Economy
A region with a strong foundation—great talent, solid infrastructure, natural amenities—still has work to do.
Local governments must identify and maintain an attractive balance of taxes and services. Economic developers must be able to articulate the region’s value proposition to retain, grow, and attract businesses in a competitive environment. ECOnorthwest’s work in this domain incorporates our expertise across people, place, and environment to help regional leaders leverage a region’s foundational assets and create inclusive prosperity.
Explore Focus Areas
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- Economic Development
- Equitable Wealth Generation
- Impacts of Business Activities
- Business Feasibility
- Infrastructure Finance and Implementation
- Tax Policy, Fees, and Funding
- Workforce Development
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Economic Development
To survive the storm, economies need to be resilient. ECOnorthwest helps urban and rural communities across the US take two key actions: 1) prepare for economic shocks and changing markets; and 2) provide people with the assets they need to thrive during change. We combine urban economics, economic forecasting, fiscal impact analysis, and development finance to create realistic and usable products.
Our integrated approach helps policymakers, developers, and community members understand the whole picture. You'll get the guidance you need to navigate turbulent economic forces and create resilience that leads to sustainable growth, innovation, and equitable prosperity.
Selected Projects
Common Tools and Methods
Interviews and Focus Groups
Real Estate and Market Analysis
Program and Policy Evaluation
Case Studies, Best Practices Research, and Literature Reviews
Equitable Wealth Generation
Communities seeking more resilient, dynamic, and equitable economies need to understand barriers and opportunities for wealth building, particularly within marginalized communities. Equity-driven wealth creation can help communities overcome historical inequities and set a course towards broad-based prosperity for decades to come.
ECOnorthwest’s interdisciplinary experts draw on economics and sociology to inform policy insights. We craft strategies that empower marginalized communities to build generational wealth that creates long-term prosperity and reduces disparities.
Selected Projects
Common Tools and Methods
Demographic Analysis
Case Studies, Best Practices Research, and Literature Reviews
Program and Policy Evaluation
Equitable Impact Analysis
Impacts of Business Activities
As political and regulatory environments change, businesses need to clearly state the value they bring to a community — the number of jobs, the value of their output, the taxes paid. ECOnorthwest helps companies and organizations show their economic, fiscal, and social impact.
Our interdisciplinary team assesses the impact of entire operations or specific projects. Our models track direct spending on employees, where companies purchase their materials and services, and the spillover effects of that spending into other parts of the economy. We’ll give you the guidance to make investment decisions and implement strategies that promote community prosperity.
Selected Projects
Common Tools and Methods
Economic Impact Analysis
Fiscal Analysis and Revenue Forecasting
Spatial Analytics
Real Estate and Market Analysis
Business Feasibility
Public and private financiers often require independent validation of a proposed project's economic viability. ECOnorthwest conducts feasibility assessments for hotels, real estate developments, sports venues, energy projects, wind farms, mines, health centers, public markets, marine terminals, casinos, and more.
Our interdisciplinary experts prepare reports required for the EB5 Foreign Investor Visa Program, New Market Tax Credits, tax increment financing, public-private partnerships, and private investment. We’ll give you the third-party validation needed to move projects forward, contributing to economic progress and growth.
Selected Projects
Common Tools and Methods
Econometrics
Real Estate and Market Analysis
Economic Impact Analysis
Fiscal Analysis and Revenue Forecasting
Infrastructure Finance and Implementation
Communities need a solid foundation to grow and prosper. ECOnorthwest works with local and regional agencies to identify and close funding gaps for capital projects and operations/maintenance.
Our interdisciplinary team understands the challenges and opportunities presented by impact fees, public-private partnerships, tax increment financing, bonds, levies, grants, special assessment districts (LIDs, BIDs, EFIDs, etc.), user fees, exactions, and other mechanisms.
We’ll give you the guidance you need to weigh trade-offs related to revenue potential, timeliness, impacts to development or other economic activity—as well as those tied to equity, administrative burden, legal limitations, and political viability.
Selected Projects
Common Tools and Methods
Fiscal Analysis and Revenue Forecasting
Land Use Modeling
Real Estate and Market Analysis
Tax Policy, Fees, and Funding
Public sector agencies and private organizations that rely on public funds must continuously assess their fiscal position to ensure the ability to operate effectively and adapt to changing circumstances. The need to raise additional revenue or otherwise adjust taxes and fees can trigger questions about funding adequacy, equity, efficiency, and administrative feasibility. Decisions to maintain the status quo or make changes can play an important role in whether people and businesses stay in a region or choose to leave, whether the burden of change is spread equitably or falls disproportionately on certain populations.
ECOnorthwest provides reliable analysis and expert opinions on how tax and fee changes translate into new or different resources and shape the economic outlook.
Our interdisciplinary approach will provide you with a perspective that focuses on more than just the financial. We'll help you understand how proposed changes could influence growth, prosperity, and equity in your region.
Selected Projects
Common Tools and Methods
Fiscal Analysis and Revenue Forecasting
Case Studies, Best Practices Research, and Literature Reviews
Workforce Development
Everyone needs opportunities to develop skills and prepare for employment. Ensuring these opportunities requires aligning training opportunities with needs of future workers and requirements of employers. ECOnorthwest analyzes current workforce conditions, explores future prospects for current and potential workers, and investigates potential workforce solutions in both traditional and non-traditional industries.
Our interdisciplinary team analyzes the skills people need in today’s workforce generally and in specific occupations and industries. We pair this understanding with associated education and training pathways. You’ll get the guidance you need to support talent development of the current and future workforce so that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to a strong and growing economy.
Selected Projects
Common Tools and Methods
Demographic Analysis
Econometrics
Program and Policy Evaluation
Case Studies, Best Practices Research, and Literature Reviews
Our Experts
ECO’s Economy team of economists, planners, demographers, spatial analysts, and project managers oversees some of our most technical projects. These experts have helped hundreds of governments and industries to innovate with impact.
