SKAGIT COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRIAL PARK
Skagit County, Washington

Managing Entity: TBA
Contact Person' s Name : Kevin Morse
Address : (No address, still in planning)
City : Mt. Vernon State: WA Zip: 98273
Phone: (360) 336-6114 Fax : (360) 336-6116 E-mail: eip@edasc.org

Alternate Contact Person: Don Wick
Phone : (360) 336-6114 Fax : N/A E-mail: N/A

EIP's key features.
The key features of our EIP that differentiates it from a typical industrial park are:
- a recovery center built with energy efficient recycled content materials
- a manufacturing center
- a community center
- a sales and marketing center
- an environmental business center
- a closed loop system with minimal effluent and emissions.
- highly visible park

What constitutes success?
Success for our EIP project will be indicated by:
- Land acquisition and infrastructure development
- The creation of safe, healthy, family wage jobs
- Minimal environmental impact
- Community support
- The self-sustainance of the venture
- The provision of recyclables to vital outlets
- The provision of revenues to replace money originally extracted from the now non-
operational resource recovery facility

EIP linkages.
Development Steps:

  • Feasibility study completed Fall of 1995
    - Identified three potential sites
    - Potential tenants
    -Local expansion and out of state relocation
    - Outlined components of EIP (see Executive Summary)
    -Economic Feasibility
  • Recruitment of anchor tenants (in process)
  • Recruitment of capital and development partners (in process)
  • Working with state legislators to create incentives for green industries

 

Back to Top

Recruiting process.
We have done a feasibility study identifying local businesses interested in expansion or relocation to an industrial park. Currently, we are working with existing companies to acquire capital for expansion and equipment purchases. Throughout the history of the organization we have worked closely with the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development. Attempting to recruit new companies and gather information, we have attended many trade shows and conferences.

Resources available.

  • The Environmental Industries Park has pulled funding from a number of sources.
  • The Skagit County Government and the Economic Development Administration funded a feasibility study. Currently, we are seeking to fund land acquisition and infrastructure development. We have also received funding from the Forest Service for community revitalization. This contract will fund anchor tenant recruitment efforts.

Strategy to continue progressing.
In order for the Environmental Industries Park to progress, development partners will need to make a serious commitment of their capital and time. Until this is accomplished, progress will be slow.

What is missing?
Expertise in industrial development would help implement our EIP plans. Financing is crucial for our EIP's survival. An executive loan program would be welcomed. An industrial specialist from the public or private sector lent to our program for two years would make a world of difference.

Goals for the upcoming workshop.
I hope to learn from the struggles of other EIP developers and get more contacts within the EIP community. While there, I hope to make contacts for receiving funding and development assistance. I want to provide insight and lessons learned to policy makers so they can generate federal assistance.



Back to Top


Case Study Source: Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) Workshop, Cape Charles, Va., October 17-18, 1996.