Partnerships to Reinvent the Tri-Cities Research District Gary E. Spanner Manager, Economic Development Office Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (509)

2 The Problem Certain to lose 8,000 jobs in foreseeable future Hanford jobs account for 30% of employment and 40% of wages in the Tri- Cities MSA Need to replace high- wage jobs (#7 nationally in % of scientists & engineers)

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4 Tri-Cities Research District Anchored at ends by WSU-TC and national lab Situated on free-flowing stretch of Columbia River in southeastern Washington State New focus on recruiting and marketing real estate with new board New city zoning: business & research park (mixed use allowed) Now 1,600 acres…down from 4,200 acres Residences now in the Tri-Cities Research District

5 Tri-Cities Research District (Cont.) Formerly Tri-Cities Science & Technology Park (1990) Washington State–designated Innovation Partnership Zone Private developer recently purchased ~150 acres and buildings (~$150M) Master plan underway for 330 acres of private & public land Sustainability theme likely for the Tri-Cities Research District

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7 Bring in a Marketing-oriented Consultant ~75 recommendations total Focus on a smaller area Asset for all of Tri-Cities, not just Richland National laboratory is the key asset Establish a marketing plan Specific sector/industry targets identified

8 Catalog your Pertinent Assets Create database of support organizations Identify sources of intellectual capital Identify which governments, at all levels, are affected Identify likely public & private funding sources Led to state designation as an Innovation Partnership Zone

9 Establish Collaborations to Boost the “Entrepreneurial Infrastructure” Formed local angel investor group Technologies from national laboratory made available to MBA teams Appointed an adjunct professor for technology entrepreneurship Actively engaged two tech- based economic development state agencies Established the Applied Process Engineering Laboratory (incubator with seven collaborators)

10 Other Lessons Learned Sharing costs among several governments and private sector partners is essential because none can shoulder it alone Convincing cities to spend $$ outside their boundaries is difficult…but necessary Presentations to city councils & economic development boards are useful for buy-in

11 Final Words Your community could do this Collaboration among private and public sector organizations is essential Bundle existing assets (e.g., university, national lab, military base) Attract the right brains and the right businesses will emerge Sustainable development is a given

12 Questions?Questions?