Lacey Growth & Opportunity

Lacey and its Urban Growth Area have been experiencing significant growth following a pattern now more than three decades old. While many areas of the country experience economic downturns, Thurston County's economy remains stable and has avoided recession since 1982. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Thurston County's rate of job creation was more than two times the national average for 2007.

While the Lacey area has the smallest population of the 200 cities compared, for both 2007 and 2008 Forbes Magazine has ranked the Thurston County region as one of the top ten places in the U.S. to do business. 2008's 8th-place ranking reflects high performance and growth that is driven by low housing costs, low cost of living, ever-increasing job growth, recreational and cultural opportunities, award winning education, and competitive cost of doing business.

Lacey's northern district, known as Hawks Prairie, has recently exploded with commercial and residential development and is currently the site of a major building boom. The Gateway Project, started in 2007, is a planned commercial core and high-rise district. According to Lacey's former mayor Virgil Clarkson, "At build-out, we expect the 400-acre Gateway Project to yield $57 million in state and local tax revenue annually and create 8,000 new jobs.

This project is expected to create a downtown area for Lacey. In addition, another library is planned, as is a performing arts center, a new fire station, possibly a new Farmer's Market, and a fitness center. It is expected that 7,000 housing units will be built when the project is completed in 2020, increasing the population of Lacey by around 20,000 people, and potentially making it the largest city in the South Puget Sound area.

The Gateway Project will be built with the highest possible "green" approval rating handed out by the NEA. 10% of the 250 acres that are being developed will be open, green spaces such as parks, ponds, and trails.