Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County - EDASC

06/05/2026

Still need help regarding recovery from the December flooding? Saturday is your chance to get one-on-one assistance.

06/03/2026

We are beyond delighted to have two new Leadership Skagit graduates among our ranks. Congratulations to Deputy Director Ken Huste and Accounting & Administration Manager Ashley Penner!

And a huge thank you to "Ms. Leadership Skagit" herself, Community Relations Associate Gina Eakin, who keeps the Leadership Skagit program running - from planning venues and keeping people fed to managing the new class recruitment efforts.

Congratulations and thank you to these amazing EDASC team members!

06/02/2026

EDASC will begin in a new era in early 2027 when CEO John Sternlicht steps down from the role.

Read more about his legacy at EDASC, his future plans, and the search for a new CEO: https://www.skagit.org/news/p/item/67749/sternlicht-to-step-down-in-2027

05/14/2026

EDASC welcomes Ashley Penner as its new Accounting and Administration Manager, and we could not be more excited!

"We are delighted to welcome Ashley Penner to this amazing EDASC team,” EDASC CEO John Sternlicht said.

“She got to know EDASC in the current Leadership Skagit class, so she's already starting from a point of familiarity and dedication. Her skills, experience, and even temperament will ensure her success here, and we are fortunate to have her!"

05/08/2026

Not only is it Economic Development Week but it is also Small Business Week! Because the vast majority of businesses in Skagit County are small businesses, EDASC devotes programming, technical assistance and other resources to helping small businesses succeed.

Check out the EDASC Small Business Support page on our website for more details. https://www.skagit.org/our-services/small-business

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05/07/2026

EDASC is proud of its longest running program, Leadership Skagit, which graduated its first class in 2004. It is a prime example of capacity building – a way in which economic development can be a catalyst for improving communities in a broader way than traditional economic development.

Leadership Skagit, a nine-month professional development program, prepares community members to become strong leaders ready to engage in civic discourse and partner across sectors to make meaningful change happen. These skills can be game changers in the workplace, and employers recognize Leadership Skagit’s value for their employees. That is why employers including Skagit Regional Health and HF Sinclair Puget Sound Refinery send their team members year after year – which also makes Leadership Skagit an important retentional tool for businesses.

Read on to learn more about the benefits of the Leadership Skagit program from EDASC’s own Deputy Director Ken Huste.
https://www.skagit.org/news/p/item/67321/edascs-leadership-skagit-prime-example-of-capacity-building

05/06/2026

This National Small Business Week, stay ahead in your small business by keeping accurate records, separating finances, and understanding your IRS tax obligations. Learn more at

This National Small Business Week, stay ahead in your small business by keeping accurate records, separating finances, and understanding your IRS tax obligat...

05/06/2026

Business Retention and Expansion, aka BRE, is one of EDASC’s core pillars of economic development work. BRE often starts with listening: What are businesses challenged with? What opportunities do they imagine for their operations? What kind of assistance could fill in the gaps?

Want to know more about some of our BRE initiatives during this Economic Development Week? Check out the BRE page on our website, skagit.org: https://www.skagit.org/our-services/business-retention-and-expansion

05/05/2026

Economic development can take many forms, and during Economic Development Week, May May 4-8, we are sharing different facets of economic development in Skagit County, Today, we look at tourism and EDASC’s role in supporting the Skagit Tourism Bureau.
https://www.skagit.org/news/p/item/67322/tourism-offers-economic-growth-opportunities-for-skagit-county

And the Skagit Tourism Bureau will be hosting its annual Tourism Summit this Thursday at Cascade Flats in Sedro-Woolley. Be sure to register by May 6 if you wish to attend.

05/04/2026

What is economic development? We at EDASC are asked that question frequently.

In short, it is the intentional practice of improving a community’s economic wellbeing and quality of life. A lot goes into economic development, much of it behind the scenes as we work confidentially with local, domestic and overseas businesses.

That’s why we want to share more about our work during Economic Development Week, May 4-8.

Read more about EDASC’s economic development work here and keep watching for posts all week featuring facets of EDASC’s economic development work in Skagit County.

https://www.skagit.org/news/p/item/67320/edasc-101-getting-to-know-economic-development-in-skagit-county