Published on December 19, 2024
The ERC program is fundamentally reimagining economic development by emphasizing community-driven initiatives that emerge from local knowledge, needs, and wants. Two examples of this include the launch of Creative District pilots in Washington State new partnerships have been built to amplify communities in Spokane as vibrant hubs of innovation, culture, and entrepreneurship—a strategic investment in the region’s long-term economic vitality. In Virginia, SERCAP Inc is addressing the challenge of workforce participation through an often-overlooked lens: childcare accessibility.
Launching Creative District Pilots in Washington State
The Coeur d’Alene Area EDC & Greater Spokane Inc. in collaboration with ERC Fellow Darya Pilram are working to establish Certified Creative Districts in Spokane, Washington and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. These districts are crucial for fortifying the area’s long-term economic well-being by serving as hubs of innovation, culture, and entrepreneurship. They have the potential to generate jobs, attract tourists, and nurture a diverse cultural scene.
In 2024, two creative district pilots were launched in Washington State in Hillyard, Spokane and Garland, Spokane through an intensive community engagement process. Through this work, Pilram has established partnerships with an array of key players in the region including representatives at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington and Idaho Departments of Commerce , Idaho Arts Commission, local districts, Washington State University and the University of Idaho, Inspire Washington, Coeur d’Alene Arts & Culture Alliance, the Jacklin Center for the Arts, and Visit Spokane.
Pilram has also organized the inaugural West Central Creatives Gathering and led monthly creative district planning meetings in Hillyard District in Spokane. Starting with just 7 members in the Hillyard district, the targeted listening sessions and strategic planning meetings have grown participation to 26 active community members. Creative District roadmaps have been developed for Spokane’s Hillyard District and the Garland District.
The success of this approach is evident in the community’s increasing autonomy. Local groups in Hillyard and Garland are leveraging their unique cultural assets, actively engaging with city leadership to secure resources. This organic growth and community ownership has the potential to be a model for other creative districts across the United States. The local host organizations see the value of the economic impact and potential of these creative districts and are examining how to integrate it into their core work to continue driving this initiative.
Addressing Childcare Accessibility as a Hindrance to Workforce Participation in Virginia
In Rockbridge County, Virginia and surrounding areas, SERCAP Inc, in collaboration with the Rockbridge County Economic Development Office are addressing the challenge of workforce participation through an often-overlooked lens: childcare accessibility. Childcare barriers disproportionately affect low-income families and communities of color, perpetuating cycles of economic inequality. Early this year, with the support of ERC Fellow Devin Journiette, the two partners launched the Rockbridge Regional Childcare study with a goal to reduce the childcare gap from the current rate of 39% by 20% during the 30-month duration of the ERC project. Preliminary findings from the study revealed challenges local families are facing, from prohibitive childcare costs to severe shortages in available care options.
By reframing childcare access as a fundamental economic issue rather than solely a social concern, this work has the potential to provide a data-driven framework for understanding how childcare barriers impact local workforce participation and economic vitality.
To ensure community voices shaped potential solutions, Rockbridge and Buena Vista counties alongside SERCAP hosted public meetings in September and October to release the initial findings of the regional childcare survey and accept public comment on the findings (see photo above). Journiette shared, “After public meetings on October 10th, we have decided to re-open the study in an effort to gather more responses from more diverse income ranges. Many who filled out the survey were well above the median household income levels. The YMCA and schools are working to help gather additional information to assist with the project.” Journiette and members of the SERCAP team have met with employers across various industries to better understand the impacts of worker absenteeism due to childcare challenges.
