• Lifting the Cascade Curtain - Puget Sound and Spokane Delegations Impressed by Central Washington
• Happy 100th Birthday Pike Place Market!
• Puget Sound Trends: Region's Mileage Grows Along with Population and Jobs
• Back Issues

The Prosperity Partnership brought over 80 government, nonprofit, education and business leaders from the Puget Sound and Spokane regions together in Cen-tral Washington to learn about the economic priorities in the area and share our region's needs. The trip provided opportunities to explore concrete ways in which eastern, central and western Washington communities can collaborate more closely in the coming year.

"It's become more apparent each year that our region's economic future is more closely linked to the success of central and eastern Washington than ever before," said Bob Drewel, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council. "This trip gave us solid leads on how we can work together to ensure prosperity in all parts of the state."

In addition to getting to know each other, delegates investigated statewide issues closely linked to the region's economic future. Delegates heard Attorney General Rob McKenna's views on the role of his office in economic development for Washington. They also explored how transportation priorities in Puget Sound, on I-90, and in the Spokane area affect the entire state's economy, and learned how burgeoning industry clusters like clean technology and wine production rely on strong economies on both sides of the state.

Participants experienced several types of economic development projects first hand, including learning:

Why Big Bend Community College is training world class pilots and other workers ready to adapt to the changing aerospace industry. How 127 wind turbines can produce 229 megawatts of clean, renewable energy at Puget Sound Energy's Wild Horse wind facility. What Washington can do to position itself as a world leader in clean technology. How the Operating Engineers' Regional Training Facility is preparing people for high paying careers. What the economic development priorities are in Ellensburg, Wenatchee, and Yakima.

How first generation college students are earning bachelor's degrees at Heritage University. What the Prosperity Partnership is doing to promote scientific, cultural, and arts organizations in the Puget Sound region and throughout the state. Why Yakima's wine country is booming and attracting more high end developments like The Vineyards project. When to invest in strategic downtown revitalization projects such as Capitol Theatre in downtown Yakima.

Clare Petrich, Port of Tacoma Commissioner; David Graybill, President and CEO, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce; Bruce Kendall, President an CEO, Tacoma-Pierce Co. Economic Development Board; Stephanie Stebich, Executive Director, Tacoma Art Museum

For more information, contact Angela Kerwin at 206-971-3051 or akerwin@psrc.org.

The high price of onions prompted the creation of Pike Place Market in 1907. People were ready to buy directly from farmers for fresh produce and relief from paying the middle man for convenience.

One hundred years later, this is still going strong. The Pike Place Market offers produce direct from farmers 362 days a year and supports 250 year round businesses. The Market is Washington's number one tourist attraction, welcoming 10 million visitors each year.

In 2007, even more people around the region are meeting the producer. There are 48 other active Farmer's Markets in central Puget Sound, some offer their wares several times a week and throughout the winter. Many also offer subscription services to fresh produce and flowers. All abide by the same ideal of providing fresh, locally grown produce to citizens of the region and providing a direct connection for people to their local land and food resources.

Figure 1. Cumulative Growth Since 1980

Figure 2. Cumulative Growth Since 1992

Figure 3. Five-Year Annual Growth Rates