2007-09 Contract with Jefferson County and Washington Community Trade and Economic Development

Here is a brief overview of Team Jefferson's objectives, strategic priorities, and programming.

Mission: To retain current jobs and develop new jobs by growing our local economy

Strategic Priorities:
1)    Set a new tone – focus on assets/ encourage collaboration / be business friendly.
2)    Build credibility – manage EDC professionally, convene, facilitate, and support.

Programmatic Themes:
1)    Energize Entrepreneurs: Innovation is the key to the new economy. 90% of rural jobs in the last two decades developed by existing businesses.  Focus on assets of current core businesses and clusters.  Entrepreneurship can be taught and mentored; self-employment is higher paying and locally owned business are more stable.
2)    Attract and keep young emerging workforce and entrepreneurs:  An aging demographic needs to focus on efforts to recruit and grow a new high-skills/high-wages workforce and young entrepreneurial families.  We recognize that the skill base of the new economy is a technology-friendly generation.  We need to plan now to replace an aging workforce, and ensure continued success of businesses with owners nearing retirement.
3)    Develop community reinvestment strategies:  Access to capital is critical.  Businesses need start-up and expansion funds.   We are working to capture community wealth for local reinvestment.
4)    Encourage collaboration:  Convene, facilitate and coach. Team Jefferson brings together diverse economic development groups, fosters community leadership programs, recognizes the need for broad-based collaboration, and encourages team work.

Examples of Performance Outcomes:
1)    Provide help with business plan development; offer training, mentoring, workshops.
2)    Implemented several nationally recognized initiative such as Green Entrepreneur Conference, PEAK Leadership, Big Quil Enterprises, Rhody Revolution.
3)    MBA intern placements with local companies and projects, e.g. feasibility studies.
4)    Monthly forums on marketing, broadband, telework, on-line sales, response to bridge and ferry closures, collaborative marketing, youth jobs.
5)    Specific policy projects: PUD power, strategic plan for Port, Centrum business plan, business plan for passenger ferry, food and farm successes, convene agencies in collaborative model, green eco-industrial park, tribal summit on food systems.
 

Click here for stats on select members

Meetings are held bi-weekly at WSU
For more information call 360-379-5610 ext 222
or email shelby@jefferson.wsu.edu

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* Bill Wise, chair of the operations team,  is a regional consultant with over 30 years of top management expertise.

* Katherine Baril is the Director of WSU Jefferson County with 30 years expertise in private and public enterprise. Trained as a lawyer with an MBA Baril is recognized as a leader in the new field of social entrepreneurship.

* Craig Wier is a  business executive from San Juan County . Wier did the County industry cluster study and is the founding executive of   two software companies. He also worked in Washington DC with the Department of Commerce and is a former university professor.

* Briar Kolp is the general manager at the local, successful Food Coop. She brings 25 years in retail sales and marketing expertise, primarily with strategic planning personnel.

* Danille A. Turissini is a pubic relations specialist and consultant. She has extensive public policy and lobbying experience and is a graduate of the Pennsylvania RULE program for public leadership.

* Marty Gay is the former director of the Jefferson County EDC. He is a venture capitalist with expertise in the food industry, technology and land development. He is the author of several books on technology and innovation.

* Shelby Smith is the team administrative assistant.