SEATTLE— Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg was re-elected President of the board of the region's Economic Development District, Snohomish Economic Development Council Executive Director Deborah Knutson was re-elected Vice President. Ladenburg and Knutson will lead the development of a regional economic strategy, launched today by the board.
"This is action based and about keeping and growing great jobs throughout our region," said Ladenburg. "We're saying that to compete globally we will unite and act as one region. That's how we beat the competition for the 7E7. That's how we'll succeed again. This board is acting with a sense of urgency."
The Puget Sound Regional Council supports the work of the economic district board through a merger that took place in 2003. The district includes King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties, the cities and towns within them, tribes, state agencies and economic development districts. The district board includes private sector representatives of chambers of commerce, civic and other economic interests.
"This broadly representative board has launched something vital to our region's future," said PSRC Executive Director Bob Drewel. "Uniting our region with a collaborative economic strategy and action agenda will require all hands. We're about to build something to sustain and grow in ways that combine efforts rather than duplicate. Our intent is to coordinate with every available resource, with our state and federal partners, strongly linked to the private sector, not to simply plan, but act on a united front."
"As we sought and won the 7E7, a united regional approach was key," said Knutson. "We can sustain and grow more jobs in our region, and every economic development interest is hard at work. This intended to support, not supplant great things underway. This new collaborative regional strategy will identify the best opportunities for our future, and help us compete to win in the near term, and over the long haul."
The action agenda the economic board launched today will produce an initial strategy this fall, provided public and private funding is secured. In keeping with its federal mandate, the economic board plans to continuously review and revise a strategy to meet changing needs and resources. The economic strategy will also advise the update of VISION 2020, the region's growth, economic and transportation strategy currently underway at PSRC.
For more information about the PSRC and the economic board, check out psrc.org, phone the PSRC's Information Center at 206.464.7532, or e-mail infoctr@psrc.org.
The Regional Council develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth and transportation planning in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The Council is composed of over 80 county, city, port, transit, tribal and state agencies serving the region. It coordinates the distribution of about $150 million in Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration funds each year. The Regional Council sets priorities and evaluates the most efficient ways to target those funds to support state and local transportation and growth management plans.
Title VI Notice: PSRC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. For more information, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, see http://www.psrc.org/ about/civilrights.htm or call 206-464-6175.