Bob Drewel's signature

March 7, 2012   

 

The Economic Development Board elected new officers.

 

Snohomish County Councilmember Dave Gossett is the new Economic Development Board President and Poulsbo Councilmember Ed Stern is its Vice-President.

 

For more information, please contact Chris Endresen Scott at 206.971.3269 or cendresenscott@psrc.org.


The Economic Development Board endorsed efforts to establish a new U.S. Patent Office in the region and reauthorization of the Export Import Bank.  

 

Eric Schinfeld of the Seattle Metro Chamber briefed the Board on the Chamber's federal agenda, focusing on transportation infrastructure, education and workforce development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and international trade. As part of the innovation program, the chamber has put together a proposal to attract a U.S. Patent and Trademark office to the region, which would help local businesses streamline the patent process and get their products to market faster. Mr. Schinfeld also shared the work the chamber is doing with the Washington Council on International Trade as part of its federal policy agenda.  Noteworthy developments include recent free trade agreements with Columbia, Panama, and South Korea, talks to reauthorize the Export Import Bank of the United States, an effort to establish permanent normal trade relations with Russia, and concerns about a land entry loophole in the Harbor Maintenance Tax.  The EDD Board took action to endorse the effort to attract the patent office as well as to emphasize the importance of reauthorizing the Export Import Bank, which helps U.S. businesses finance sales to international buyers. View the presentation.

For more information, please contact Chris Endresen Scott at 206.971.3269 or cendresenscott@psrc.org.

The Economic Development Board enjoyed a presentation by Commissioner John Creighton on the Port of Seattle's new Century Agenda, a comprehensive vision and strategic plan for the Port's next 25 years of business and operations.  

  

The Century Agenda's goals include business and infrastructure developments such as growing seaport container volume, advancement of international travel and airport business, and increasing funds spent with qualified small businesses. Job development goals include workforce training and increases in business traffic for both the seaport and airport as well as clean energy initiatives to meet energy needs and reduce air pollution. Watch the discussion.

For more information, please contact Mike Merritt at 206.787.3411 or merrittm@portseattle.org.

In other business, the Economic Development Board: 

  • Was briefed on PSRC's draft Supplemental Biennial Budget and Work Program for Fiscal Years 2012 - 2013, which is scheduled to be adopted by the General Assembly in May.
  • Was updated on the work underway to revitalize the Regional Economic Strategy, including revisions necessary to the initial draft talent and economy reports as well as schedule changes that put the release of the draft strategy in late spring.