Associate Development Organizations (ADO)
The associate development organization (ADO) is the lead agency in each county for economic development. It is designated by the board of county commissioners or the county council. The ADO is defined in RCW 43.330.010 as "a local economic development nonprofit corporation that is broadly representative of community interests." The more familiar term is economic development council (EDC). The term, economic development council is generic, but it generally refers to associate development organizations. ADOs generally have the name council or association in the name but others do not.
SEWEDA (South East Washington Economic Development Association) acts as the ADO in Whitman County and works in partnership with the Whitman County Commissioners, and the Washington State Department of Commerce www.commerce.wa.gov.
Port of Whitman Economic Development Goals:
- Small Business Development
- Business Retention/Expansion
- Business Recruitment & Marketing
- Site and Infrastructure Development
- Public/Private Partnership Development
- Economic Development Advocacy