Pacific Salish Economic Development District director introduced to Mason County commissioners

MASON COUNTY, Wash. — Annette Roth, the new director of the Pacific Salish Economic Development District, introduced herself to the Mason County Board of Commissioners Friday and described the district’s role in regional economic and community development.

Kevin Schutte of the Mason County Economic Development Council introduced Roth to the board and said Roth brings experience from state and local economic development work. Annette Roth told commissioners she is roughly one month into the role and that the Economic Development District is in the process of federal certification.

"I am the director of the Pacific Salish Economic Development District," Roth said. "I'm about one month in on the job, so very new. Our Economic Development District is also very new. We're technically in the process of being certified by the federal government as we speak."

She said the district will support a four-county region — Thurston, Mason, Pacific and Grays Harbor counties — with economic development, community development, planning processes and efforts to attract investment. Roth said she planned regular visits to Mason County to meet partners and better understand local needs.

Nut graf: The Pacific Salish Economic Development District is a multi-county entity the county partnered with in 2023, and Roth’s role is to coordinate regional development and funding opportunities across the district’s four counties.

Ending: Commissioners welcomed Roth and expressed interest in continued collaboration; Roth concluded by offering to take questions and ceding her remaining time to other speakers.