Fife updates five‑year economic development plan after community outreach

FIFE — Consultants working on Fife’s first five‑year Economic Development Action Plan told the City Council on April 21 that the discovery phase and early SWOT analysis point to infrastructure needs, permitting and targeted business attraction as the plan’s top priorities.

Director Larson introduced TIP Strategies’ team, who described extensive stakeholder outreach over the past months: three steering‑committee meetings, roundtables, focus groups and two surveys. “We’re in the middle of the opportunity phase,” said Jeff Marcell, senior partner with TIP Strategies, adding the plan will translate those findings into measurable strategies and metrics.

Elizabeth Scott, who presented survey and commuter data, said commuter patterns show Fife imports a substantial share of its workforce — “you’re importing a ton of talent, but you’re also exporting talent,” she said — and that businesses repeatedly flagged permitting and zoning processes and infrastructure investment as priorities. Scott said the team received about 74 community visioning survey responses and roughly 50 business responses, which the consultants judged strong for Fife’s size.

Deputy Mayor Murphy asked about tax‑increment financing, a funding tool recently authorized by the Washington Legislature. Marcell said TIP will analyze where TIF might work locally and provide examples so council members can judge whether the tool fits Fife’s goals. Council member Dominique pressed for clarity on permitting opportunities; the consultants said permit consolidation and greater certainty around review timelines were commonly cited and that one business reported needing dozens of permits to open.

The consultants outlined five draft initiative buckets — business retention and expansion, attraction, economic‑development tools, quality of place and strategic communications — and said staff will work with the steering committee over the next 60–90 days to convert those buckets into specific strategies and actions with attached metrics. Marcell emphasized the plan will include quantifiable measures so the city can evaluate progress over the next five years.

Next steps include refining the SWOT based on council feedback, continuing steering‑committee meetings in May and June, and sharing a draft of the initiatives and metrics with council members for comment.

No formal action was taken at the study session; staff and consultants will return with more detailed drafts for council review.