KINGS BEACH, Calif. — Green building, geotourism and health and wellness represent the three most significant economic sectors in the Lake Tahoe Basin for the present and foreseeable future, according to facilitators of an regionally based economic summit.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Prosperity Plan — a consortium of representatives from basin-wide private and public sectors spearheaded by a Sacramento-based economic development firm called Applied Development Economics — presented an action plan Thursday afternoon to a full board room at the North Tahoe Events Center.

The action plan coordinate all economic entities throughout the basin regarding how best to stimulate an economy that has been in steady decline the past decade.

“This is the first time, to my knowledge, that there has been a comprehensive basin-wide approach to economic development,” said John Breternitz, Washoe County Commissioner and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency governing board member.

For example, sporadic gaps in broadband that creates Internet access problems was identified as a problem universal to all basin-wide businesses. Another example was provided by Jason Collin of Barton Home Health, who advocated for a concerted effort to bring more high-profile athletic events — such as the Amgen Tour of California bike race — to Tahoe, which would help out the lodging and tourist industry by attracting athletes and spectators, which would, in turn, spark investment in the green building industry.

Another idea presented was the development of an Alpine Research Center, capable of housing a variety of scientists affiliated with either the private sector or universities. Comparisons were drawn to the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., or the Monterey Bay Aquarium, as both locations provide scientists with a place to conduct research while catering to tourists eager to learn about the local environment.

Members made a similar presentation Thursday morning in South Lake Tahoe.

An issue repeatedly brought up by local business owners was how to procure financing for investments necessary to spark some of the strategies, considering public money and bank loans are difficult to obtain in the current economy. While precise dollar figures are unknown, many who spoke Thursday said the prosperity plan's goal to present a united business front should convince banks wary of lending.

Prosperity plan members will finalize the action plan and present it to the TRPA Governing Board in August.