Inaugural October 2 event at Fort Worden gathers residents, employers, and local leaders around Jefferson County's economic future
PORT TOWNSEND, WA — EDC Team Jefferson will host its first annual dinner, "Our Economic Future: An Evening with Timothy Egan," on Thursday, October 2, 2026, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Fort Worden Commons.
The keynote comes from Timothy Egan, the Seattle-based, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and National Book Award-winning author whose work has chronicled the American West for decades. A third-generation Westerner, Egan wrote The Good Rain: Across Time and Terrain in the Pacific Northwest, long regarded as one of the essential books about this region, which makes him a natural fit to open an evening about the future of economic development on the North Olympic Peninsula.
After the keynote, regional economist Kevin Decker will present data about the state of Jefferson County's economy, followed by a moderated panel of local business owners and community leaders.
“Jefferson County has unparalleled strengths, but we face an economy that is not producing enough good-paying jobs or that allows young people to stay and thrive,” said David Ballif, Executive Director of EDC Team Jefferson. “I can’t think of anyone better than Timothy Egan to kick off a conversation on moving our economy forward in a way that works for everyone.”
The dinner is open to the public. Tickets are on sale now with early-bird pricing through July 31, 2026. A Discover Pass or daily permit is required for parking at Fort Worden State Park.