News Center

Staff Transitions at EASC Reflect Workforce Trends Nationwide Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) recently welcomed new staff members. In addition, several people are transitioning internally to new roles within the organization. Two new people joined EASC in May: Wendy Poishbeg, VP of Economic Development, and Amanda Gourlie, VP of Operations. In April...Continue Reading

The challenges faced in 2020 were unlike any other confronted in our lifetime. The global pandemic wreaked havoc on our personal and professional lives and the U.S. and global economies. The Commerce Department reports that U.S. GDP declined 3.5 percent in 2020, with the economy falling into recession in February 202...Continue Reading

Profile of the Consultants Survey Respondents At least 80 percent of those responding to our 17th annual Consultants Survey work with manufacturers of durable goods, with some of these consultants also working with other manufacturers, and three quarters are working on distribution/logistics projects. Nearly half represent clients in data processing/computer-related sector...Continue Reading

It’s no secret that the recipe for economic success usually includes generous portions of innovation and technology. That has been part of the economic development story for many years in such places as Boston, Seattle, the Research Triangle, and Silicon Valley. But just as you can find more and more cutting-edg...Continue Reading

You’re evaluating a new site. It checks all the boxes when it comes to the property, local infrastructure, and business climate. You have one more box to check — labor supply. You’re presented with a hodge-podge of numbers. How can you make sense of it all? And what’s the botto...Continue Reading

It seems like the ultimate good-news story. The shift toward electric vehicles will greatly improve the long-term climate health of the planet. It’ll improve human health, too, by reducing pollution. It’ll create thousands of jobs in new industries, with new manufacturing operations lifting local economies. What’s not to like? Don’t forge...Continue Reading

For nearly two years, the predominant COVID-19 driven incentive compliance issue looming over companies has been the difficulty to achieve and report on headcount performance as part of economic development incentive agreements. The evolving workplace landscape precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic adds another wrinkle to this process. With the trend towar...Continue Reading

OLYMPIA, WA – Four additional industry-led consortia were awarded Innovation Cluster Accelerator grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce. These public-private organizations join five others selected earlier this year to grow key industry sectors in Washington state. Each will receive $500,000, along with strategic guidance and support to buil...Continue Reading

Everett thinks it has the missing link for people who want to bike, roll or stroll to and from downtown. The city is considering a $1.35 million project to design and build bike-only paths, bike signal crossings, and sidewalks on Fulton Street between California Street and Pacific Avenue. The stretch, unde...Continue Reading

Restaurants and Hotels COVID Impacts Assessed Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) and its allied chamber and city partners are reaching out to restaurants and hotels as a business retention effort in March. The goal of the so-called Blitz interviews is to learn about the impacts this sector has experienced from th...Continue Reading

Automation has been painted as a threat to employees, and the idea that robots will replace workers and lead to unemployment continues to circulate in some circles. The truth, however, is quite the opposite. According to McKinsey & Company, automation and AI technologies will boost business productivity and GDP growt...Continue Reading

The pandemic has been a game-changer for employee and employer attitudes concerning wellness, well-being, safety, health, and hygiene. Many — if not most — organizations are doubling down on wellness in the workplace. Some are going so far as to incorporate health and well-being into their corporate site selection an...Continue Reading

A prerequisite for a high-quality workforce is people. To upskill employees, attract remote workers, or fill a skill gap through a community college program, you first need people. That may be rather obvious, but talent attraction and retention efforts have been built on the assumption that when it comes t...Continue Reading

RCLCO, partnering with CapRidge Partners, recently produced the fifth annual STEM Job Growth Index (“STEMdex”), highlighting the leading metropolitan areas for both the current presence and future growth potential of STEM jobs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Not coincidentally, the top STEM market areas include the 10 regions of the country whic...Continue Reading

As businesses throughout the country struggle to fill job vacancies, EDCs are stepping up to the plate. EDCs are working with community partners to develop innovative programs, connect talent with employers who are hiring, upskill the local workforce, and grow a pipeline of next-generation workers. Here are some of th...Continue Reading

As the world enters its third year of COVID-19, site selectors are doubling down on predictions they made a year ago. From reshoring and supply-chain tightening to remote working and worker shortages, site selectors are telling us that the trends exacerbated by the global pandemic will become even more pronounce...Continue Reading

Company’s proprietary farming system eliminates climate-damaging synthetic fertilizers Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) and the City of Marysville are excited to announce Soli Organic has chosen to build a new soil-based, controlled environment agriculture farm in the Cascade Industrial Center (CIC) in Marysville. This new farm will be the ninth of 1...Continue Reading

Empathy is now a strategic imperative for leaders. Here are four ways to embrace empathy and build teams with higher levels of productivity, innovation, and engagement. Click here to view the video.Continue Reading

Last night, two key bills surrounding the state’s contentious Long-Term Care program passed the legislature, heading to the Governor’s desk for final approval. House Bill 1732 delays implementation of the Long-Term Services Support Trust Program (WA Cares) for 18 months and House Bill 1733 adds a number of voluntary exemption...Continue Reading

The Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) has announced its new Board of Trustees and Executive Board for 2022. The EASC Board, which has 54 members, includes representatives from both the private sector (about 70% of Board seats) and the public sector (about 30% of Board seats). Public sector Board member...Continue Reading

EVERETT — Diversity, equity and inclusion — for Economic Alliance Snohomish County and its new CEO, Garry Clark, those are words to live by. The economic development organization has launched a new initiative, SnoCODE, which goes live this year. Read full article.Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has announced the roster of Economic Development leaders that will serve on the organization’s Education and Certification Advisory Committee in 2022. Terrie Battuello, Vice President of Economic Development, Economic Alliance Snohomish County (WA), will serve as Vice Chair on the Educatio...Continue Reading

This week began with hearing's on Governor Jay Inslee's proposed 2022 Supplement Operating, Capital, and Transportation Budgets. Governor Inslee places an emphasis on moving beyond the pandemic by focusing on homelessness, poverty, salmon recovery, climate, and transportation. It is important to note the Proposed Supplemental Budget serves as the Governor'...Continue Reading