2011/01/26 Council Agenda Packet

Retention efforts cross paths with recruitment in that they also include working to attract a talented workforce through educational opportunities, public amenities, welcoming diversity, and creating an overall atmosphere of ambient vitality. All efforts around tourism, event planning, and marketing are elements of retention designed to drive consumers to the doors of small business. Revitalization The evolution in the basis of our economy makes revitalization more important now than ever before. In our recent past as an industrial and natural resource-based economy,jobs followed the natural resource, and the workforce followed the jobs. In an ever-increasing knowledge-based economy, the paradigm shifts. The knowledge-based workforce chooses where they will live based on desired amenities, and the jobs, more often than not, seek the talented workforce. To that end, a city that prospers designs itself to include amenities desired by the knowledge-based workforce. Recent studies identify the following attributes as being important to today's workforce: • A vibrant arts and culture scene • A robust educational path from kindergarten to post graduate • Outdoor recreational opportunities • Parks and open spaces • Gathering places • A welcoming atmosphere for diversity • A varied inventory of housing opportunities WORK PLAN WORK PLAN ELEMENT RECRUITMENT RETENTION REVITALIZATION Actively recruit investors, investment, and businesses to the City of Everett. ► Return all inquiries from potential investors within a 48 hour period. X X X ► Host and tour potential investors. X X X ► Promote the EB5 Regional Center program by soliciting businesses in need of nontraditional funding and X X educating potential investors of significant opportunities. ► Support the Port of Everett by actively soliciting investors, tenants, and business. X X Page 2 of 11