Home > Online Exclusives > December 2006

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Washington Focuses on Industry Clusters

The Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) recently awarded $264,000 in economic development grants to five regional partnerships.

The grants, created by the 2005 Washington State Legislature as Engrossed Senate Bill 5330, will help these communities develop industry cluster strategies for the marine services, clean technology, aerospace, and wine industries.

“Industry cluster development and regional economic development are an important step to keep Washington globally competitive,” says Governor Chris Gregoire. “This program shows the potential of cluster programs to generate jobs and income in communities across the state.”

Industry clusters are groups of competing, collaborating, and interdependent businesses in like or linked industries, which are concentrated in a geographic region.

Grant recipients selected from among 16 statewide applicants in the competitive process were:

  • Clallam netWorks EDC – Marine Services Cluster ($90,000)
  • Economic Development Association of Skagit County – Marine Services Cluster ($72,000)
  • Puget Sound Regional Council/Lake Washington Technical College – Clean Technology Cluster ($35,750)
  • Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce – Aerospace Cluster ($56,250)
  • Walla Walla Community College – Wine Cluster ($82,000)

Requests for the grants totaled $946,000, leaving a gap of $682,242 in unmet needs.

“These grant projects will definitely boost Washington’s business attraction, retention, and expansion efforts,” says Juli Wilkerson, director of CTED. “We are pleased to support our local partners’ regional economic development activities.”

Members of the legislatively directed Cluster Review Committee who conducted the selection process included representatives from Employment Security Department; Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board; State Board of Community and Technical Colleges; Association of Washington Business; Labor; and CTED.