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Home My WebLink AboutEDC_Strategic_Plan_Update_ICG_June_18 Strategic Plan Update Mid-year progress on the plan adopted in January Intergovernmental Collaboration Group · June 18, 2026 David Ballif, Executive Director Thanks for having me back. I'll be quick - five minutes on where the EDC's strategic plan stands, six months in. 1 Where we left off in September “A more cohesive approach to economic development across Jefferson County” previewed to the ICG, September 18, 2025 A front door to investment New jobs and new investment The best source of info on the county Harnessing local talent ↓ Adopted January 2026: the EDC’s 2026–2027 Strategic Plan Last September I previewed where the EDC was headed, fresh from our board retreat. The theme that came through strongest: a more cohesive approach to economic development across the county. If someone comes here with an idea and a checkbook, who do they talk to? Underneath that: a front door for investment, a shift toward new jobs and investment with tangible projects, the single best source of information on Jefferson County, and harnessing local talent. Our board turned that direction into a two-year plan, adopted in January. Not a new direction - that September conversation made concrete. 2 Four lines of effort 1 · Convener Purposeful events and closer collaboration with our public partners. 2 · New Jobs & Investment Predictability for investors — and the county’s most promising locations. 3 · Knowledge Hub A new website that builds Jefferson County’s brand. 4 · Existing Business Support Business advisors, workforce development, and LION. Four outward-facing lines of effort, each with deliverables and dates. They're interrelated - the knowledge work supports attraction; convening supports everything. I won't go deliverable by deliverable. One highlight from each. 3 LOE 1 · CONVENER Our inaugural annual event Our Economic Future: An Evening with Timothy Egan The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Good Rain kicks off a conversation about moving our economy forward. October 2 · 5:30 PM · Fort Worden Commons Keynote · economic briefing · local leaders panel Early-bird tickets through July 31 edcteamjefferson.org/2026-annual-event October 2 at Fort Worden Commons. Timothy Egan - Pulitzer Prize winner, National Book Award winner, author of The Good Rain, still one of the essential books about this region. Jefferson County has unparalleled strengths, but our economy isn't producing enough good-paying jobs, and it's getting harder for young people to stay. I can't think of anyone better to kick off a conversation about moving our economy forward in a way that works for everyone. After the keynote, Kevin Decker from WA Sea Grant presents the data, then a moderated panel of local leaders. Early-bird ends July 31. I'd love to see every organization at this table represented in that room. 4 LOE 2 · NEW JOBS & INVESTMENT Opportunity Zone 2.0: nominations submitted 2 Jefferson County census tracts nominated 19 joint letters of support across the region 6 showcase investments — three per tract The Emerald Coast Opportunity Zone — a joint nomination with Clallam County partners: five tribes, counties, cities, PUDs, Jefferson Healthcare, and Jamestown Capital. May 28 Nominations submitted July 1 Commerce recommends to the Governor by Sept 28 Governor submits to U.S. Treasury Next: investment prospectuses · owner engagement · investor identification · emeraldfunds.org On May 28 we submitted Jefferson County's nominations for the new federal Opportunity Zone program - two census tracts, as part of the Emerald Coast Opportunity Zone, a joint effort with our Clallam partners. Nineteen joint letters of support: five tribes, counties, cities, PUDs, Jefferson Healthcare, Jamestown Capital. Three showcase investments in each tract - real projects, not just lines on a map. Commerce recommends to the Governor by July 1; final designations go to Treasury by the end of September. If designated, this is the biggest opportunity in a generation for new growth, jobs, and investment here. Our work is already shifting to what comes next - prospectuses, the property owners we identified through the submittal, investor identification - and emeraldfunds.org, built jointly with Clallam, is the best system in the state for it. 5 LOE 2 · NEW JOBS & INVESTMENT New hire, first mission: Port Hadlock UGA Economic Development Associate Hiring process underway — target start date of August 1. Dedicated to one deliverable: the county’s most promising physical locations for new development. Port Hadlock is first. From public documents to investor-ready products: Sewer is live — $35.6M system online since fall 2025 Maps & inventories — Developable land by sewer access, zoning, readiness Site intelligence — Ownership, utilities, access, known barriers Owner outreach — Direct engagement with property owners and developers We're not just focused on Opportunity Zones - our number one strategic focus for new growth is the Port Hadlock UGA. Hiring process underway, over 40 highly qualified applicants, target start around August 1. The position implements one specific deliverable: identifying the county's most promising physical locations and getting the ball rolling. The sewer is live - $35.6M, online since last fall - the constraint of decades is gone. The question we'll work primarily with DCD: if you had somebody working for you to activate the sewer area, what would you assign them to do? Translation: GIS map products, an inventory of developable land by sewer access and readiness, site profiles, direct outreach to property owners with me alongside. And that toolset carries over to other areas - including the Opportunity Zones if we're designated. 6 LOE 3 · KNOWLEDGE HUB A front door to Jefferson County, online New website launches by end of year — our communities, our industries, and how to reach us. For job candidates weighing a move here, and for investors getting oriented. LOE 4 · EXISTING BUSINESS SUPPORT Fifteen business advisors, two cohorts, free of charge Choose an advisor at edcteamjefferson.org · or get paired: admin@edcteamjefferson.org AW Audra Willing Strategy & growth · startups, mission-driven businesses PS Paul Schiefen Farms, agritourism & rural enterprise · Jardin du Soleil JW Jennifer Wells Finance & accounting · 30 years · former Chamber ED Website by end of year: the single best source of information on Jefferson County anywhere on the internet. Short narratives on our communities and industries - something employers can point a job candidate to, something an investor can use to get oriented and find us. Taking inspiration from the best ADO sites in the state, Skagit and Kitsap. And we now have fifteen trained advisors across two Recompete cohorts, serving businesses at no cost. A flavor: Audra Willing - MBA, startup co-founder, enterprise sales - strategy and growth-stage. Paul Schiefen - fifteen years building Jardin du Soleil - farms, agritourism, rural businesses. Jennifer Wells - thirty years of accounting, former director of our own Chamber - finance for anybody. Pick one on the website or email admin@ and we'll make the match. 7 Two asks Be part of the conversation — October 2 An evening on Jefferson County’s economic future. Come, and bring your boards, staff, and networks. Early-bird through July 31: edcteamjefferson.org/2026-annual-event Refer businesses to the EDC We’ll pair any business with the right advisor — edcteamjefferson.org or admin@edcteamjefferson.org. David Ballif · Executive Director · edcteamjefferson.org · 360.379.4693 Two asks. First, come October 2 - not just to buy a ticket, but to be part of the conversation about where this county's economy goes. Bring your boards and networks. Second, when you run into a business that could use help, send them our way and we'll pair them with the right advisor. That's the update - on plan, on schedule. Happy to take questions. 8