Concrete Economic Development Commission: Year-End Report 2017

For 2017 the Economic Development Commission set a goal of completing 5 tasks from Concrete’s Economic Development Plan:

Policy ED 1.1 – Replace Obsolete Town of Concrete Website

Policy ED 2.1 – Create Brand for Town of Concrete

Policy ED 8.1 – Develop Database of Key Buildings (two components)

Policy ED 9 – Develop Broadband

Replace Obsolete Town of Concrete Website:In Progress

Town Website is in the second phase of beta testing. Recommendations for new town Website will be coming in the next few months.

Create Brand for Town of Concrete: Completed

The “Create a Brand”task was divided into two segments.The Economic Development commission held a mini branding workshop with members of the Concrete Chamber of Commerce, and,working in collaboration with Imagine Concrete Foundation, a branding workshopwas held with the community.

After the workshops, the Economic Development Commission compiled data from both workshops togenerate a Branding and Marketing Plan for the Town of Concrete.

Develop Database of Key Buildings: Completed

A verifiable and quantifiable database has been created that the town can now use as a reference for potential business people looking for a place to put their businesses. The database lists pertinent information of all vacant buildings in the Town Center.

Develop Broadband: In progress

The Economic Development Commission has metwith the Port of Skagit and the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) on a fiber backbone (dark fiber) installation project in Skagit County. In a series of discussions,it has been identified that a three-year building project for a fiber backbone from Anacortes to Concrete is in progress.It has been acknowledged that Concrete is in segment 6 or the third year of installation for the project.Total project costs are approximately $3M, with the 6th segment (Hamilton to Concrete) costing around $1M.Federal funding is being pursued to help with this project.

In several dialogs with Skagit PUD, we’ve been able to identify that a conduit was installed on Main Street, but requires installationof fiber.Also as an outcome of conversations on unidentified telecommunications assets in and around Concrete,the Economic Development Commission requested that the Port of Skagit initiate a survey to identifytheseassets.

East County Telecommunication Survey canbe found here:

mid-year the Economic Commission selected two more projects to add tothe task list:

Adaptive Reuse: In Progress

The goal is to find a new use for the Old Fire Hall/Police Station.An assessment of the current physical condition of the structure and potential alternative reuse is under way. A successful Old Fire Station adaptive reusecould serve as an anchor for economic opportunities and stimulate the Town’s economy.Recommendations are in the process of being drafted by the Concrete Economic Development Commission for Town Council review.

Town Flag:In Progress

The Economic Development Commission kicked off the Town Flag Contest by setting up a booth at Youth Activity Day. Partnering with Imagine Concrete Foundation,members of the Commission were able to speak with numerous young people about creating an official flag for the Town of Concrete. During Cascade Days, another booth was set up and commission members were able to inform the community about the Town Flag Contest.To educate and inform, a class was held for commission and council memberson proper flag composition and design. The town received 114 entries for the contest. The Economic Development Commission has selected four final designs:the recommended winning design, plus three runner-ups.