43.162.005 - Findings -- Intent. - Washington Statutes

Findings — Intent.

The legislature finds that Washington's innovation and trade-driven economy has provided tremendous opportunities for citizens of the state, but that there is no guarantee that globally competitive firms will continue to grow and locate in the state. The current economic development system is fragmented among numerous programs, councils, centers, and organizations with inadequate overall coordination and insufficient guidance built into the system to ensure that the system is responsive to its customers. The current economic development system's data-gathering and evaluation methods are inconsistent and unable to provide adequate information for determining how well the system is performing on a regular basis so the system may be held accountable for its outcomes.

     The legislature also finds that developing a comprehensive economic development strategic plan to guide the operation of effective economic development programs, including workforce training, infrastructure development, small business assistance, technology transfer, and export assistance, is vital to the state's efforts to increase the competitiveness of state businesses, encourage employment growth, increase state revenues, and generate economic well-being. There is a need for responsive and consistent involvement of the private sector in the state's economic development efforts. The legislature finds that there is a need for the development of coordination criteria for business recruitment, expansion, and retention activities carried out by the state and local entities. It is the intent of the legislature to create an economic development commission that will provide planning, coordination, evaluation, monitoring, and policy analysis and development for the state economic development system as a whole, and advice to the governor and legislature concerning the state economic development system.

[2007 c 232 § 1; 2003 c 235 § 1.]