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Economic-development director touts downtown projects, clean-energy firms and health-science growth in Everett
Summary
Dan Ernesi presented a forward-looking year-in-review highlighting the downtown multipurpose facility, two commercial fusion firms, health-science incubator investment and ongoing work at the Port of Everett. He identified timelines for council briefings on the multipurpose facility and a South Everett strategic plan.
Dan Ernesi, director of economic development, briefed the Parks and Built Environment Council Committee on May 14 with a forward-looking review of business growth areas and major projects in Everett.
Ernesi said the downtown multipurpose facility is in design and funding packaging with the progressive design-build team and that staff plan a council briefing May 28 and a decision request on June 11. "We plan to come to council on the May 28 with a briefing and then ask for a decision on June 11," Ernesi said, describing the project as a flexible downtown venue that can host soccer, baseball, concerts and other events.
Ernesi highlighted clean-energy companies locating in Everett, saying the city is home to two commercial fusion companies and naming Helion, Zap and TerraPower as notable firms. He said the governor recently signed legislation treating fusion energy on the same terms as other clean-tech energy, and that Helion plans a commercial plant in Chelan County to power a Microsoft data center. "Producing carbon-free with fusion is a wonderful 24/7 type of use," he said.
On health sciences, Ernesi said a Japanese firm (SNBL) and SBI have partnered to create an incubator in the former Everett Community College space near Seaway Boulevard with a $40 million fund to support health-science startups. He also noted McKesson and other medical-manufacturing companies expanding in the city.
Ernesi described activity at the Port of Everett, including new restaurant buildings and ship-repair work by Everett Ship Repair, and said the port bid on state ferries though it was not the low bidder. He pointed to retail and mixed-use activity at Everett Mall and Brixton, ongoing major private investment such as Kaiser Permanente’s nearly $300 million expansion downtown, and a rise in aerospace- and tech-related firms including ZeroAvia, MagniX and Amazon’s Kuiper satellite operations.
He also said the city is working on a South Everett strategic economic-development plan, with a tentative briefing scheduled for June 25, and emphasized connecting residents to training and local hiring opportunities. Ernesi identified opportunities for new warehouse users and noted recent regional business recruitment trips showing interest from aerospace, cloud computing and robotics firms.
The committee did not take formal action during the briefing; members asked for further briefings and detail on timelines and project specifics. Ernesi said he will follow up with council briefings and additional materials as projects advance.
