What's Happening in Lacey, WA…

Lacey and the Port of Olympia recently announced they had devised an interlocal agreement (ILA) that will help entrepreneurs and small businesses that are just starting out.

The initiative will help these startups grow and develop in Thurston County, according to an article on the city's website. In helping new business develop, the county will also help itself.

The city and port understand that giving new businesses and entrepreneurs access to tenant spaces at the entry level will help them grow, and ultimately, provide jobs for local workers. The port owns industrial space in the area of Lacey Gateway, and will provide access to it. The city and port will also connect entrepreneurs with one another, and with resources that include Saint Martin's University, the South Puget Sound Community College Center for Business, and Lacey MakerSpace.

Both the Lacey City Council and the Port Commission were briefed about the agreement at a joint meeting. Lacey approved the ILA about a month later, and the Port Commission did the same several weeks after that. Joe Downing, the port's commissioner, said the agreement would help new businesses that want to make Thurston County prosperous.

Lacey and the Port of Olympia will conduct a market analysis soon to see if there are any improvements needed in the facilities, as well as to identify potential users.

This measure will be important to many, so officials might work with a newsletter printing company to create a newsletter for community members.