AN ACT Relating to local economic development capacity; amending RCW 43.330.070; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 43.330.070 and 1993 c 280 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall work closely with local communities to increase their capacity to respond to economic, environmental, and social problems and challenges. The department shall coordinate the delivery of development services and technical assistance to local communities or regional areas. It shall promote partnerships between the public and private sectors and between state and local officials to encourage appropriate economic growth and opportunity in communities throughout the state, in particular strategies designed to encourage economic growth and opportunities in community empowerment zones designated under RCW 43.63A.700. The department shall promote appropriate local development by: Supporting the ability of communities to develop and implement strategic development plans; assisting businesses to start up, maintain, or expand their operations; encouraging public infrastructure investment and private and public capital investment in local communities; supporting efforts to manage growth and provide affordable housing and housing services; providing for the identification and preservation of the state's historical and cultural resources; and expanding employment opportunities.

(2) The department shall define a set of services including training and technical assistance that it will make available to local communities, community-based nonprofit organizations, regional areas, industry clusters, or businesses. The department shall simplify access to these programs by providing more centralized and user-friendly information and referral. The department shall coordinate community and economic development efforts to minimize program redundancy and maximize accessibility. The department shall develop a set of criteria for targeting services to local communities.

(3) The department shall develop a coordinated and systematic approach to providing training to community-based nonprofit organizations, local communities, industry clusters, and businesses. The approach shall be designed to increase the economic and community development skills available in local communities by providing training and funding for training for local citizens, nonprofit organizations, industry clusters, and businesses. The department shall emphasize providing training in those communities most in need of state assistance.

(4) As used in this section, "industry clusters" means a geographic concentration of interdependent competitive firms that do business with each other. Clusters also include firms that sell inside and outside of the geographic region as well as support firms that supply raw materials, components, and business services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The legislature finds that economic development, work force training, international trade, tourism development, housing assistance, assistance to local governments, and other programs and services provided by the department of community, trade, and economic development are vital to all regions of the state. The legislature further finds that program development and service delivery to the eastern region of the state could be significantly enhanced by a continuous, full-time physical staff presence in that region.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. For the purposes of this act:

(1) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development, or its successor agency or agencies.

(2) "Director" means the director of the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. In order to more effectively respond to the needs of eastern Washington communities, the department shall, as soon as practicable, establish a field office and a full-time staff presence in eastern Washington. If practicable, the office shall be colocated with one or more existing state agencies in the Tri-Cities area to facilitate the urgent economic development needs of southeastern Washington. This office shall be staffed by the director in the most efficient manner that is likely to provide improved service to eastern Washington communities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Program activities and priorities for this office serving eastern Washington shall be determined by the director, in consultation with local government officials, business, labor, and educational advisors from the region.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.