Spokane County planning presents regional economic development strategy and timeline, invites public input
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Summary
Spokane County Planning presented a regional economic development approach that builds on Greater Spokane Inc.'s 2022 SEDS, identifies target areas (including the West Plains and North Spokane corridor), emphasizes workforce partnerships and placemaking, and outlined a schedule toward Board adoption in December 2026.
Presenter, Spokane County Planning, opened the virtual open house and outlined a regional economic development approach that staff will fold into the county's comprehensive plan.
The presentation explained a market-capture map centered on Spokane (a roughly 200‑mile reach and a more frequently used 90‑mile radius) and said planning must account for daily and occasional flows of people and goods across Spokane County, neighboring Kootenai County and parts of British Columbia. Staff said Greater Spokane Inc.'s 2022 SEDS (funded in part through the U.S. Economic Development Administration) will serve as a foundational document for the county's strategy.
Staff said SEDS identifies four priorities — recovery and resilience, competitiveness, equitable growth and connectivity — and that the county will refine those for a five-year implementation horizon. Presenter highlighted logistics and distribution as a core sector for Spokane's economic role, and cited an existing aerospace cluster and opportunities to partner with universities and community colleges on commercialization and tailored workforce training.
Presenter described geographic targets for nonresidential growth, including the Spokane Industrial Park, vacant lands north of the Spokane River, the North Spokane corridor and the West Plains (which includes Airway Heights, Fairchild Air Force Base and Medical Lake). The county emphasized the importance of a vibrant Downtown Spokane and called for coordinated city–county action rather than fragmented local efforts.
Staff said policy review is already underway: a policy audit and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be formed this month, planning commission review is scheduled beginning April 30, and staff anticipates a planning‑commission recommendation and public hearings in the third and fourth quarters, with Board adoption of the comprehensive plan targeted for December 2026.
"This is what we'll be focusing on to a high degree," Presenter said in describing core nonresidential growth areas and the need for regional coordination.
The presentation closed with staff inviting public input via chat, raised hands and a promised posting of the recorded session to the county's YouTube channel; staff said written comments will be accepted by email or the county web portal ahead of commission review.
