BENTON CITY - COMING FULL CIRCLE WITH THE CIRCLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

An Ignite Presentation by Heather Duncan,

Benton City Economic Development Council

EXPLAINING WHAT WE DO – WHAT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? Includes business recruitment and retention More than just “bricks and sticks” Economic development is community

development / community development IS economic development, especially in a small community

Those in economic development wear many hats

GMA SHORT COURSE ON LOCAL PLANNING The Basic Short Course on Local Planning is a

three-hour workshop covering: The legal basis of planning in Washington State, and

a review of laws governing planning processes An overview of comprehensive planning and plan

implementation under the Growth Management Act An overview of the roles in planning and best

practices for public participation All courses are offered at no charge and open to

the public.

THE CIRCLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

SAMPLE QUARTERLY ALLOCATION OF EFFORT

2%

15%

15%

5%

10% 20%

5%

3%

10%

15%

Infrastructure Support Development

Property Development, Recruiting

Access to Capital, Technical Assistance

Funding Business Climate(Government)

Business Development CoalitionBuilding (i.e., Merchants Association)

Community Development

Tourism

Workforce Development

Business Climate Quality of Life(Chambers)

Business Development CoalitionBuilding (EDCs, business community,SBDC)

Weber Canyon Road improvements City extension of water & sewer lines to south side

of the Yakima River Riverfront park and City non-motorized trail Extension of fiber optic cable to provide broadband

to vital service providers (schools, health care, first responders, city government) Leveraged larger effort to complete Seattle-to-Boise

connections and additional lines to PNNL in Richland Worked with multiple stakeholders to obtain backbone Next step: Wi-fi cloud for last-mile access to

underserved, economically challenged community

INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, RECRUITING Port of Benton has been major development partner

16 acre Benton City Industrial Park BCEDC clients include CJ Plastics and RippedSheets.com

Historic downtown brick building → incubator space Initial tenants Sew-Me-Pretty and Logar Pharmacy

Old fire station → incubator space Tenant Branches & Vines and subleasee CBD

I-82 property Working with City to market & plan 4 acre pad site Working with state agency for acquisition of

260 acres in Benton City’s UGA Ki-Be Market, community crisis to success story A home for displaced business, EFC Equipment

ACCESS TO CAPITAL, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Work with potential and current business owners

wanting to purchase, start or expand various business enterprises Assistance includes entrepreneur prequalification,

feasibility studies, business plan counseling, site selection, and referral to other resources including SBDC and financers

Horizons → CaABI and BFABC asset building and fiscal fitness

BCEDC Coordinator is member of CREDiT board to review and approve/deny loan applications

FUNDING BUSINESS CLIMATE (GOVERNMENT) Working with state legislators

Funding for new library Funding for new food bank building

Tri-Cities Legislative Council trips to Olympia Benton Franklin Council of Governments – Small

Cities Association Issues include relating to the state legislature,

infrastructure funding for small communities, sales tax equalization, criminal justice cost, and marketing our small communities to the world

Advocate for school and fire funding elections

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COALITION BUILDING (I.E., MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION)

Red Mountain Vision Master Plan for Red Mountain AVA SR 224/SR 225 intersection improvements Proposed new Red Mountain I-82 interchange

Benton City merchants Informal organization Past efforts to formalize Current revitalization activity → Main Street?

Community surveys and town hall meetings, visioning process

Networking leads to coalitions, i.e., I-82 project

RE

D MO

UN

TAIN V

ISION

Red Mountain AVA Master Site Plan

Concept for SR 224/SR 225 Intersection improvement

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Benton Franklin Substance Abuse Coalition

Awareness, education Local community coalition building Grant applications and grants

Human Services Coalition Community Action Connections Horizons program Earth Month and community cleanups Benton City Spring Opener Car & Bike Show

Started as community effort for Boys & Girls Club In 9 years, has raised ~$50,000 for youth activities

Volunteer Appreciation Banquet

TOURISM Developed map showing wineries, points of

interest, recreation opportunities, etc. Yakima Valley Spring Fling organization to

promote Valley communities to wine tourists Help plan, promote, and produce community

events and festivals 4th of July Spring Opener Car & Bike Show Benton City Daze Vineyard City Arts Festival WinterFest

Visitor & Convention Bureau memberships

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Facilitate community service opportunities for

students Referrals to WorkSource programs Future – development of community-based

nonprofit structured work training program

BUSINESS CLIMATE QUALITY OF LIFE (CHAMBERS) Benton City Chamber of Commerce

Luncheons, speakers Ribbon cuttings Working with Chamber to develop email blasts

Three Rivers Alliance of Chambers (4 chambers) Building Bridges networking events

Business classes – Horizons, WSU Extension, Council of Governments

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COALITION BUILDING (EDCS, BUSINESS COMMUNITY, SBDC)

Networking, relationship building Elected officials Non-elected staff at County, City, Ports, etc. Chambers of Commerce VCBs TRIDEC Tri-Cities Legislative Council WSU Extension State agencies Nonprofit community support organizations Educators