Planning for Economic Development

Overview

When planning for economic development, the goal is to create and maintain a strong, vibrant local economy. Local government economic development planning is part of a region's overall economic development strategy and involves intergovernmental coordination. The economic development plan provides a comprehensive overview of the economy, sets policy direction for economic growth, and identifies strategies, programs, and projects to improve the economy.

General Information on Economic Development Planning

The following publications and guides provide useful background on the economic development planning process.

• Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development: Learning to Lead: A Primer on Economic Development Strategies (1999) - General overview of the major issues related to economic development; older but still useful. The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development is now called the Department of Commerce. 
• Wisconsin Economic Development Institute, Inc.: A Guide to Preparing the Economic Development Element of a Comprehensive Plan (2003) - Wisconsin has a “Smart Growth Law,” similar to Washington's Growth Management Act; this is one of few general guides on this topic.

Examples of Economic Development Plans and Elements

The Washington Growth Management Act (GMA) emphasizes county-wide coordination of economic development planning, and economic development is one of the elements of a growth management comprehensive plan (see RCW 36.70A.070(7)). The requirement for an economic development element was conditioned on the availability of state funds, which have not been provided to date.

Many jurisdictions have, however, prepared an economic element of their comprehensive plan. Local governments have prepared other types of economic development plans, including strategic action plans and plans targeted at downtown areas. The following are selected examples of these plans.

GMA Economic Development Plans

• Bothell Economic Development Element (2015)
• Lewis County Economic Development Element (2018)
• Mukilteo Economic Development Element (2021)
• Oak Harbor Economic Development Element (2016) 
• Tumwater Economic Development Plan (2019)

Strategic Action and Other Economic Development Plans

• Benton County Economic Development Plan (2022) 
• Enumclaw Strategic Plan for Economic Development (2014) 
• Hoquiam Economic Development Strategic Action Plan (2009) 
• Kitsap Economic Development Alliance: Annual Plan Overview (2022) 
• University Place Economic Development Strategic Action Plan (2012)
• West Richland Economic Development Plan (2013)
• Woodinville Economic Development Plan (2022)

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

A comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) is a strategic planning document and planning process that helps guide the economic growth and development of communities and regions. The CEDS is required by the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) in areas designated as economic development districts and for certain EDA grant funds, including grants for public works and economic development. The preparation of an economic development plan can also improve access to other federal, state, and private aid programs.

The following documents provide advice for developing CEDS and examples:

• U.S. Economic Development Administration: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Overview 
• Puget Sound Regional Council: Regional Economic Development Strategy for the Central Puget Sound Region
• Skagit Council of Governments: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy - Includes 2003 CEDS plus 2013 supplements.