Strategic Plan
What Is Economic Development?
According to the U.S. Economic Development Administration, economic development:
"Creates the conditions for economic growth and improved quality of life by expanding the capacity of individuals, firms, and communities to maximize the use of their talents and skills to support innovation, lower transaction costs, and responsibly produce and trade valuable goods and services."
The outcomes of economic development, and the work of Naturally Lewis, Inc., include growth in tax base (sales tax, bed tax, property tax), increase in jobs, population growth, reduction in poverty & unemployment rates, increased local business-to-business spending, increased exportation of products & services by businesses, infill, downtown revitalization, and increased amenities (housing, lodging, etc.).
Watch this video to learn more about economic development →
Economic Development in Lewis County.
Economic development in Lewis County is founded on partnerships and collaboration. Naturally Lewis, Inc. administers the services of three economic development "tools" - the County of Lewis Industrial Development Agency, the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, and the Lewis County Development Corporation. On their own, each of these organizations are incredible. But together, they have created a momentum that is unstoppable.
Naturally Lewis, Inc. was established on October 1, 2023. The goal of this organization was to create the "one stop shop for economic development" where Naturally Lewis, Inc. administers the services of the IDA, Chamber, and LCDC. Each individual entity has its own mission statement and tools for economic development; when they join forces to achieve well-rounded economic development we are building thriving communities where people want to live, work, build business, and play.
In 2025-2027, Naturally Lewis, Inc. will champion growth by:
Building Our Community
To build our community, Naturally Lewis will:
- Develop Business
- Develop Commercial Property
- Develop Tourism
Inspiring People
To inspire people, Naturally Lewis will:
- Develop Leaders
- Develop Youth
- Develop Resident Pride-in-Place
- Develop Entrepreneurs
Partnering & Collaborating
To partner and collaborate, Naturally Lewis will:
- Continue & Grow Regional and State Partnerships
- Continue & Grow County and Municipal Partnerships
- Develop Foundations of Thriving Communities
Sustaining Our Legacy
To sustain our legacy, Naturally Lewis will:
- Continue and Grow Membership
- Focus on Strategic Funding Development
- Grow Community Partnerships
- Prioritize Compliance, Policy & Systems Development
As a community member, you will see the work of Naturally Lewis, Inc. through: Business Development & Support Services, Tourism Development & Promotion, Property & Site Development, Membership Services, Events & Collaboration with Communities, and Placemaking.