Template revised September 22, 2016.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
5 and 6
BRIEFING ITEM
Date of Meeting
July 23, 2019
DATE: July 1, 2019
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Dave McFadden, Managing Director, Economic Development Division
Ron Peck, Director, Tourism Development Department
Joe Meyer, Economic Development Manager
SUBJECT: 2019 Tourism and Economic Development Grants Overview and Update
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Economic Development Division staff will highlight the Port of Seattle’s Economic Development
Partnership grant program. The briefing will also include information about the Port’s Tourism
Marketing Support and Sea-Tac Internal Airport Advertising Spotlight programs. Earlier this year
the Tourism Marketing Support program awarded $200,000 to 30 destination marketing
organizations to promote destinations, attractions, and events.
Updates will also be provided on the King County Cities partnership grant program. Staff has
awarded $795,900 to 25 participating cities this year. The city projects create family-wage jobs
and grow the regional economy through business recruitment, business assistance and
retention, planning and feasibility studies, tourism development and other initiatives.
Port grant programs are supported by the property tax levy.
Tourism Marketing Support Program
In its fourth year, the co-operative Tourism Marketing Support Program (tourism grants) efforts
enhance, facilitate and increase the economic value of tourism across the state. It has been
effective in promoting visitors and use of Port facilities. The program provides matching
support of up to $10,000 to non-profit destination marketing organizations (DMO’s),
attractions, cities, tribal organizations and Chambers of Commerce to effectively market their
destination to non-resident visitors. The funds are used for advertising, publicizing, promoting
events or conducting research to attract visitors.
Marketing efforts for the tourism grants include promoting our natural scenic beauty, outdoor
recreation, cultural attractions, online digital marketing campaigns, promotion of Washington’s
growing wine and craft brewery industry, networking with tour operators and travel media. For
2019 we obtained 47 applicants (the highest number received in the four years of the program)
and awarded to 30 organizations. In the four years of the program, 166 applications have been
received and 87 projects awarded, netting approximately $1,050,000 in additional marketing
promotion efforts for Washington.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 5 and 6 Page 2 of 7
Meeting Date: July 23, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
Statewide Participation
Emphasis placed on environment, eco-sustainable, culture, nature tourism project:
As directed by the commission, the promotion of our environment, culture, history and use of
our public lands and waters is a point of emphasis to the applicants. Of the 30 2019 recipients
25 identified their projects under one or more of the environment or cultural categories. The
port funds awarded to those identified projects will be over 160,000.
Fifteen Organizations have identified projects involving Washington’s environment, eco-
sustainable or outdoor nature recreation aspects. Methow Trails, Discover Lewis County, Visit
Kitsap and Harbor Wild watch are some of the examples organizations promoting our states
unique environment.
Seven marketing projects specifically identify promotion of our states public lands, parks and
waters including the Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau, Goldendale Chamber of Commerce,
Travel Tacoma, and White Pass Scenic Byway.
Eleven Attractions are marketing our states unique cultural and historical heritage. Important
cultural attractions participating include the Suquamish Museum, Museum of History and
Industry, Cascade Farmlands and the Museum of Flight.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 5 and 6 Page 3 of 7
Meeting Date: July 23, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
Port of Seattle tourism grants help partners pursue the following initiatives:
Travel Trade Shows such as the Puget Sound Attractions Council and Washington
Tourism Association participation at IPW in Anaheim increase travel to Washington by
meeting with tour operators and travel media.
Familiarization Tours (FAMS) are hosted trips for tour operators, travel business staff
and or travel media are invited to the destination to learn and experience first-hand
what a destination or attraction has to offer. Tri-Cities and the Suquamish Museum are
conducting FAMS in 2019.
Event Attraction projects include MOHAI and Northwest Agricultural Center Marketing
that advertise to non-residents promoting unique events and attractions in Washington.
Digital Media Marketing encompasses several online marketing efforts that include
establishing a visitor focused travel website, targeted banner website or social media
advertising, developing a friendly site for handheld products (smartphones and I pads)
and international language website translations. Organizations utilizing funds for digital
marketing include Methow trails, the Cities of Kirkland and Port Angeles.
Video Promotion or Print Advertising examples include Visit Kitsap Peninsula, Discover
Lewis County and Seattle International Film Festival that will utilize video promotions or
print advertising to generate interest and awareness of destinations or events.
Travel Articles / Public Relations Leavenworth and Goldendale Chamber of Commerce
are communities where travel media are solicited to author print travel stories, online
articles or post blogs that will generate additional awareness, interest and ultimately
travel to the destination.
An addendum is included that details the 2019 recipients, the funding levels, a brief project
description, and projects that support eco/sustainable/cultural tourism.
2019 King County Cities Economic Development Partnership Program Update
In June 2016, the Port of Seattle (POS) Commission created the Economic Development
Partnership (EDP) program to advance local economic development in partnership with cities in
King County. The Commission authorized a third round of EDP program funds in 2019. Thus far,
the POS has awarded $795,900 to 25 King County cities this year. Additionally, cities have
contributed almost $584,000 in monetary and in-kind matching resources. The property tax
levy supports the Economic Development Partnership grant program.
2019 is the first year the program funding cycle aligned with the calendar year budget cycle.
Final projects should be finished by November 1, 2019. Recognizing that cities are adjusting to a
new, shorter calendar year timeline, staff anticipates some cities may request project
extensions into 2020.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 5 and 6 Page 4 of 7
Meeting Date: July 23, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
This year more cities are using the EDP program as seed funding for new, regional
collaborations especially in South King County. Additionally, multiple smaller cities, like Pacific
and Tukwila, are contributing to regional collaborations using their funding.
