On Oct. 22, 2025, at a meeting of the Lacey Planning Commission, city staff and consultants from Echo Northwest presented a draft five‑year economic development strategy that frames three principal goals—defining a new city identity, supporting businesses, and improving quality of life through placemaking—and 12 specific actions to pursue over the next five years.

Wesley Wen, economic development staff for the city of Lacey, described the engagement that informed the plan and introduced the Echo Northwest team. Britney Bagent, project director at Echo Northwest, told commissioners the plan is intended to be “aspirational and within reach” and emphasized sequencing actions so staff can secure near‑term wins while building toward longer goals.

The strategy recommends actions grouped under three goals. Under “economic identity,” consultants propose expanding storytelling and events (for example, growing the city’s night market and a “Faces of Lacey” small‑business series), conducting a comprehensive visioning process for the city and neighborhoods, and partnering with the Port of Olympia and Thurston EDC to clarify and promote foreign‑trade‑zone benefits to local businesses.

The second goal—supporting businesses—includes creating a microenterprise accelerator focused on home‑based businesses; formalizing the city’s business retention and expansion (BRE) program with a business resource navigation team; ensuring the city’s site and asset data are current for regional recruiters such as Thurston EDC; and a supportive role on child care capacity (regulatory adjustments, multi‑sector partnership support and planning for site needs).

The third goal—quality of life and placemaking—recommends zoning updates and permitting changes that allow temporary uses and pop‑ups, targeted activation of the 2.2‑mile Karen Fraser Trail with art and wayfinding, an assessment for a permanent, proximate food‑truck depot and year‑round public programming, and targeted incentives such as utility rebates or shared‑space programs to lower barriers for small and underrepresented business owners.

Consultants said each action includes a suggested metric and an order‑of‑magnitude resourcing icon: $ (build on existing programs), $$ (pilot a new program), and $$$ (capital investments). Echo Northwest recommended beginning with foundational actions in year one, scaling in years two and three and evaluating in years four and five. Wesley Wen told commissioners the final strategy will come back to City Council in December.

Commissioners and staff raised neighborhood‑level questions. Commissioner Elliot asked whether planned housing growth north of I‑5 would be matched with grocery or neighborhood retail; Ryan (city staff) answered that zoning and infrastructure are in place but that grocery operators have not been expanding regionally, and that recent successful new businesses on the north side are proving the market. Commissioner Spencer discussed trail connections and asked about signage and bike routes; consultants recommended wayfinding and modest urban design interventions to improve accessibility. Several commissioners praised the proposals for placemaking and year‑round activities such as a food‑truck depot.

The presentation drew a mix of interest in implementation detail, an emphasis on partnerships with regional partners, and requests for neighborhood‑specific follow‑ups. Consultants and staff said the recommendations intentionally rely on existing regional partners for workforce and recruitment work and focus the city’s role on coordination, permitting adjustments and targeted incentives.

The consultants will finalize the written strategy over the coming month and present it to the City Council in December for a decision on resourcing and implementation steps.