Public Comment Open for Kittitas-Yakima Economic Development Strategy
Community input will help finalize a shared vision and blueprint to guide economic growth and future funding opportunities
After nearly a year of regional planning and community engagement, the draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Kittitas and Yakima counties is now available for public review and comment.
The 30-day public comment period runs through October 7, 2026. Community members, businesses, organizations, and other stakeholders are encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback before it is finalized.
Review the draft CEDS and submit comments here: https://www.cwu.edu/about/offices/business-community-services/economic-development-strategy-ceds-kittitas-yakima-counties.php
Comments will be collected anonymously and submitted to the U.S. Economic Development Administration along with the final CEDS.
The CEDS is a five-year strategy that serves as both a guiding vision and a blueprint for the economic growth of the region. Rather than creating a list of specific projects to be completed, the CEDS establishes shared strategies that communities and local leaders can use to guide economic development efforts and pursue state and federal funding opportunities.
Development of the CEDS began in fall 2025 and included a series of public meetings and input from hundreds of business, government, education, nonprofit, and community leaders throughout Kittitas and Yakima counties.
Participants helped identify the region’s economic opportunities and challenges and consider how communities can strengthen existing industries, support job and business growth, and pursue new opportunities for the future. That input helped shape the strategies contained in the draft now available for review.
YCDA appreciates everyone who contributed their time, ideas, and perspectives throughout the strategy’s development and encourages the community to participate in this final opportunity to help shape the region’s economic development direction for the next five years.
