CEO Corner

The entire EDASC team is extraordinarily proud of our achievement and recognition as the first Accredited Economic Development Organization in the Pacific Northwest. One of the reasons we received this accreditation is that in addition to the “bread and butter” of economic development – business recruitment, retention, and expansion – EDASC also addresses capacity-building issues to help entrepreneurs build businesses from the ground up, assist employers and their employees with barriers to labor participation, and facilitate our communities in addressing challenges to make our communities stronger, more prosperous, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable.

Fostering success among home-grown businesses: In late June, the first cohort of EDASC’s Startup School graduated 24 entrepreneurs. The 12-week program, conducted for this session entirely in Spanish, adapts the curriculum developed by Santa Clara University and featured an SBDC (Small Business Development Center) advisor at every session to address questions that arose. EDASC will offer the second session, conducted in English, beginning Aug. 29. Participants rated this program highly, and it led to further consultations and support from various organizations.

Addressing labor shortages: Because of the shortage and high cost of childcare for working Skagitonians, EDASC has contracted with the Washington Department of Commerce to host the Skagit County Family-Friendly Workplaces Cohort. This is only the second such cohort in the state and features 12 employers seeking to gain a competitive advantage as an employer of choice by facilitating childcare solutions for their workforce. This professional, results-oriented program features guidance from HR and finance experts to assess childcare needs, evaluate potential solutions, and develop a measurable action plan for implementation.

Participation in Comp Plan: Along with two fellow nonprofit organizations in Skagit County, EDASC received a grant from the Washington Department of Commerce to assist Skagit County with the development of its comprehensive plan to ensure broader participation and connection with economic development goals. We have completed the first round of review and are looking forward to being involved in this process.

Connecting with L&I: The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries knows it can be difficult to keep track of all the programs and regulations it oversees, which is why L&I has partnered with EDASC to get the word out on L&I-related topics. Next month, join us for an online presentation on navigating workers’ compensation claims and getting your employees back to work after an injury.  

As you can see, EDASC works on many issues beyond traditional economic development, but these related issues heavily impact our community’s success on the micro and macro levels. We value our partners and supporters as these efforts require significant collaboration.

John Sternlicht has been CEO of EDASC since 2015.