Thurston Economic Development Council

05/28/2026

Today’s the day!! 🔥🔥🔥

05/22/2026

𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 Thurston Economic Development Council 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲?

Now is the time to recognize them!

𝑵𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 2026 𝑻𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑬𝑫𝑪 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒆 1𝒔𝒕. 🗓️

We’re getting ready to celebrate our incredible business community in spectacular fashion on June 24th at Hangar 51 Event Center at the Olympia Airport. ✈️

🏆 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:
• 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫
• 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫
• 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫
• 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫

Cast your nomination at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/0SSRqOO/EDCBIZAWARDS

T𝐡i𝐬 𝐢s𝐧’𝐭 𝐲o𝐮r t𝐲p𝐢c𝐚l a𝐰a𝐫d𝐬 𝐞v𝐞n𝐭 — 𝐞x𝐩e𝐜t a𝐧 𝐞n𝐞r𝐠e𝐭i𝐜, c𝐨n𝐧e𝐜t𝐢o𝐧-𝐟o𝐜u𝐬e𝐝 𝐜e𝐥e𝐛r𝐚t𝐢o𝐧 𝐡o𝐧o𝐫i𝐧g t𝐡e h𝐮m𝐚n𝐬 𝐛e𝐡i𝐧d t𝐡e h𝐮s𝐭l𝐞.

Nominate a deserving business and grab your tickets today! Let’s celebrate the innovation, resilience, and community spirit that make Thurston County thrive.

Grab your Tickets 🎟️at:
https://thurstonedc.com/edc-business-awards/

05/21/2026

We’re excited to welcome Bite Me Catering as the catering sponsor for the INSPIRE 2026: Washington Center for Women in Business Annual Conference!

Register to attend at: https://INSPIREWCWB.eventbrite.com

Owner Cher Hobbick is a great example of local business success and has utilized resources through the Washington Center for Women in Business to help grow her business. The Thurston Economic Development Council team has partnered with Bite Me Catering on many events over the years, and they always deliver incredible food and exceptional service.

Join us at INSPIRE on May 28 at South Puget Sound Community College Lacey Campus for an amazing day of connection, inspiration, and delicious local food.

05/19/2026

Join us on May 28th at the SPSCC Lacey Campus for a full day of connection, education, and inspiration alongside incredible speakers, local businesses, and changemakers from across our region.

Thank you, ECOS Earth Friendly Products, for helping make INSPIRE 2026 possible! 💙

INSPIRE 2026: Washington Center for Women in Business Annual Conference

Register today https://INSPIREWCWB.eventbrite.com

05/08/2026

We are proud of our and our partners' work on strengthening local food systems in Thurston County.

Special thanks to Thurston Conservation District and Sarah Moorehead for inviting us to participate in this month's podcast.

On this month's episode of Conservation Starters, guest host Sarah Moorehead sits down with Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia, Thurston County Commissioner, Wayne Fournier, Thurston County Commissioner District 4, Aslan Meade from Thurston Economic Development Council, and Jennifer Colvin from Colvin Ranch to discuss new pathways to strengthening our local food infrastructure. In Thurston County, our farms and ranches are more than just part of the landscape; they are part of who we are. They feed our families, steward our natural resources, and sustain a way of life rooted in connection to the land. But for years, local producers have faced a growing challenge: limited access to meat processing. Animals were transported long distances, costs increased, and small and mid-sized operations struggled to stay viable.
Now, that’s changing. A new USDA-certified meat processing facility in Thurston County will be creating a critical link in our local food system: bringing processing capacity closer to home, expanding opportunities for farmers and ranchers, and increasing access to locally raised food for our community. This project is the result of strong local partnerships. Producers, public leaders, and organizations, including the Thurston Conservation District, are working together to advance practical, community-driven solutions. It reflects our shared commitment to voluntary stewardship, thriving working lands, and a resilient, locally rooted economy. At its heart, this is about more than infrastructure. It’s about ensuring that Thurston County remains a place where agriculture can thrive, communities stay connected to their food, and future generations can continue to steward the land. Tune in to learn more at

https://www.conservationstarters.com/1903207/episodes/19131213-strengthening-local-food-systems-in-thurston-county-a-new-usda-meat-processing-facility

05/07/2026

The Southwest Food Hub Harvest Box is back for another season!
In honor of Mother's Day, they are offering $20 off a subscription. Use code MOMTREAT at checkout.

👉 Sign up at: https://shop.swwafoodhub.com/Subscriptions — create a free account to view and purchase your subscription. Questions? Email us at [email protected]



https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GhobCJ9Nr/

Eating local is easier than you think. 🥕

You already want to support the farms in your community. You already want your family eating fresh, real food. The Food Hub Harvest Box is just the part that makes it simple.

Each week, you pick up a box of freshly harvested vegetables — and occasionally value-added goods like honey, beans, or kraut — sourced from 30+ local farms right here in Southwest Washington. No hunting down individual vendors. No guessing what's in season. Just one easy pickup on Thursdays at a location near you.

New this year: the Starter Box at $29/box — a smaller option designed for one to two people who want to try out the subscription before committing to the full size.

The Spring/Summer Harvest Box is a 15-week subscription at $39/box, with pickup locations across Thurston and Lewis counties — including spots like Three Magnets Brewing, 8 Arms Bakery, Colvin Ranch, and more.

You can pay in full or split it into installments. You can customize your box each week. And every dollar you spend goes directly back to the regional farmers growing your food.

🌸 In honor of Mother's Day, we're offering $20 off a subscription. Use code MOMTREAT at checkout.

👉 Sign up at: https://shop.swwafoodhub.com/Subscriptions — create a free account to view and purchase your subscription. Questions? Email us at [email protected]

04/22/2026

"The Washington Center for Women in Business (WCWB) is proud to announce the return of the INSPIRE Women’s Business Conference in 2026, a dynamic, one-day event designed to equip women entrepreneurs and professionals with the tools, connections and confidence to grow and thrive. Hosted by the WCWB, INSPIRE 2026 is tailored for"... (full article through link)...

https://www.thurstontalk.com/2026/04/22/inspire-womens-business-conference-returns-may-28-2026-to-empower-connect-and-elevate-women-entrepreneurs/

The Washington Center for Women in Business is proud to announce the return of the INSPIRE Women’s Business Conference in 2026.

04/14/2026

This training is NO COST friends - both in English and Spanish! Register asap as slots are limited and classes start April 29th. 🤩 Link in comments below...
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03/31/2026

The Thurston EDC gathered a strong contingent of 21 Thurston County stakeholders to tour the Lacey ECOS manufacturing facility, on Monday, March 30. In attendance were representatives from: Senator Murray’s office, Senator Strickland’s office, Thurston County, Port of Olympia, City of Lacey, City of Tumwater, Puget Sound Energy, Impact WA, environmental consultants, and EDC staff.

ECOS (Earth Friendly Products) is a leader in sustainable cleaning, offering plant-based, biodegradable products that are generally hypoallergenic, vegan, and free of dyes, parabens, and phosphates. Family-owned since 1967, they operate in carbon-neutral, water-neutral, and zero-waste facilities using 100% renewable energy. This is a thriving local company 100% committed to do everything possible in service it’s employees and to the planet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RX0e1omqs0

03/25/2026