Public-Private Partnerships Power Snohomish County’s Growth

By Pablo Colindres Moreno for Economic Alliance of Snohomish County

A clear marker of a healthy region is the quality of its public-private partnerships. Healthy collaborations between private enterprises and public agencies provide local businesses and communities with opportunities to kickstart growth and development, aligning infrastructure, capital investment, workforce development and policy around shared regional outcomes.

In Snohomish County, several examples of successful public-private partnerships are evident.

The Port of Everett’s operations and recent revitalization projects constitute key economic and placemaking efforts for the community. Domestic and international trade supports up to $7.9 billion in economic value, creating over 4,000 jobs. 

Moreover, the Port’s new Waterfront Place mixed-use development along the waterfront boasts 1.5 million square feet of retail, restaurant, housing, hotel and office space, with new attractions being added regularly.

More than $350 million in public-private investment has been facilitated, and according to the Port’s website, the expected $1 billion in public-private development investment will have supported up to 40,000 jobs (including temporary construction jobs), and will generate $8.6 million annually in state and local taxes.

Another example of a highly-aligned public-private partnership is the region’s Paine Field Airport. Paine Field is also currently moving forward with expansion plans that will grow annual passenger rates to four times the pre-pandemic highs, and account for increased trade and freight as well.

Executive Dave Somers signed the executive order formally putting the plans into action last May, and further investment into sustainable jet fuel research announced by Governor Bob Ferguson in January features investment from local and state funds as well as private funds, including $10 million from an anonymous donor.

The new Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator represents a major opportunity for the region. As a major aerospace player, Snohomish County is already home to innovation and exciting new companies within the industry. Sustainable fuel research had already been ongoing at Paine Field, but the investment promises to keep the county at the cutting-edge of new technologies and advances. 

This type of potential can also help retain and recruit more business and highly-skilled workers, adding to an already impressive talent pool in the area. Moreover, this demand for specialized skillsets have highlighted the bridge public investment and advocacy forms between private business and education. Alignment with higher-education institutions and advocacy from organizations like the Snohomish STEM Network have led directly to programs tailored to meet employer needs, such as the Washington Aerospace Training & Research (WATR) Center, an Edmonds Community College program hosted at Paine Field’s commercial airport designed to train students directly to standards at The Boeing Company.

In the City of Lynnwood, the arrival of the light rail spurred investment into the city’s infrastructure. Lynnwood’s transit-oriented development plan for the City Center will set up the area as a vibrant commercial and residential center. With some projects already under way, both from public and private funding, the Lynnwood City Center will deliver economic development as well as vital placemaking for the community and future growth. 

With the opening of Lynnwood City Center station in 2024, Sound Transit committed to support the development of livable communities near the station, including a new housing development geared toward households earning between 30-60% of the area’s median income. In this development, The Community Health Center of Snohomish County and the Center for Human Services will provide medical, dental and behavioral health services, as well as a childcare facility operated by Housing Hope. Additional services will also be available to residents and community members on-site, regardless of economic, insurance and immigration status. 

Other City Center projects include infrastructure across several transport arteries, updating environmental exemptions to improve green space access to the community as well as business and development outreach to fill the demand from increased local and regional traffic.

Public investment includes an economic development program approved by Lynnwood City Council last May, in the form of a Tax Increment Finance Program (TIF), funding three major capital projects in the City Center Program. The projects will generate at least $103 million in additional tax revenues. The District and Northline Village are both included in the Tax Increment Area (TIA) designated for the TIF.

Based on public input during late 2021 and early 2022, the Lynnwood City Center TOD priorities included affordable and mixed-income housing, access to shelter, childcare and other social services, increased natural features and passive open space for the community, and public access to multi-use and cultural spaces, among others.

“Public-private partnerships have been key to bringing our City Center vision to life,” said Sarah Cho, City Center Program Manager for the City of Lynwood. “By advancing strategic tools like our TIA, we are strengthening collaboration and positioning the area for long-term success.”

New business, upgraded utility and street improvements and a focus on enhancing livability for residents create focused growth potential.

Across Snohomish County, examples like these of public-private partnerships are making the region a better place to learn, work and live.

Daniel Tappana, Director of Economic Development for Economic Alliance Snohomish County, agrees.  “Economic development is a team sport,” he says. “Public-private partnerships allow us to align policy, infrastructure, capital, and talent in a way that benefits the entire community. When we work together, we don’t just create jobs — we create pathways to prosperity.”