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Three counties of incredibly diverse terrain and climate comprise the North Central Washington (NCW) region – encompassing the
Cascade Mountains, agriculturally rich valleys of the Columbia River system, Lake Chelan as the 3rd deepest in the U.S., the highlands
extending from the Colville Reservation to the Canadian border, and plateau reaching east to the Columbia Basin. Reviewed with this
2021-26 update are key conditions important to shape CEDS priorities.
Geography. The NCWregion covers about 10,000 square miles, across three counties and half of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, representing nearly 1/7ththe land area of Washington state. The Colville ConfederatedTribes reservation spans southeast Okanogan County and the southern half of adjoining Ferry County.
Population. With an estimated 166,540 residents as of 2020,
NCW population has increased by 10% from 2010-20.
Of the three counties, Okanogan is the largest geographically, covering 5,300 square miles as the largest county in the state. Chelan is the most populated county with just under half of NCW population. Douglas has experienced the most rapid population growth – up by 14% over the last decade matching the rate of population growth statewide.
North Central Washington is rural, with an average population density of 17 people per square mile and one metropolitan area – albeit with 22 incorporated cities. As of 2017, the 12 Bands forming the Colville Confederated Tribes enrollment constituted nearly 13% of the population of Okanogan County, the highest proportion of Native Americans in the District.1
Economy. Economic engines for the NCW region historically have been agriculture, forest management, fisheries, tourism, and local government, even as other sectors – driven by the region’s hydropower and concentrated availability of highspeed fiber broadband Internet hubs primarily in Chelan and Douglas Counties – are experiencing new growth (as with online retail sales and data centers). Economic resilience has been tested by wildfires, flooding and harsh winters, and most
recently by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For further information as to business and investment opportunities and economic development programsfor the Brewster-Pateros communities and the greater NCW region, contact Alyce Brown, NCWEDD, Executive Director via phone at 509-899-9321, email director@ncwedd.com
Or contact Roni Holder-Diefenbach, Executive Director for the Economic Alliance of Okanogan County, phone 509-826-5107, email rholderdiefenbach@economic-alliance.com
The North Star Opportunity Zones offer both common opportunities across the North Central Washington region. Especially in housing for single-family, multi-family, and transit-served neighborhoods. The Zones benefit from their proximity to communities experiencing growth and prosperity in NCW.
The Opportunity Zones program was enacted as part of the 2017 federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and is designed to drive long-term capital investments into low-income rural and urban communities. This federal program provides opportunities for private investors to support investments in distressed communities through participation in Qualified Opportunity Funds.
PO Box 4107 (Location: 15 Palouse Street)
Wenatchee, WA 98807
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