Support increased investments in road and transit infrastructure, maintenance and
    services to more efficiently move people and freight
   Protect Economic Development Strategic Reserve Fund
   Protect targeted incentives to foster innovation clusters and private investment
Increase Prosperity for All of WA
WEDA supports policies and investments that ensure that all
parts of the state, and all people, benefit in increased
prosperity through inclusive economic development.
2021 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS:
 Support Governor Inslee’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  outreach and investment proposals
 Protect the .09 percent Sales & Use Tax for Public
  Facilities and economic development activities in Rural
  Counties
  Rural counties in Washington have benefitted from up to a
  .09% “rebate” of locally-generated state sales and use tax
  for over twenty years. This critical tool has helped to build
  critical infrastructure, attract new industry and diversify
  economies, and create and retain jobs.
Increase Prosperity for All of WA
COVID-19 Economic Response & Recovery
   Weekly members meetings; regular communication; best
    practices; Economic Resiliency Tool Box; Economic
    Recovery Resources Forum
   Advocacy for ecosystem & small business assistance
   Mobilizing & maximizing federal resources for WA small
    businesses & nonprofit employers
     o   Washington State Small Business Recovery Working Group
     o   2020: $12B+ in PPP - over 102,000 small businesses + EIDL;
         goal – current PPP round: $6B+ (per capita share of $284B)
     o   Mobilizing multi-discipline teams statewide & regional
         (ADO, Commerce, SBDC, Commerce Resiliency Partners,
         banks/lenders, CDFIs, chambers, other economic
         development partners & community leaders)
   PPP is Back & Better campaign underway; need
    resources, support
    Additional WEDA Priorities
2021 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS:
   Workforce Development: In a global economy, human capital is an essential ingredient
    that drives business innovation, growth and competitiveness. WEDA supports Washington’s 12
    Local Workforce Development Boards who apply an equity lens to meeting talent pipeline needs
    with innovative, data-driven solutions. Local Boards leverage resources to provide a quality
    workforce including the Job Skills Program, Customized Training, Apprenticeships, One-Stop
    WorkSource Centers, career connected learning and recovery-related reskilling. WEDA also
    supports the preservation of state funding for Washington’s community colleges and public four-
    year universities. Maintaining investments in postsecondary education and producing a highly
    skilled workforce is vital for the economic development of our state. Washington State‘s
    nationally ranked talent starts with strong early learning, a robust K-12 system and completion
    with credentials from the State’s top-quality educational institutions and internationally-
    recognized research universities. We face severe childcare capacity gaps that must be addressed
    to support early child development and working parents. Our education systems cannot be
    taken for granted and need sustainable funding and support.

   Housing Affordability & Supply: WEDA will support legislation to improve
    housing affordability and expand opportunities for housing at all income levels,
    particularly workforce housing.
   Clean/Green Economy: WEDA will support programs and funding to create jobs
    in the Clean Economy, while also maintaining a balanced approach.
   Rulemaking: WEDA supports permit streamlining/efficiency initiatives that
    increase predictability in development.
Let’s Connect
Suzanne Dale Estey
Executive Director
Washington Economic Development Association
206-769-4217
suzanne@wedaonline.org

      www.wedaonline.org

     /WashingtonEconomicDevelopmentAssociation


      /company/washington-economic-development-association/


      @WashingtonEcon1


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