Economic Development

We and our community depend on a resilient and sustainable regional economy.  Economic development attracts, sustains and retains businesses and industries which provide jobs and services as well as a tax base for municipalities like the City of Port Townsend that deliver basic services.

What sectors drive our economy – and what should?  What range of factors impact our economy?  What does our future economy look like – and how can we shape it?  What should our economy do for us and our community – and what are the benefits and outcomes we’re looking for?

These are questions that we wrestle with as a community. They help define what economic development means to our community which in turn helps define our collective identity, prosperity and wellbeing. 

Economic Development in the City’s 3-Year Strategic Plan
Economic Development is one of five focus areas in the Strategic Plan, and seeks to “develop diverse business opportunities that strengthen the local economy and pave the way for young families to thrive.”  There are five accompanying strategies and a list of action items in our three-year strategic plan.

Sims Gateway and Boatyard Expansion Project
The discovery of a safety concern in the summer of 2021 in which the transmission powerlines were found to be arcing with the row of Lombardy Poplar trees along Sims Way and Boat Haven, led to a joint project with Jefferson County PUD, the Port of Port Townsend, and the City of Port Townsend to address the issue.

COVID Recovery and Resilience and Economic Development Framework
In 2020, as part of the 4-agency Intergovernmental Collaborative Group (ICG), the City and wider community helped develop a community-driven COVID Recovery and Resilience  Action Plan. Actions from that plan are in various stages of complete, underway and being planned. In 2021, the ICG developed an Economic Development Framework to help define our vision and help inform our work ahead. Also in 2021, the City, County, Port, PUD, and EDC Team Jefferson developed a new, collaborative, multi-party agreement that helps align our collective efforts to deliver sustained and sustainable economic development for the region.

EDC Team Jefferson
EDC Team Jefferson is the state-designated Associate Development Organization (ADO) for Jefferson County. It provides access to capital, advocacy, education and training programs, research, and facilitation of projects and partnerships that create sustainable prosperity for the region. The City plays an important role with a seat on the board of directors and as part of the public-sector cabinet that oversees and guides our collaborative interagency approach.

The Port Townsend Main Street Program
PT Main Street enhances the historic districts of Port Townsend through events, projects, partnerships and a variety of resources and programs. PT Main Street was instrumental in the creation of the Port Townsend Creative District (PTCD), designated in May 2020 by the Washington State Arts Commission. The PTCD connects audiences with artists to sustain and expand a vibrant, year-round arts economy. The PTCD aims to tell the stories of artists and makers in the visual, performing, literary, and culinary arts and to celebrate the Creative District which links Downtown, Uptown and Fort Worden.