Consultants present 5-year economic development strategy; public engagement to begin July

Echo Northwest consultants presented a draft five-year economic development strategy to the Lacey Planning Commission on May 28, describing short- and medium-term actions the city could take to implement goals in the comprehensive plan.

The proposal, led by Britney Bagens, project director for Echo Northwest, and James Kim, project manager, is intended to produce an actionable set of priorities for city staff over the next five years and to guide implementation of economic development goals that the commission recently reviewed as part of the comprehensive plan update.

"If we do our jobs well, we will equip staff, and you all with, with some strong recommendations to to accomplish in the next 5 years," Britney Bagens said during the presentation. James Kim summarized early data findings: "Your community has grown a lot and it's changing and it's changing quickly," citing population aging, increasing racial/ethnic diversity and a trend toward smaller households.

Echo Northwest described a three-phase project: research and analysis (already underway), stakeholder engagement this summer, and strategy development through fall. Key deliverables the consultants listed include a short menu of action-oriented goals for staff, identification of partner organizations for implementation, and measurable success metrics. The city staff member who introduced the presentation said the plan will be packaged for review by the Commission on Equity, with a target for the comprehensive-plan website and public comment opening around July 1.

On the data side, consultants highlighted: Lacey's economy operates in a regional context with many residents commuting outside the city for work and others commuting in; major employment concentrations are in education, health care and government (driven in part by nearby Olympia and Joint Base Lewis-McChord); retail "surplus" categories where people come into Lacey include general merchandise and sporting goods; and Midtown shows above-average retail and office vacancy compared with the county though recent and prospective redevelopment was noted.

Commissioners asked about methodology and sources, including Placer.ai foot-traffic data and distinctions between brick-and-mortar versus online sales tax receipts; consultants described limitations of cell-phone based mobility datasets and confirmed sales tax is collected to the sale destination. Commissioners also asked how stakeholders were selected; staff said the city has been making introductions to a short list of priority interviewees and a recurring advisory group that will meet several times during the process.

Echo Northwest and staff stressed that the strategy is intended to be implementable rather than an exhaustive research report, and that recommendations will include sequencing (what to pursue in year one to succeed in later years). The consultants said the public outreach program will include one-on-one interviews, an advisory committee, and a community "roadshow" beginning in July; a public hearing on implementation items is expected in early fall as the plan moves toward council review.

Commissioners asked about senior services, auto dealerships, and Midtown walkability; consultants said those topics will be probed in stakeholder interviews and in subarea analysis as the work continues.

No formal action was taken by the Planning Commission at the May 28 meeting; staff and consultants will continue engagement and return with materials as work progresses.

The consultants asked commissioners for feedback on data and recommended priorities before the advisory group begins regular meetings.