2017-12-13 Update with the EDCUpdate with the EDC
December 13, 2017
3:13 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Erik Martin, Lee Napier, Matt Matayoshi,
Commissioner Stamper
Guest: Susan DeLaire
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Matt Matayoshi reviewed draft results of the EDC’s Workforce Development Training Needs Gap
Analysis. He said the study found that over the next five years, the largest need for jobs will be in the
manufacturing sector due to retirements, etc. He said healthcare will be the next largest.
Matt said nearly 17,700 Lewis County residents commute out-of-county for their employment and that
8,700 out-of-county residents travel to Lewis County for work.
Matt discussed the need for manufacturing programs in schools.
Matt discussed the recent sale of a Benaroya property in Centralia to a manufacturing company that will
bring family-wage jobs to Lewis County.
Matt discussed ways to develop entrepreneurship locally.
Meeting ended at 3:52 p.m.