Prosperity Partnership Set to Develop Strategies for two Additional Industry Clusters: Military and Tourism Building on the success of the Prosperity Partnership's work to support the growth and success of its five initial pilot clusters, the Partnership is preparing to do economic analysis and strategy development for two additional industry clusters: Military and Tourism. The Military cluster is the source of significant economic activity in the region, both in terms of direct employment and contracting opportunities. Tourism has the largest cluster employment in the region, providing jobs at a range of skill levels for 95,500 people in the central Puget Sound. Why Clusters? Cluster-related jobs represent over 30% of all jobs in the region. Cluster industries provide important family wage jobs that, on average, pay $24,000 more per year than non-cluster jobs in this region. Leaders in the Puget Sound region recognize the need to emphasize the competitive advantages, including key clusters that are forecasted to grow. Collaboration is essential because metropolitan regions have emerged as the basis of global competition. Military Cluster A 2003 economic impact study showed a total of about 132,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region related to military bases, and sales by Puget Sound companies to local bases total $350 million per year. The cluster also includes contracting opportunities at the local and national level with a huge potential for growth. Another key opportunity is transitioning military personnel into other jobs after they leave the service, and ensuring that our local bases survive the next round of Base Relocation and Closures. Tourism Cluster A 2002 study on Washington's tourism industry revealed that travel spending generates an estimated $760 million in state and local tax revenues annually, and King, Pierce, and Snohomish are the top 3 counties for travel spending in the state. The Tourism cluster includes hospitality, culinary and recreation industries, such as hotels, restaurants, spas, guided tours, sports, and cultural centers, as well as airlines, cruises, destination retail and conventions. The cluster has a large workforce, with significant growth potential in employers, employees, and training programs for the industry. Next Steps The Partnership will conduct its strategy development process by bringing together a diverse group of key stakeholders and developing tangible action items to improve the business climate for that cluster. Specific tasks will include economic data collection and analysis, recruitment of a working group representative of the cluster's diverse stakeholders and the creation of a report based on tangible recommendations from the groups that indicate specific steps, timelines and implementation responsibility. Implementation of this report will be part of the Prosperity Partnership's 2009 Action Items. For more information, contact Chris Strow, Principal Economic Policy Analyst at 206-971-3051 or cstrow@psrc.org. back to top Washington Cleantech Companies Hit the Big Time at GLOBE, EverGreen Story Debuts Washington made a huge international impression as a leading center for clean technology business, as almost 40 Washington businesses, educational institutions and nonprofits gained exposure for their products and services at the GLOBE 2008 Conference and Trade Fair on Business and the Environment, a biennial event held in Vancouver, BC. The Washington Clean Technology Alliance, the state's first ever cleantech industry association, used GLOBE as a platform to promote and publicize Washington companies, and debuted an exciting new ten-minute film entitled "The ever GREEN State: Washington Cleantech at Work." Clean technology is an important and growing industry in the region. By 2020, 25,000 cleantech jobs are expected in Washington, and the region will be exporting technologies and products developed here. "This region already leads in green and sustainable building, energy efficiency and environmental services," said David Allen, a Co-Chair of the WCTA and Executive Vice President of McKinstry, a design, build, operate and maintain firm based in Seattle and active in the cleantech sector. "The next logical step is to begin expanding our brand - getting the word out - both statewide and across the nation, and we've got a great brand to sell." The film introduces the underpinnings of the Washington Cleantech Strategy --- a Business Focus, Innovative Technologies, and Visionary Leadership --- and features comments and endorsements from an impressive array of cleantech advocates, emphasizing the hands-on, practical nature of many of the cleantech innovations, including retrofits of currently built buildings and reduction of current energy demand. If you don't see the video, click here to watch it. back to top Bellevue Named Top City to Live and Launch Bellevue has claimed the number one spot in the Fortune Small Business' "Best Places to Live and Launch 2008." The annual listing is designed to help startup entrepreneurs find business friendly cities with the environmental, leisure and lifestyle amenities to match. Bellevue was chosen for its highly urban yet small town appeal, with easy residential access to a growing downtown that retains natural beauty, and its abundant highly skilled creative workforce. Also praised were Bellevue's schools, services for families, and regional retail draws. Cities in central Puget Sound's peer regions to make the top ten list include Portland and Denver. Other Washington cities included are: Bellingham (27), Olympia (40), and Spokane (77). Find out more at Forbes online. back to top