The Skagit Council of Governments has historically maintained the Skagit County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS serves as a countywide plan for economic growth and development. The CEDS is the latest in a series of economic development planning efforts going back to at least 1957 when the University of Washington conducted an economic base study for the county.
SCOG has coordinated the creation of economic development plans going back to 1976 with the publication of the first Overall Economic Development Plan for Skagit County and numerous plans through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The last major updates to the CEDS occurred in 2003 and 2013, with the 2013 update including an implementation plan with over 200 local projects from around the county that directly addressed goals from the CEDS and provided for future economic development.
In 2024 SCOG worked with a consultant to create an entirely new CEDS for Skagit County. This CEDS is the result of a regionally-owned planning process designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of Skagit County. It is a key component in establishing and maintaining a robust economic ecosystem by helping to build regional capacity (through hard and soft infrastructure) that contributes to individual, firm, and community success. As part of the CEDS development process, a Landscape Assessment and Data Profile was also created for Skagit County.
