ELLENSBURG — A transformative economic development initiative is taking shape in Kittitas County, where local leaders are partnering with Central Washington University (CWU) and other stakeholders to launch a regional technology transfer hub aimed at fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-wage job creation.
Backed by a recent Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce, the collaborative project will begin with a feasibility study and plans to renovate the historic Old Heat facility—an unused former steam plant located just across the street from the CWU campus.
The project partners envision turning the Old Heat building into a modernized space for business incubation, research and development, and technology training. The initiative, which spans across central Washington, is expected to support both emerging and established industries by connecting entrepreneurs and investors with CWU’s subject matter experts.
CWU will formally kick off the initiative on Tuesday, April 29, with an event titled “Forging the Future: A Regional Collaboration for Innovation and Growth.” The public event will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Old Heat facility, 509 E. University Way, and is open to the CWU and Ellensburg communities.
“The opportunity to bring together networks of technology subject matter experts with investors and entrepreneurs is critical for the region,” said Rob Ogburn, Executive Director of CWU’s Business and Community Services (BCS) department. “The ability of our communities to make choices for our own future growth and resilience depends on supporting innovation and acceleration of ideas, both for new industries and for our existing businesses and industries. The wins from these interactions aren’t measured only in the number of new companies; this is also an opportunity for existing companies to find competitive advantage on a national and global level.”
Users of the revamped Old Heat space will benefit from access to CWU’s technical knowledge in fields such as aviation, business, cybersecurity, agriculture, and manufacturing—enabling the development and application of industry-relevant technologies across central Washington.
According to Ogburn, CWU’s positioning as a hub for workforce and economic innovation extends throughout a broad service area, from Okanogan County to the lower Yakima Valley.
Ultimately, project partners say the creation of a centralized technology transfer hub in Ellensburg will catalyze regional economic growth by attracting new businesses, supporting existing ones, and generating family-wage employment opportunities—all while revitalizing the local economy.