SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., August 31, 2022—Today, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers welcomed United States Small Business Administration Region 10 Administrator Michael Fong, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Casey Sixkiller, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington State Rural Development Director Helen Price Johnson for meetings with key enterprises in Snohomish County. They were also joined by Economic Alliance Snohomish County President/CEO Garry Clark and Workforce Snohomish President/CEO Joy Emory.
The leaders visited: Swan Trail Farms in Snohomish to review the 5G field Lab and received a briefing on the Food and Farming Center and the Darrington Wood Innovation Center; Cascade Industrial Center in Arlington/Marysville; Mid Mountain Materials in Arlington; and Seacast.
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers (center right) with Small Business Administration Region 10 Administrator Michael Fong (right), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Casey Sixkiller (left), and U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington State Rural Development Director Helen Price Johnson (center left).
“Snohomish County remains the heart of innovation and manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest,” said Executive Somers. “We leverage our high-tech resources for manufacturing, farming, and environmental sustainability. We are a model for using contemporary tools in legacy industries all while making sure we are supporting jobs, economic growth, and our quality of life.”
“The Small Business Administration is committed to supporting the high-tech innovation economy of the Puget Sound region,” said Administrator Fong. “Snohomish County’s economy is a showcase for how traditional industries like manufacturing and agriculture can be improved and made more resilient by the use of technology. Small businesses remain the backbone of our national economy and the Biden Administration will use all of the tools available to us to help entrepreneurs and their workers thrive.”
“USDA Rural Development welcomes the opportunity to continue our engagement with Snohomish County and their vital agriculture industry,” said Director Johnson. “As we look toward full recovery from the pandemic, we must ensure all of our agriculture enterprises are using every federal tool at their disposal to thrive. We look forward to supporting those efforts.”
“I’m excited to join SBA, USDA, and Snohomish County in learning about the ways we can support small businesses on the cutting edge of creating solutions to the climate crisis. Now, with historic federal resources we are in a greater position to partner with small businesses to promote local innovations in green technology and clean energy,” said Administrator Sixkiller.
“I appreciated the opportunity to meet with the Regional Administrators of the SBA, USDA and EPA today to highlight the innovation and job creation taking place in the Cascade Industrial Center in North Marysville,” Mayor Nehring posted today on Facebook.
Content Source: Snohomish County Government press release with some additions by the Lynnwood Times.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
