We are pleased to present the 2022 – 2032 Skagit County strategic plan, detailing our commitment to providing an effective, efficient, and resilient county government to our community. This plan documents our goals and projects to guide Skagit County through the next 10 years.

Skagit County is a unique and highly desirable place to live. We are home to vast natural resources, including the second largest river system in the Northwest and the largest population of Puget Sound chinook salmon. It’s also one of the most fertile valleys in the world, making Skagit County agriculture first rate. As County Commissioners, we take our commitment to protecting this Valley very seriously.

Skagit County is not without its challenges. We continue to have one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in Washington State, and over 25% of our population are either Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed, or living in poverty. Like many other local governments in the nation, we continue to work on recovery and community repair from the opioid crisis.

The current strategic plan reflects community, employee, department directors, and other elected officials’ vision for Skagit County and is invaluable to guiding our work to ensure we meet the needs of residents and employees. Consensus quickly emerged while planning for this document that supporting the County’s workforce and maintaining safe facilities are critical components of providing exceptional customer service to the public. To that end, the key focus areas in priority order are Strong and Engaged Workforce, Critical Infrastructure, Behavioral Health and Homelessness, Health, Housing, and Community Safety, and Sustainable and Resilient County Government.

The Skagit County strategic plan will be a living document, with project initiatives and data measurements monitored and updated frequently. The community’s ongoing support in contributing to the County’s success and sustainability is what makes our vision for Skagit County possible. We look forward to seeing these goals create progress and improve our community for the next generation.

Sincerely,