For example, in Jefferson County, county officials have formalized a partnership with WSU Jefferson County Extension to lead its economic development activities. There, Team Jefferson focuses on growing that local economy from within by energizing entrepreneurs and helping existing local businesses expand.

WSU Extension’s Rural Bridges program helps rural communities identify, create, and recruit industries that can leverage technology to help them compete more effectively in the modern economy. Through its Horizons Project and in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and Washington State Small Business Development Centers Network has launched a special rural and Latino microenterprise pilot project to increase rural and Latino small business start-ups.