South Thurston Economic Development Initiative (STEDI)
STEDI connects South Thurston communities with resources of our strategic community partners to identify and implement efforts that will meet South Thurston’s economic and community development goals.
STEDI meets on the third Friday of every month 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. and rotates locations amongst the South County Communities.
STEDI staff work in all the South Thurston Communities and can schedule an appointment near your location.
For more information please contact:
George Sharp, Rural Program Manager
[email protected] | 360-464-6043
Participating Communities
- Bucoda
- Grand Mound
- Rainier
- Rochester
- Tenino
- Yelm
Strategic Partners
- Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
- Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
- Experience Olympia & Beyond
- Nisqually Indian Tribe
- Pacific Mountain Workforce Development
- Port of Olympia
- South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity
- Thurston County Government
- Thurston Conservation District
- Thurston EDC’s Center for Business & Innovation
- Thurston Regional Planning Council
- Timberland Regional Library
- Washington State Department of Commerce
- WSU Thurston County Extension Office
Funding Strategies Workshop for Businesses, Communities and Non-profit organizations scheduled for March 21, 2025, at Agriculture Innovation Park in Tenino
Tenino, WA – The Thurston Economic Development Council will hold a Funding Strategies for Businesses, Communities and Non-profit Organizations Workshop on Friday, March 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM at the Stone City Event Center at the Agriculture Innovation Park in Tenino, WA.
“We are excited to hold our first event at the Agriculture Innovation Park and utilize the location to provide EDC Services and training. The event will be an excellent starting point for what we envision the facility will bring to the community and region – direct access to resources and services.” said Michael Cade, Thurston EDC Executive Director.
Presenters will include representatives from OlyFed, Washington Department of Commerce, United State Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, staff from Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Office and Office of Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland and Thurston Economic Development Council Center for Business and Innovation. The workshop is free to attend.
For more information visit www.thurstonedc.com/stedi or contact George Sharp, Thurston EDC Rural Program Manager, 360-878-3835, R.S.V.P. to [email protected]
Complete Schedule of Workshop
Funding Strategies for Businesses, Communities, Non-profit Organizations Workshop
Friday, March 21st, 2025, 10:00am-12:30pm
Stone City Event Center at the Agriculture Innovation Park
16404 Old Highway 99 SE, Tenino, WA 98589
10:00am Welcome and Overview of Workshop
- Michael Cade, Thurston EDC Executive Director
- Wayne Fournier, Thurston County Commissioner
10:15am-10:40am
- Aron Dowell, AVP Business Relationship Banker OlyFed
- Scott Gunther, Business Loan Officer OlyFed
- Questions and Answers
10:40am-11:00am
- Mindie Reule, President & CEO, Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
11:00am-11:10am Break
11:10am – 11:45am
- Stephen Dunk, Community Engagement Specialist, Washington Department of Commerce
- Carlotta Donisi, Business-Cooperative Programs Specialist Rural Development, Business Cooperative Programs, United States Rural Development Olympia Office
- Questions and Answers
11:45am
- Erin Masterson, Grants and Outreach Coordinator, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3)
- Sara Develle, Senior Outreach Representative and Jack Robinson, Office Manager and Grants Coordinator, Office of Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)
- Questions and Answers
12:00pm
- Sean Moore, Director Thurston EDC Center for Business and Innovation
- Other resource providers for Businesses, Communities and Non-profit Organizations available
- Next steps in your Funding Strategy
- Questions and Answers
12:30pm
Adjourn