Support and feedback from the cities continue to be overwhelmingly positive for the program.
The decreased number of cities participating in the 2019 EDP program is partly due to changes
in city elected officials and city management. Two cities have indicated that they may still apply
for funding in the 2019 funding cycle.
Projects undertaken in 2019 are classified under five different categories based on the type of
economic development activities undertaken. Several cities are conducting multiple projects
and some cities’ projects crossover into multiple categories. Economic development projects by
category are:
Business Recruitment: 14 cities,
Business Assistance and Retention: 13 cities,
Planning/Feasibility Studies: 10 cities,
Tourism: 9 cities,
Buy Local Initiatives & Marketplace Development: 4 cities.
The projects highlighted below offer a sample of the ways cities are leveraging the EDP program
to create jobs and advance the regional economy.
Business Recruitment Projects
Kent, Tukwila, and Pacific
Creating a shared business recruitment website, with real-time property and
demographic data, to market the Kent Valley as a real estate sub-market.
Increasing the visibility of the Kent Valley using regional and national media and defining
the Kent Valley as a center of aerospace innovation and high-tech manufacturing.
Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland
Continuing to grow and market the Innovation Triangle – a regional economic
development partnership between Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland. In 2019, the cities
plan to attend several international tradeshows, expand social media marketing, and
update key sector profiles for prospective companies.
The Innovation Triangle also added a business retention component to work with firms
at risk of leaving the region.
Federal Way
Hosted a June Foreign Consulates of Washington State lunch and tour highlighting
businesses and investment opportunities in Federal Way.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 5 and 6 Page 5 of 7
Meeting Date: July 23, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
Business Assistance and Retention Projects
Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Renton
Startup425, a partnership with the Cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and
Renton, is continuing to support entrepreneurs through business classes hosted through
the King County Library System including the Spring Business Foundations Series.
Cities in the partnership signed interlocal memorandums of understanding in 2019
formalizing and solidifying the partnership.
Burien
Offering business education training series, in English and Spanish, to local businesses
through the Highline College Small Business Development Center and Ventures.
Multilingual business education was identified as an industry need based on a survey of
local businesses in 2018.
Covington
Providing 75-hours of one-on-one business advising services to local businesses through
the Green River Community College Small Business Development Center.
Planning/Feasibility Study Projects
Des Moines
Completing a third phase of the Des Moines Marina Redevelopment Plan focusing on
developing the Marina Steps to create an area design that includes a water feature;
mixed-use retail; and office space, hotel, and maker-space – similar to the Seattle
Harbor Steps.
The project includes a 100 percent monetary match by the city.
Woodinville
Conducting a feasibility study to assess creating an adult beverage incubator to support
the 120+ wineries, breweries, and distilleries within 6 square miles around Woodinville.
The city envisions the incubator would include an educational partnership with a college
or university, a community space for events and incubator produced product tastings,
and equipment and facilities needed for adult beverage production.
Tourism Projects
Duvall, North Bend, and Snoqualmie
The “Savor Snoqualmie Valley” tourism promotion initiative, coordinated by the
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust in partnership with the business community,
facilitates tourism marketing activities for participating cities in the Snoqualmie Valley to
cooperatively encourage tourism and outdoor recreation in the region.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 5 and 6 Page 6 of 7
Meeting Date: July 23, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
Issaquah
Marketing the first Issaquah Sports Medicine Combine as part of the Issaquah Sports
Medicine Innovation Partnership Zone. According to the program application, “the
[event’s] focus is to market sports medicine regionally in 2019” and then to promote the
event nationally in 2020.
Buy Local Initiatives & Marketplace Development Projects
SeaTac
Expanding the “Business Synergy” supply chain mapping and local buyer-seller match-
making program to new industries like hospitality and tourism, aerospace, and logistics.
Awarded funds are calculated based on the program applications provided by participating
cities. A complete list of all economic development projects being developed by King County
cities is included as an attachment titled “Economic Development Partnership Program 2019
Mid-Year Update.”
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING
(1) PowerPoint Presentation
(2) Economic Development Partnership Program 2019 Mid-Year Update
(3) Tourism Marketing Support Program 2019 Recipients
(4) Spotlight SeaTac Airport Advertising Program
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS: Tourism Marketing Support Program
December 11, 2018 – Approval for authorization and execution for all related 2019 Tourism
Marketing Support Program contract agreements for selected 2019 recipients.
October 23, 2018 – Commission briefing on Tourism Marketing Support Program and
program strategy for 2019
April 10, 2018 – Marketing support program awardees were announced.
January 30, 2018 – The Commission was briefed on the results of the 2017 program.
April 11, 2017 – 2017 Marketing support program awardees were announced.
January 17, 2017 – The Commission was briefed on the results of the 2016 program.
November 22, 2016 – The Commission approved the final 2017 budget, including $150,000
for the Tourism Marketing Support program.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 5 and 6 Page 7 of 7
Meeting Date: July 23, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS: Economic Development Partnership
Program:
January 8, 2019 – The Commission authorized the Executive Director to execute contracts
supporting the 2019 Port of Seattle Economic Development Partnership Program in an
amount not to exceed $960,000.
December 11, 2018 – The Commission saw a presentation on the results of the 2017-2018
Economic Development Partnership Program and the findings of a draft program
evaluation report completed by Community Attributes Inc.
June 27, 2017 – The Commission saw a presentation on the results of the 2016-2017
Economic Development Partnership Program.
