An Economic Development Advocacy Day was implemented in Olympia on February 6th. Twenty-five WEDA members, including a five-person team from the EDB Tacoma Pierce County, participated in advancing statewide economic development priorities. Following an agenda organized through the Washington Economic Development Association’s Suzanne Dale Estey, the day was filled with individual and group meetings with WA State Legislators, State Officers including Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Lt. Governor Denny Heck and Legislative staff.  The day was long, but the benefits will be felt for years to come.

Working to advance three priorities:

Strengthening the Economic Development Ecosystem

• Support state-level leadership & funding of EDB’s, Business Recruitment and Business Retention & Expansion programs
• Increase equitable regional funding for ADO’s through a new and ongoing $5 million annual investment

Foster Catalysts for Job Growth & Economic Opportunity

• Support state Tourism investments & catalytic opportunities through World Cup & FIFA26
• More state matching funds to improve WA’s competitiveness & attract out-of-state investment
• Support ongoing Small Business funding and technical assistance for microenterprises & entrepreneurs
• Protect targeted incentives to foster innovation clusters and stimulate private investment

Increase Economic Vitality for all of Washington

• Protect new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion investments in outreach and assistance programs for equitable and inclusive statewide economic development.

The Economic Development Board Tacoma Pierce County were represented by Michael Catsi, Tamsin Bell, Maddie Merton.  Also pictured are Betty Capestany, Director of the Pierce County Economic Development and Frank Boykin, Director for the City of Tacoma’s Minority Business Development Agency