Grant County EDC: $800 million in assessed projects, workforce and infrastructure challenges remain

Brent Mayle, executive director of the Grant County Economic Development Council, told the Moses Lake City Council that projects the EDC has worked on with local partners have an estimated assessed value of about $800 million and that the City of Moses Lake’s annual portion of related assessed value is roughly $1.6 million.

Mayle said the EDC pursues five strategic initiatives — business retention and expansion, recruitment, infrastructure development, workforce development and communications — and currently has about 10 active project leads in the Moses Lake area across manufacturing, aerospace, food processing, data/IT, clean energy and logistics.

"We are facing some real challenges, but we are making measurable progress," Mayle said. He cited recent wins such as LKQ and an Amazon distribution facility, and said Simplot has a new plant and other facilities expected to open before year‑end.

Mayle described several constraints that affect recruitment and growth: power generation and transmission, water infrastructure and an available skilled workforce. He said the EDC is working with port districts, the local public utility district and private partners to address energy issues. He also said the EDC helps bridge gaps created by state funding reductions to workforce programs and highlighted active work with Career Connect and local partners such as the Moses Lake Chamber and the Boys & Girls Club.

The EDC executive director said the organization facilitates the Strategic Infrastructure Program (SIP) committee, a competitive local infrastructure grant process, and that the city currently has an application in the SIP process. He noted the EDC is a 501(c)(3) governed by a 21‑member board and that Council member Fancher sits on the board.

Mayle said he represents the EDC in state networks, serves as treasurer on the Washington Economic Development Association, and was appointed to a state data‑center task force that is preparing a report to the governor in November.

He described ongoing outreach — industry marketing at national retail conferences, quarterly community events, an annual banquet and a LEAD summit scheduled for November at the Grant County Fairgrounds — and asked the council and public to contact EDC staff with questions.

Ending: The EDC presentation emphasized continuing business recruitment and local partnership efforts while flagging energy, water and workforce limitations as the principal local hurdles to growth.