City releases South Everett economic development strategy emphasizing rooted ownership and job pipelines

City economic development staff and consultants presented a strategy for South Everett on July 23 that emphasizes “rooted ownership” and expanding local employment opportunities ahead of planned regional transit investments.

Dan Ernesi, Everett’s economic development director, introduced the briefing and consultants Morgan Shook of Eco Northwest and Tina Flossti of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The study area covers a larger geography than the city’s incorporated southern neighborhoods and includes unincorporated areas; presenters said the area is younger, more diverse, has larger household sizes, higher rental rates and lower median incomes than the city overall.

Consultants said engagement included workforce institutions, employers, community‑based organizations and small business outreach to restaurants, laundromats, motels, grocery stores and other retail. Participants identified barriers and opportunities: local employers report a mismatch between resident skills and higher‑paying jobs (for example in aerospace), small businesses expressed difficulty navigating permitting and city systems, and residents cited needs for wraparound services such as child care and housing stability to access training programs.

The plan highlights the neighborhood’s regional opportunity: its study area has substantial future capacity for both jobs and housing, presenters said, and is proximate to major employers. The strategy’s proposed priorities — summarized by a SEEDS acronym in the presentation — include supporting local business ecosystems, emphasizing for‑sale housing to increase ownership, stabilizing small business spaces (noting Casino Road and other commercial nodes), and strengthening workforce pipelines and wraparound supports to help residents access higher‑paying jobs.

Staff proposed a four‑year work plan to advance action items, produce white papers for grant applications, convene implementation partners, and connect workforce training providers with employers. Councilmembers asked for additional benchmarking by ZIP code to compare South Everett with other parts of the city, and they discussed commercial ownership models such as community land trusts or public development authorities to preserve affordable commercial spaces.

No formal council action was taken; staff said they plan to return with a detailed four‑year work plan and implementation milestones.