At EDTalk 2024, we celebrated the collaborative spirit that drives our community forward. The event highlighted key initiatives, ongoing projects, and the essential partnerships between the public and private sectors that fuel the county’s economic growth.
A highlight of the event was a recap of YCDA’s Childcare Accelerator Program, which tackles the growing need for childcare in Yakima County. This comprehensive program brought together nineteen partners from across the region and state, with some impressive results:
- 147 individuals from 72 unique daycare businesses participated.
- 150 new childcare spaces have been (or are in the process of being) created.
This additional childcare capacity is crucial in supporting working parents with young children, and the businesses they work at. For more details, you can check out a brief video recap of the Childcare Accelerator Program here.
YCDA also pulled back the curtain on what is involved in the years long process of assisting companies that are opening new facilities in the Yakima Valley. The recent recruitment of Manzana Products Co. was discussed by a panel that included:
- Andy Kay, CEO, Manzana Products Co., Inc.
- Jay Hester, Executive Director, Port of Sunnyside
- Joe Schmitt, Economic Development Manager, YCDA
- Scott Clark, Owner, Clark Developing and Consulting
The panelists offered valuable insights into how public and private partnerships drive successful job-creating projects like Manzana, a shining example of how collaboration fuels economic expansion in Yakima County.
For more details on the Manzana project, watch the brief video here.
In addition, YCDA has been involved in several exciting projects, including:
- Partnering with local governments to bring additional flights back to Yakima Airport and secure funding for terminal expansion.
- Assisting Paragon Films in Union Gap with a production expansion that nearly doubled their capacity.
- Supporting Cargill in Granger as they expand their animal feed production.
- Assisting with infrastructure funding for water, sewer, and roadway improvements in Grandview, paving the way for a new truck stop near the Walmart Distribution Center.
As we move forward, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead. YCDA remains committed to driving economic growth and strengthening our community through workforce development, business support, and infrastructure improvements. We’re grateful for the support of our investors, sponsors, and community leaders, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.