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
  • Experience Olympia & Beyond
  • Nisqually Indian Tribe
  • 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

Enter to Win

Gift Certificates and Merchandise from businesses, Non-profit Organizations, Festivals and Events listed below. They partnered with STEDI to purchase the back page of the Experience Olympia and Beyond Visitor Guide along with 20,000 Promotional Rack Cards.

Click here to enter!

Drawing Schedule:

July 1, 2024 – Drawing will be for a $25 Gift Certificate Papa’s Diner in Rochester

July 15, 2024 – Drawing will be for a $25 Gift Certificate Rainier Pizza and Burgers in Rainier

July 24, 2024 – Drawing will be for 2 Tenino Oregon Trail Days T-Shirts

August 1, 2024 – Drawing will be for $25 Gift Certificate to The Sandstone Café in Tenino

August 15, 2024 – Drawing will be for a $25 Gift Certificate to InGenius Local Artisan Gallery & Boutique in Yelm

September 1, 2024 – Drawing will be for a $25 Gift Certificate to Talking Cedar in Grand Mound

September 15, 2024 – Drawing will be for a $25 Gift Certificate to use at Grand Mound FunFest

October 1, 2024 – Drawing will be for a $25 Gift Certificate to Joe’s Place in Bucoda

South Thurston Events

June 22:Yelm Prairie Days Parade

June 22: Yelm Prairie Days 2024: Centennial Celebration

June 22: Tenino Family Fun & Pool Opens Day

June 30: Rainier All American Jubilee

July 13: Tenino Arts Creative Market 2nd Saturday Street Fair

July 25 – Aug. 3: Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre Musical ‘State Fair’

July 26-28: Tenino Oregon Trail Days

July 27:Nisqually Valley BBQ Rally

Aug. 3-4: Jazz in the Park

Aug. 10: Tenino Arts Creative Market 2nd Saturday Street Fair

Aug. 18: Tenino T-9-O Quarrymen Car Show

Aug. 24: Rainier Round-Up Days Parade

Aug. 23-25: 30th Annual Rainier Bluegrass Festival

Sept. 14: Tenino Arts Creative Market 2nd Saturday Street Fair

Sept. 21: Tenino Railroad & Heritage Day

Sept. 28: Grand Mound FunFest

Oct. 1-31: Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular Haunted House & Festival

Oct. 5: Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular Hearse Procession & Viewing

Oct. 12: Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular Family Fun Day

Oct. 19: Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular Casket Races

Oct. 26: Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular Thrill The World-Trunk & Treat

Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1 Thanksgiving Weekend: Tenino Holiday Market