In April 2023, the Island County Board of Commissioners voted to support the development of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Island County. Island County, the Cities of Langley and Oak Harbor, and the Town of Coupeville generously support this project. This CEDS planning and development process will be overseen by the Economic Development Council for Island County and will be managed by consultant, Jennifer Noveck, Ph.D. For more information, check out our CEDS FAQs. A very important part of the CEDS process is stakeholder engagement and input via a SWOT (strengths ..read more

The Economic Development Council for Island County (EDC) is assisting the Washington State Department of Commerce to conduct outreach and support applications for new Small Business Disaster Relief grants. Commerce has $9.7 million available in grants for small businesses with annual gross receipts of $5 million or less. Applicable businesses will have sustained a reduction in business income or activity as the result of natural disasters such as flooding, landslides, and straight-line winds. The eligible natural disaster for Island County includes Flooding & Mudslides that occ ..read more

Free Business Services: Accelerators, Bootcamps, Grant Funds, Technology Tools, Mentors, and More The Economic Development Council for Island County (Island County EDC) submitted a bold proposal to the Washington Department of Commerce’s Small Business Innovation Fund grant program in partnership with the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) and the Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network (RAIN Catalysts) to help elevate a regional/rural entrepreneurial ecosystem in Island and Skagit Counties. The $1,159,216 funded project will run from December 2022 through May 2023 a ..read more

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) is the NEA’s largest grant program for organizations, providing expansive funding opportunities for communities across the nation in a wide range of artistic disciplines. Through project-based funding, the program supports opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Application deadlines are February 9 and July 6, 202 ..read more

Do you or someone you know, have a commercial real estate project in Oak Harbor that needs financing with better rates and terms with more flexibility than the market? ​The EDC is pleased to share this exciting opportunity brought to us by the Heritage Bank Community Development Entity (HBDE). The program provides loans to help businesses to fund projects​that will in return revitalize the economy by creating jobs and increasing the availability of goods and services in economically distressed areas of Oak Harbor. Loans are between $500,000 and $9 million for real estate transactions. Featu ..read more

The Economic Development Council for Island County (EDC) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), through their Small Business Outreach Contracts program. What does this partnership mean for our local businesses? In addition to the existing business support that the EDC provides, we will now serve as a local and accessible resource to increase the number of employers who understand L&I requirements and know how to connect to the many tools and resources available through L&I.  This work and educati ..read more

Great post from guest blogger Tim Trimbath! Whidbey is changing, and always has been. Data can be dull, but it can be surprising how many times people talk about how many people are on the island, a few facts about who is here, and how expensive housing is. Thanks to the Economic Development Council for providing the equally geeky title; “Island County Demographics Report Updated July 2022“. To many, data sounds dull but if you’re an islander, you’re in there somewhere. You aren’t dull, are you? There are 65,824 Whidbey Islanders. One number mentioned is higher, like 87,700, but that include ..read more

Skagit Valley College, the Economic Development Council for Island County, Sno-Isle Libraries, The Whidbey Institute, and community partners are proud to announce that applications are now being accepted for the third annual Leadership Whidbey program. The program will take place from October 28, 2021 through May 19, 2023. Skagit Valley College, the Economic Development Council for Island County, Sno-Isle Libraries, The Whidbey Institute, and community partners are proud to announce that applications are now being accepted for the third annual Leadership Whidbey program. The program will take ..read more

Island County businesses are invited to participate in this great advanced business training series, at no cost! Starts August 24, 2022 Register: https://scaleupwashington.org/ ScaleUp is training for companies that have moved BEYOND startup and launch. It is about building capacity, increasing profitability, and automating business systems. The program will show you how to position your business for investment and ready you for that moment. Imagine your business as passive income through systemization Working ON your business, NOT in it Doubling or tripling reven ..read more

The Department of Commerce partnered with ArtsWA on a new funding opportunity to support businesses struggling from the impact of COVID-19. The Working Washington Grants: Round 5 program gives pandemic relief funding to small businesses and non-profits. In this round of grants, portions of the available funds are set aside for specific targeted groups or sectors: 60% is identified for the arts, heritage, and science sectors, including those that operate live entertainment venues 40% is identified for most other sectors, including hospitality, fitness, and personal services Appl ..read more