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Council to consider $10,000 annual contract with regional EDC as state funding drops
Summary
City staff said they will ask council to approve a $10,000 per year contract with the South Thurston Economic Development Council; EDC director Michael Cade told the meeting the organization lost $350,000 in state support and continues business retention and recruitment work for the city.
City staff said they plan to bring a contract with the economic development council (EDC) to the council agenda in the coming weeks proposing $10,000 per year for services the city has budgeted in the past.
Michael Cade, the EDC’s executive director, attended the meeting and described the organization’s work: business retention and expansion, targeted recruitment, a business scale‑up program and a creative districts initiative. Cade said the EDC has refocused on data and case management and reported that, since February 2022, the EDC has provided services to 222 businesses (counting repeat assistance).
Cade and council members discussed a recent state funding change: Cade said a state program that previously funded the EDC’s scale‑up work will not pay the same amount this year, and he cited a $350,000 reduction in state funding. Council members asked how the EDC will target recruitment and adapt its programming; Cade said the organization uses targeted outreach and contracted specialists to generate focused prospect meetings and long‑term case management.
Staff said they will present the proposed $10,000 per‑year contract for council approval at a future regular meeting. Cade said he views the contract as an opportunity for two‑way dialogue between the city and the EDC about business needs.
