Tacoma now has an Urban Clean Water Technology Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) designed to link university research with the business community and lead to the creation of new companies and new jobs for Tacoma-Pierce County.

The Washington State Department of Commerce announced the Innovation Partnership Zone designation last week. With the latest round of designations and renewals, the state has 13 IPZs. These are economic development efforts that partner research, workforce training and the private sector to promote collaboration that will lead to new technologies, marketable products, company formation and job creation.

The Tacoma-Pierce County zone was developed by a collaboration of business, research, education and local government leaders to accelerate development of a globally competitive, research-based urban clean water cluster in Tacoma-Pierce County.

Partners in the project include the City of Tacoma, University of Washington Tacoma, Port of Tacoma, Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, Tacoma Community College, Institute for Environmental Research and Education, Parametrix, GeoEngineers and CH2M HILL.

The Center for Urban Waters, on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway, anchors the zone. The zone is bordered by the Foss Waterway, Commencement Bay, the Middle Waterway and a right of way, and East 15th Street. Satellite sites incorporate the locations of the University of Washington Tacoma, GeoEngineers, CH2M HILL, Parametrix and the Washington State University Puyallup Research and Extension Center.

The zone features properties available for development by clean-water technology-based companies. The Port of Tacoma is actively marketing 21 acres on the Wheeler Osgood and Foss waterways, prime locations for businesses and mixed-use developments.

Goals of the Urban Clean Water Technology IPZ include retaining and expanding existing businesses in the urban clean water cluster, and recruiting and attracting businesses that add value to the cluster. IPZ partners are taking preliminary steps to develop conferences and symposia related to urban clean water to bring global attention to Tacoma.

The City of Tacoma, Port of Tacoma, Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, Washington Economic Development Commission, University of Washington Tacoma, Washington State University, Tacoma Community College and others have been engaged in an innovative and collaborative effort for the past two years to spur development of urban clean water technology. A study identifying strategic opportunities for urban clean water technology in Tacoma-Pierce County was completed in June 2011.

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Tacoma City Council scheduled to vote today on Center for Urban Waters parking lot (08/30/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2028893&more=0

Center for Urban Waters parking lot proposal spurs more discussion (08/25/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2027344&more=0

Tacoma considers additional parking for eco-friendly Center for Urban Waters (08/24/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2026434&more=0

New Web site for Center for Urban Waters (08/23/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2025868&more=0

Center for Urban Waters, Innovation Partnership Zone top Tacoma City Council study session agenda (08/15/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2021744&more=0

Sauro’s parking lot contract tentatively headed to Tacoma City Council (08/03/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2016405&more=0

Tacoma City Council to vote on parking contracts (07/19/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2009355&more=0

A garden grows atop Center for Urban Waters (07/09/10) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1802909&more=0

Move-in begins at $22M Center for Urban Waters (03/29/10) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1741767&more=0