Since 1981, the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) has worked to create a dynamic and sustainable economy that supports the values of the people who live and work in Thurston County. They do this through recruitment, retention and expansion. Like a family, strong communities are ultimately rooted in a strong home front.
With this in mind, the EDC is the driving force behind the annual Real Estate Forum. On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the 17th annual Forum takes place showcasing the data and trends shaping our local market. Whether you’re involved in or just curious about the local real estate industry, everyone is welcome.
The Annual Real Estate Forum is a Spotlight on Thurston County Real Estate Trends and Data
The Thurston EDC facilitates and empowers entrepreneurs and civic leaders through networking events, business resources and regional support. The Real Estate Forum, in partnership with the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association, is one of the tools they utilize. And it’s more than just an event.
Aslan Meade, Thurston EDC director of strategic alliances, explains that their team does a lot of outreach to developments and developers across the county as they prepare for the event, to make sure they have the latest information on what is taking place in the region. This is one of the many factors that makes the event relevant to, builders & developers, commercial and residential real estate brokers, architects, civil engineers, property management companies, land use attorneys, commercial bankers and really anyone associated with real estate and the construction industry, as well as jurisdictions and elected officials., The event has grown over the years, albeit a bit different from how it started.
Meade says, that old-timers on the EDC’s Board of Directors tell how the Real Estate Forum began, after a fashion, as a golf tournament. The tournament, an annual Thurston EDC organizational fundraiser, was growing stale, and so EDC leadership undertook a strategic planning exercise to determine what would be the most impactful contribution the organization could undertake. This led to the “Why Thurston County?” campaign, which was designed as a way to showcase what makes our region special and encourage new business development and relocation. From those seeds, the Real Estate Forum was born.
The Forum Welcomes Real Estate Professionals, Aficionados and Industry Experts
You don’t have to be in the real estate field to attend the Forum. Brokers, home inspectors, lenders, construction industry professionals and anyone curious about what’s going on in and around Thurston County are more than welcome.
“It’s a who’s who in the real estate community,” says Meade. “We’ve had multiple businesses tell us that deals were made in the room, and they came back with new clients that led to new contracts.”
Amy Harding of Kidder Mathews will be this year’s panel moderator for the “Getting to Yes” panel discussion. For nearly a decade, she’s specialized in the sale and leasing of commercial, industrial, office and investment properties countywide. Harding sees the Forum as a way of bringing together nonprofit leaders, elected officials, city staff, and developers with a shared goal: to get to yes. “Real solutions only emerge when we work together, and this forum will showcase exactly how that can be done,” she adds.
Some of the highlighted building and renovation projects this year include the Carnegie Whisky Library, Yorkshire Apartments, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, The Rookery, Tahoma Ranch and Port of Olympia headquarters.
Learn About Thurston County’s Continued Growth at the EDC’s Real Estate Forum
The Real Estate Forum is open to anyone, says Harding. “This event will be valuable for any community member,” she explains, “because real estate touches all of our lives: whether we live in homes, shop at local stores, visit the doctor or adapt to evolving energy and transportation needs. Getting to yes impacts all of us, and the conversations here are relevant far beyond the real estate industry.”
Harding says that our region is well-positioned for continued growth. “We have buildable land for housing, critical industrial infrastructure and a community that values environmental stewardship alongside economic development. When we collaborate, as this event demonstrates, we can innovate and become a model for communities striving toward a sustainable, thriving future.”
Interested attendees can register for this year’s Real Estate Forum online then hop over and review the content from last year’s get-together. The EDC will post additional event information through their website so check back for details.
Keep up with other EDC activities through their weekly newsletter, event calendar or Facebook page and contact their team with questions.
For more than 60 years, Thurston County has been one of the fastest growing counties in Washington. Whether you’re looking to start a business, grow a business or just learn more about entrepreneurial opportunities, the EDC can help. And the 2025 Real Estate Forum is a great place to start and mingle with the folks making it happen.
Sponsored
