Special Programs to Foster Economic Development

Economic Business Incubators

Small businesses are necessary to a viable economy, but often small businesses fail because entrepreneurs lack management experience and/or capital. Incubator facilities help new companies survive the critical early stages of development and lower the failure rate. They encourage entrepreneurship and minimize obstacles to new business formation and growth. The incubator facility usually houses a number of new enterprises which share an array of services. These shared services may include: meeting areas, secretarial, accounting, round table discussions, FAX/copy machines, research/library, on-site financial and management counseling, and computer/word processing facilities. Generally, incubator facilities and programs are sponsored by one of four groups: public, private nonprofit, private for profit, and educational. Funding sources are drawn from foundations, venture capitalists, all levels of government or any combination thereof. [Sources: "Business Incubators -- A Valuable Tool for Developing and Retaining Businesses, Labor Area Summaries, 4-97 and Small Business Administration (SBA) Incubator Program]

The Washington Small Business Incubator and Assistance Act of 2004 (Chapter 237 Laws of 2004 (ESHB 237) 13 KB) created the Small Business Incubator (SBI) program which will be administered by the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED).

Resources

National Business Incubation Association - A clearinghouse of information on the business incubation industry
- Principles and Best Practices (NBIA)
Washington Association of Small Business Incubators
Incubation: A Common Local Development Strategy, by Doug Ververs, Community and Economic Tool Box, joint collaboration between Cornell University and Penn State University and is maintained by the Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) located at Cornell University

Incubator Programs in Washington

Applied Process Engineering Laboratory (APEL)
Clallam Business Incubator
Economic Development Group of Kittitas County (Ellensburg Business Incubator)
Evergreen Community Development - Business Incubator in Thurston County
Richland - Business Incubation
Tri-Cities Enterprise Association
William M. Factory Small Business Incubator (Tacoma)
- Cooking up a new business? Think incubator, by Tim Strege, Daily Journal of Commerce, February 27, 2003

Federal Economic Enterprise Zones/Empowerment Communities (EZ/EC)

Rural Community Empowerment Program - USDA Rural Development - The Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program, begun in 1993 is designed to afford communities real opportunities for growth and revitalization. The framework of the program is embodied in four key principles: Economic Opportunity, Sustainable Community Development, Community-based Partnerships, Strategic Vision for Change
Washington Rural EC/EZ Communities
USDA Rural Champion Communities
Community Renewal Initiative - HUD Community Planning and Development
- Urban Renewal Communities (HUD)
  - Tacoma Urban Renewal Community
  - Yakima Urban Renewal Community
Additional Information Resources
- Empowerment and Enterprise Zones - Bibliography - HUD User
- Interim Assessment of the Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC) Program: A Progress Report and Appendices - HUD User, November 2001
- EZ/EC Community Tool Box - USDA Rural Development

Washington State Community Empowerment Programs

Community Empowerment Zones - Washington State Office of Community Trade and Economic Development (Bremerton, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, King County (White Center neighborhood), Yakima)
RCW 43.31C - Community Empowerment Zones
RCW 43.63A.715 - Rural Enterprise Zones. Provided for establishment of rural enterprise zones under guidelines established by the Office of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED). The provisions were not implemented by CTED. See Rural Area Marketing Plan Evaluation
( 211 KB) by the State Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, November 1999
Spokane

Spokane Community Empowerment Zone - Spokane EDC
Spokane CEZ Frequently Asked Questions - Spokane EDC

International Service District

RCW 82.04.44525 - B&O Tax Credit New employment for international service activities in eligible areas where no community empowerment zone exists.
Department of Revenue Questions and Answers about the International Services Districts Business and Occupation Tax Credit ( 128 KB)
Vancouver Municipal Code Chapter 5.05 - International Service Zones

HUBZone - Small Business Administration

The purpose of the program is to provide federal contracting opportunities for certain qualified small business concerns located in distressed communities in an effort to promote private sector investment and employment opportunities in these communities. Fostering the growth of federal contractors in these areas and ensuring that these contractors become viable businesses for the long term will help to empower these areas while not adversely affecting recent efforts to streamline and improve the federal procurement process.

HUBZone Program - Small Business Administration
Non-metropolitan Counties Qualified as HUBZones in Washington

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