Thurston County Economic Development Cou
The Thurston County Economic Development Council (Thurston EDC) is a 501(c)(4) civic league and social welfare organization based in Lacey, Washington. Founded in 1981, the organization has been supporting a strong economy in Thurston County for over four decades. The EDC operates the Center for Business & Innovation, providing comprehensive business resources, technical assistance, and growth opportunities for businesses throughout the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+10.0% YoY
Revenue
$5.9M
+35.3% YoY
Net Investment Income
$795
+241.2% YoY
Expenses
$5.8M
+35.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To create a dynamic and sustainable economy that supports the values of the people who live and work in Thurston County. The organization promotes and increases sustainable economic, investment, and employment opportunities throughout Thurston County that support the livelihood and values of residents.
Core Principles: The EDC's work is built on three foundational principles:
- Retain: Maintaining the health of local businesses through technical assistance and advocacy
- Expand: Presenting market opportunities to Thurston County employers and supporting their expansion efforts
- Recruit: Actively attracting investment and employment opportunities into the region through outreach, promotion, and trade missions
Primary Focus Areas:
- Economic development
- Small business support and development
- Government contracting assistance
- Business acceleration and entrepreneurship
- Workforce development
Grantmaking
The Thurston EDC administers grant programs supporting economic development and small business growth in the region.
Ready to take the next step with Thurston County Economic Development Cou?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Thurston County, Washington, with headquarters in Lacey.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $5,872,013
- Total Expenses: $5,822,485
- Total Assets: $1,094,093
- Total Liabilities: $686,000
- Total Giving: $1,882,598
Staffing: 21 employees (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,094,093 | $994,445 | $900,230 |
| Revenue | $5,872,013 | $4,341,072 | $8,399,812 |
| Expenses | $5,822,485 | $4,295,565 | $8,308,981 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $795 | $233 | $133 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
145 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Thurston County Economic Development Cou
Agriculture Sector Recovery Program (ASRP) / Ag Labor Program
THURSTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COU
Amount
Up to $20,000 per producer
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Thurston County Target Zone Business Startup Grant
THURSTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COU
Amount
$1,000,000 total (awarded to 10 businesses in 2022 round)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Michael Cade
The organization maintains an PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center) director who serves as a member of the PTAC national board and holds an officer position on the advocacy board.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIAN FLUETSCH | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CARRIE WHISLER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CECELIA LOVELESS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CHRIS WOODS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DAN JONES | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DARYL FOURTNER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DAVID SCHAFFERT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DENISE SAWATZKY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| EVAN PARKER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GRACE KENDALL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HEATHER BURGESS | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| JESSICA JENSEN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JIM COOPER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOE DEPINTO | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MALCOLM MILLER | PRESIDENT-ELECT | 0.5 | — |
| MARC DAILY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MARK STEEPY | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL CADE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $171,275 |
| MICHAEL MCGAULY | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| NANCY LAPOINTE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PETER AGABI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TIMOTHY STOKES | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TONY TAYLOR | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| WAYNE FOURNIER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HEIDI MCCUTCHEON | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $127,126 |
| KATHLEEN HOY | PROGRAM MANAGER | 40 | $106,911 |
| THOMAS R MEADE | DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ALLIANCE | 40 | $110,206 |
| TIFFANY SCROGGS | PROGRAM MANAGER | 40 | $127,224 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Thurston EDC continues to drive economic development initiatives across the region. Recent activities include:
$1M in Grants Awarded to 10 Impactful New Small Businesses - Thurston EconomicHosting events to foster economic development in the county
Expanding private enterprises that diversify and strengthen the economic base while creating new opportunities for living-wage jobs
Administering grant programs supporting small business growth and startup development
$1M in Grants Awarded to 10 Impactful New Small Businesses - Thurston EconomicPromoting the Tenino Agriculture Innovation Park, a 13-acre hub for food and farming innovation
Supporting local makers and businesses through various development programs
$1 Million in Grants Awarded to 10 Impactful New Small Businesses throughThe organization maintains active engagement with the business community and regularly publishes updates on economic development opportunities and initiatives through its newsroom.
$1M in Grants Awarded to 10 Impactful New Small Businesses - Thurston EconomicRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Thurston County Economic Development Cou on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
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