About the Economic Development Council
Our Mission
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to support small rural enterprises, conduct projects to stimulate new job creation, strengthen the economic base for working families, and support overall quality of life for islanders.
Our Role in the State
The EDC is an independent nonprofit organization which acts as Associate Development Organization (ADO) for the Washington State Department of Commerce. An ADO is defined in RCW 43.330.010 as “a local economic development non-profit corporation that is broadly representative of community interests.” Each county’s ADO is designated by a county’s council of government and serves as its lead agency for economic development.
The EDC is an independent nonprofit organization which acts as Associate Development Organization (ADO) for the Washington State Department of Commerce. An ADO is defined in RCW 43.330.010 as “a local economic development non-profit corporation that is broadly representative of community interests.” Each county’s ADO is designated by a county’s council of government and serves as its lead agency for economic development.
Our History
In 1964, a group of island business and civic leaders called the San Juan County Economic Development Committee asked a question:
“Is it not unreasonable to consider that if you have a method that must be improved, a problem that needs to be solved or an idea that must be born, to provide your thinkers with one of the most pleasant places in the U.S.A. to accomplish these needs? For a problem, a laboratory or an idea factory, there is no place better than the San Juan Islands.”
Fifty years ago, few could have imagined the Internet, broadband telecommunications, globalized markets or knowledge-based economies. Yet this farsighted study envisioned opportunities to create “industry involving research or scientific study.” The authors noted that “living conditions here are conducive to imaginative thinking,” and advocated “placing small research labs, plants or offices in the islands.”
In 2003, another group of island business and civic leaders created a nonprofit organization called the San Juan County Economic Development Council, or EDC, to provide support to local businesses and startups.
Nearly 20 years later, our mission remains the same: supporting small rural enterprises, and conducting projects to stimulate new job creation in order to strengthen the economic base for working families, and to support overall quality of life for islanders.
In 1964, a group of island business and civic leaders called the San Juan County Economic Development Committee asked a question:
“Is it not unreasonable to consider that if you have a method that must be improved, a product that must be built, a problem that needs to be solved or an idea that must be born, to provide your thinkers with one of the most pleasant places in the U.S.A. to accomplish these needs? For a problem or a plant, a laboratory or an idea factory, there is no place better than the San Juan Islands.”
Fifty years ago, few could have imagined the Internet, broadband telecommunications, globalized markets or knowledge-based economies. Yet this farsighted study envisioned opportunities to create “industry involving research or scientific study.” The authors noted that “living conditions here are conducive to imaginative thinking,” and advocated “placing small research labs, plants or offices in the islands.”
In 2003, another group of island business and civic leaders created a nonprofit organization called the San Juan County Economic Development Council, or EDC, to provide support to local businesses and startups.
Our Funders
The funders of the Economic Development Council include: the Washington State Department of Commerce, San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, the Port of Orcas, the Port of Lopez, the Raynier Institute & Foundation, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Island Market, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, the Building Industry Association of Washington, the Harvest Foundation, PeaceHealth, the Lopez Lions, the Friday Harbor Kiwanis, the Orcas Kiwanis, the United Way of San Juan County, the San Juan Island Community Foundation, the Corbin, Boden, Levinson, Madsen, and VanHyning families, and many individual donors.