Thurston County EDC outlines business services, Ag Park progress and federal economic‑development bid

Michael Cade, director of the Thurston County Economic Development Council (EDC), told the Yelm City Council that the EDC’s work centers on four priorities — retain, expand, recruit and create partnerships — and described programs the council says local businesses can use.

The presentation explained how the EDC organizes services and partners with local organizations, colleges and Small Business Administration programs. "We wanted to create an ecosystem, entrepreneurial business ecosystem," Cade said, describing the EDC’s “solar system” of programs that includes an Apex Accelerator, a makerspace and a Center for Business Innovation.

Why it matters: the EDC said connecting small businesses to procurement opportunities, technical assistance and physical incubator resources can increase local captures of state and federal contract dollars and support business-scale projects in South County.

Cade said the EDC’s Apex Accelerator and contracting assistance helped businesses access nearly $1 billion in public contracts statewide over two years; he estimated Thurston County businesses captured roughly $50 million of that total. He urged Yelm to better link local firms to those opportunities and to nearby military-related contracting at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord.

Aslan Meade, the EDC’s strategic alliance director, provided more detail on the agricultural park in Tenino, which the EDC said will host a Simply Organics Café and event space and will include two buildings soon to open and two pad‑ready lots. Meade said the site also is being developed with a small regional meat‑processing facility in mind after local agriculture listening sessions identified demand.

Myra (last name not provided), identified as the EDC’s BIPOC business liaison, described outreach to individual small businesses and advised councilors and staff to refer entrepreneurs so EDC staff can connect them to training, one‑on‑one counseling and loan resources. "We have an umbrella of resources," she said.

The EDC said it will locate a third satellite presence in South County at the Ag Park, run training there beginning March 21 and operate periodic staffed business‑assistance days in Yelm through SBDC counselors and accelerator programming. Cade said the board has required staff to maintain a research capability and described an Economic Vitality Index the EDC publishes; he said Thurston County’s index stood at about 117.2 on the EDC’s scale.

Cade also announced a state‑level milestone: the four‑county Pacific Salish Economic Development District application — covering Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties — received an endorsement letter from the governor and will be submitted to the U.S. Economic Development Administration. He said a designated district would improve eligibility for major federal grants.

Councilors asked how localized EDC data are produced and how the EDC helps businesses in practice. Cade said the council’s research team compiles a localized index from multiple county and state data sources and runs a semi‑annual survey of business sentiment; he said most data run within a three‑month window. He also confirmed the EDC will bring programs and staff to South County on a recurring schedule if the city requests a formal satellite arrangement.

The presentation closed with an offer to share slides and staff time for one‑on‑one follow up on local data or partnership options.

Ending: The EDC said it will continue outreach in Yelm and South County, offer upcoming training at the Ag Park and follow up with council staff on potential satellite office logistics and program dates.