Washington State has launched a comprehensive long-term economic strategy called Washington in the Making 2040, aimed at addressing the challenges expected over the next 15 years. The plan was developed through extensive consultation with residents across the state and is supported by the Washington Roundtable and the Association of Washington Business.
The initiative was created in response to anticipated population growth, which is expected to increase by 2 million people by 2040. Key challenges identified include a housing shortage, rising energy demand, workforce shortages, and the increasing costs of starting and operating businesses. The plan seeks to foster collaboration among community leaders, business owners, and policymakers to implement actionable solutions.
Kris Johnson, president and CEO of the Association of Washington Business Institute, emphasized the importance of strategic planning to ensure economic resilience and prosperity. The development of the plan involved surveys, town halls, and expert input from all 39 counties, with over 4,200 residents participating in the process.
The research revealed strong consensus among Washingtonians on several priorities. A majority of respondents supported initiatives to expose teens to diverse career paths before high school graduation, expand access to job training programs, invest in manufacturing, technology, and healthcare, and build more affordable housing to support a growing workforce.
One of the case studies informing the plan involved two entrepreneurs, Efrain Ramirez and Fidel Negrete, who faced significant regulatory hurdles when opening coffeehouses and a juice bar in Yakima and Wapato. Their experience highlighted the need for streamlined business licensing and better access to mentorship and financial resources for small business owners.
The vision for 2040 includes making Washington a top destination for business by simplifying regulations, preparing a skilled workforce for future jobs, upgrading infrastructure to meet energy demands, and building 1 million new housing units to improve quality of life across the state.
Steve Mullin, president of the Washington Roundtable, noted the surprising level of agreement among participants despite national divisions. He stressed the importance of collective action to implement the plan and ensure that economic opportunities are accessible to all residents.
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A new economic plan envisions a brighter future for Washington businesses
Washington has a history of creativity and invention. Medical breakthroughs, aerospace and software innovations, advancements in energy generation, leading ag-tech that sends our crops to every corner of the world — these are just a few Washington ideas and industries that have made an impact.
Our state has many brilliant thinkers and makers, and even more potential to grow. What we didn’t have was a long-term economic plan to face the challenges of the next 15 years. Until now.
A plan for action
Washington in the Making 2040 is a vision for the state’s economic future informed by the priorities of Washingtonians from every part of the state. It started with business leaders at the Washington Roundtable and the Association of Washington Business, who partnered to bring that vision to life in actionable, collaborative ways.
The goal of Washington in the Making 2040 is to drive progress toward that vision — engaging community and industry leaders, business owners, policymakers and others to take action.
“Washington’s population is set to grow by 2 million people between now and 2040. And we face big challenges — a housing shortage, rapidly growing energy demand, a growing workforce shortage and the rising cost of starting and operating businesses,” said Kris Johnson, president and CEO of the Association of Washington Business Institute. “It’s time to think strategically about our economic future and to come together around our shared priorities.”
Shaped by residents’ priorities
In creating Washington in the Making 2040, the Washington Roundtable and AWB asked thousands of Washington residents what mattered most to them. What did their communities need? What did their businesses and industries need? What did a hopeful, healthy future look like to them?
What followed was a process of reaching people in all 39 counties of the state. Through surveys, in-person town halls and input from experts, more than 4,200 Washington residents weighed in.
“There’s so much disagreement and uncertainty in our country right now,” said Steve Mullin, president of the Washington Roundtable. “What struck us was the extraordinary level of agreement among the thousands of people we heard from.”
The research found:
93% of Washingtonians thought it was important to expose teens to more career paths, including through work experience before high school graduation.
89% want to enhance, grow and increase access to education or training programs that prepare workers for high-skill, high-demand jobs.
88% agree there should be more investment in manufacturing, technology and health care, creating more family-wage jobs that help Washington’s economy consistently grow.
85% prioritized building enough affordable housing to support a growing workforce.
These, and 10 other top priorities for residents, drive Washington in the Making 2040.
Easing barriers for business owners
One of the many Washington business stories that helped form this plan came from Efrain Ramirez and Fidel Negrete, who own two coffeehouses and a juice bar in Yakima and Wapato.
They now employ a dozen people, but the process of opening those businesses felt like navigating a maze. Ramirez and Negrete had a destination in mind. What they didn’t have was a map.
Licensing alone was confusing, with competing requirements from multiple entities and jurisdictions. They eventually found guidance and a loan through a rural community-development program, but it took trial and error to get there.
Many more prospective business owners don’t ever reach that point. The vision outlined in Washington in the Making improves the processes and regulations that are currently impeding business growth, or preventing new small businesses from opening.
Entrepreneurs throughout the state should have access to multilingual mentorship, information and resources that demystify the process of opening business. More great ideas would see the light of day, providing jobs and fueling strong communities.
A vision for a vibrant state
The vision is that by 2040:
Washington will be a top spot to do business, with an environment where employers can grow and succeed — which means untangling our web of regulations, among other strategies.
Our world-class workforce will be prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. That means helping industries offer more work-based learning opportunities, as well as trainings that keep them up to date with evolving technologies.
Our infrastructure will meet employers’ and communities’ needs in every part of the state, which means meeting the steeply rising demand for affordable, reliable energy.
Every community will enjoy an exceptional quality of life, which means building 1 million new housing units.
“Now is the time for every community to come together, share ideas, spark conversation and start moving ideas and policies forward,” Johnson said. “It will take a lot of creativity, collaboration and commitment to meet our vision of opportunity for every person and prosperity in every region.
“If anyone can make this happen, it’s Washington.”