Military and Tourism/Visitor Cluster Strategies Announced The Prosperity Partnership has developed strategies to improve the business climate for the military and tourism/visitor clusters in the region. Initiatives for the military cluster include enhancing employment opportunities for military spouses and veterans, improved education opportunities for military personnel and families, and use of business attraction, retention, and expansion strategies to expand the region's defense contracting industry. The tourism and visitors cluster will work towards creation of a major event to draw visitors to the region, supporting major events like the 2015 U.S. Open, the expansion of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, promotion of Puget Sound destination experiences, and infrastructure to improve the international visitor's experience. Tourism and Visitors are an Economic Force Tourism and visitors is the largest employment cluster in the region. The cluster spans hospitality; culinary and recreation industries, including hotels, restaurants, and spas; guided tours and transportation; sports and recreation facilities; and cultural institutions. The tourism and visitor industry also creates substantial upstream and downstream benefits in related industries such as the wine, arts and culture, film, and music industries, thereby supporting the region's cultural community and quality of life. A strategic approach to building on the cluster's strengths and addressing its challenges could be catalytic, enabling it to expand its geographic reach and job creation potential. The Prosperity Partnership's tourism and visitor industry cluster strategy is designed to attract more tourists, including groups and corporate travelers, provide a more satisfying experience for visitors, and communicate the sector's economic reach and benefits to key audiences. The Military has a Significant Role The military presence in the Puget Sound region includes major bases for the Army (Fort Lewis), Navy (Naval Base Kitsap and Naval Station Everett), and Air Force (McChord Air Force Base), as well as installations for the Washington National Guard and Coast Guard. Collectively, these installations directly support over 125,000 jobs in the region (more than 60,000 of which are held by non-military personnel) and provide more than $3 billion annually in total payroll. In addition to economic activity generated by the operation of these bases, a wide range of Department of Defense contracts support many private sector contractors and subcontractors in the region. In 2006, defense contracting activity in the Puget Sound region (both base- and non-base related) totaled $3.7 billion. As an overarching goal, the military cluster strategy must provide "mission support" for the military presence in the region. Mission support includes any activity that makes it easier for the military to achieve strategic national defense objectives and for individual bases to play their expected roles. In addition, the strategy addresses land use around the bases and improved facilitation of transfer of professional certifications and education requirements between states, better allowing for families of military members to quickly integrate into their new community. For more information contact: Chris Strow at (206) 971-3051 or cstrow@psrc.org back to top