Chapter Seven # Economics
Introduction
**Purpose**
Economic vitality is the measure of the Economic Health of the County—its People, businesses, and Government. Different ways of enhancing economic vitality are through Public and Private actions designed to achieve:
--1. Maintenance of a strong sustainable Economic Base;
--2. Diversification of the local economy;
--3. Improved job training and educational opportunities; and
--4. Creation and maintenance of a range of Family-Wage Jobs. Economic vitality depends on job retention, job creation, job training programs, public and private capital investment, and business and community capacity-building to allow businesses or community groups to do the job themselves. The purpose of the economic element is to set goals and establish policies which promote economic vitality for the future of Whatcom County. This chapter provides policies that directly affect other elements of this plan. There are also policies that can be utilized to help direct future planning actions or to review private requests for plan amendments[[, [[rezones, or specific projects.
GMA Goals and Countywide Planning Policies
This chapter specifically addresses Goal #5 of the Growth Management Act, which encourages economic development and economic opportunity for all citizens of the state. The Countywide Planning Policies also have a section on economic development, which this chapter specifically addresses. Examples include: recognition of the need for a healthy economy; the emphasis on coordination]] and cooperation among jurisdictions and public/private partnering; coordination with environmental quality; and the desire to maintain the resource-based industries and recreation as we move toward a more diversified economy. This chapter recognizes the best path towards economic prosperity will likely be found through promotion of the county’s existing strengths, such as our unique position to accommodate Canadian companies looking to expand and access the US market, our extensive recreational infrastructure, and the skilled workforce produced by our excellent educational institutions.