Economic Development Heroes – STEDI This week marks Economic Development Week, a time to honor the individuals and organizations dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive economy. At its core, economic development stems from the ancient concept of "taking care of one's home." It is about caring for our communities, and throughout Thurston County, [...]
Top photo, the Africa Business Day Forum in 2022. The bottom photos are attendees at the 2023 African Trade Conference as they explored trade opportunities and toured the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem, including a visit to the Lacey MakerSpace. Thurston County – impacted by international trade and opportunities In 2003, the Thurston Economic [...]
APEX Accelerator – A strategy for business retention and market expansion The EDC's core mission is to drive new dollars into our local businesses. We work to retain the businesses currently operating in the county and ensure that we also create opportunities to expand our local and regional economy. In the early 2000s, we [...]
Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy by Michael Cade, Thurston EDC Executive Director It’s no secret that Thurston County is growing. The most recently available data for our annual GDP (which represents the value of goods and services produced within Thurston County) has now surpassed 17.6 billion dollars – nearly double what it was [...]
Manufacturing: A Critical Building Block of Our Strong and Diverse Local Economy In the past several weeks, many have noted the vibrancy of Thurston County’s economy, the growth in terms of employment, emerging markets, and the development of new sectors expanding our region’s economic conditions. Two decades ago, the local economy was [...]
Thurston County Business Roundtable Highlights Urgent Need to Strengthen Childcare Ecosystems for Economic Prosperity and Community Well-being by Michael Cade, Thurston EDC Executive Director Last week, the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC), in collaboration with Ready Nation – a leading childcare advocacy group – convened a business roundtable with numerous Thurston County business and [...]
World Relief of Western Washington Seeks Community Partners by Michael Cade, Executive Director, Thurston Economic Development Council Thurston County is thriving! We've topped national economic reports, showing our region is vibrant and robust. This success is all thanks to our teamwork and our economy's resilience. But we're not stopping here. The Thurston EDC is [...]
by Michael Cade, Executive Director, Thurston Economic Development Council Thurston County: A Beacon of Economic Success Supported by National Recognition In an era where economic prowess defines the trajectory of communities, Thurston County emerges as a beacon of success, validated not just by local sentiment but by esteemed national research. National economic researchers have [...]
Within the last two months, Thurston County has registered significantly high in national rankings – Chmura Economics rated our county as number 2 for economic strength & prime workforce rankings; shortly after, the Milken Institute ranked our county as number 9 for sustainable growth & resilience. These rankings are very gratifying – compared to and [...]
Celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week by immersing yourself in the inspiring story of the Pogue Family, proud owners of Offut Lake Resort and the cherished Lady of the Lake restaurant. Nestled in the serene countryside just outside Tumwater & Olympia, this hidden gem offers much more than stunning views and cozy cabins. Join Becky, Tom, and [...]
