Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
10a
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
February 13, 2024
DATE: January 23, 2024
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: David McFadden, Managing Director
Annie Tran, Economic Development Manager
SUBJECT: Review of Economic Development Partnership Program and 2024 Authorization
Request
Amount of this request:
$900,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute contract agreements
and implement the 2024 Economic Development Partnership program with King County cities in
an amount not to exceed $900,000. Commission also authorizes Executive Director to execute
contracts using unutilized program funding to advance regional initiatives to further equitable
and small business recovery.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Economic Development Partnership (EDP) program builds alliances with King County cities
to advance economic development broadly across the region. Currently, the program is funded
by the Port property tax levy, which provides cities $5,000 - $60,000 grants to implement
economic development projects that tie to the Port’s business interests. The Port requires a 50%
match (up to 25% monetary match and 25% in-kind resources match) to ensure cities are also
committed to project success.
The Port of Seattle Commission created the EDP program in 2016 to advance local economic
development in partnership with cities in King County. Over the past seven grant cycles (2016 –
2023), city grant partners have implemented projects that advanced economic diversification,
local business development, company attraction, planning and feasibility studies, tourism, and
workforce development.
For 2024, staff is requesting Commission to authorize funding not to exceed $900,000
to implement the EDP program. These funds would be used to support one-year contracts with
participating cities. Our municipal partners recommended we move to one-year contracts to
better align with their biennial budget timelines.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 2 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
2022-2023 YEAR IN REVIEW: CITY PARTNERS FOCUS ON RELIEF/RECOVERY EFFORTS
In 2022-2023, 27 cities used Port grant funding to advance economic relief and recovery
initiatives. The following table shows significant investments were made to support small
business, promote buy local campaigns, advance responsible tourism, and support impacted
workers.
Economic Development Partnership Awards by Project Category
City Size Port Award
% of Port
Award
City Match
Total
Investment
(Port
Award +
Match)
Small Business Assistance
$593,820
42%
$859,685
$1,453,505
Buy Local/ Placemaking
$351,911
25%
$279,052
$630,964
Tourism
$300,876
21.3%
$417,237
$718,114
Plans/Custom Projects
$114,680
8%
$60,239
$174,919
Workforce Development
$54,000
3.7%
$61,700
$115,700
Total
$1,415,287
100%
$1,677,915
$3,093,203
Participating cities contributed $1,677,915 in matching resources. About $1,246,607 (88.1
percent) of Port grant awards were used to provide small business assistance, promote buy local/
placemaking, and advance tourism development projects.
During 2022-2023, the Port convened eight quarterly (virtual and in-person) meetings with cities
to share resources to support small businesses, best practices, and developed regional
partnerships between Greater Seattle Partners and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of
Commerce.
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
Participating cities had the discretion to select their projects and initiatives with the advice and
review from Port staff. The 27 cities implemented economic relief and recovery initiatives.
Below represents the aggregated data for cumulative impacts for reach of the project categories.
Small Business Assistance:
• 1,279 businesses surveyed.
• 661 businesses received assistance.
• 791 hours of 1:1 business consultation provided.
• 77 events hosted with attendance from 1,698 business owners.
• $938,849 of business grants and funding distributed to businesses.
Promote Buy Local/Placemaking:
• 102,000 people attended events.
• 29 events hosted.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 3 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
• 1.1 million marketing impressions
• 155 local merchants promoted.
Tourism:
• Events generated 156,000 attendees.
• 6,700 hotel room nights reserved.
• 9.5 million marketing impressions.
• 4,000 trips.
• $200,000 increase in admission ticket sales.
Plans/Custom COVID-19 Projects:
• Issaquah and Sammamish used a portion of their funding to support economic analysis
and planning for the comprehensive plans.
Workforce Development:
• Kirkland connected job seekers with local employers, to create jobs, enhance skills,
provided trainings, and aimed to close workforce gaps.
BENEFITS
As a result of the funding opportunities for cities, this grant has furthered positive relationships
with cities throughout King County over the last seven years. During COVID-19, grants provided
key and critical resources to cities during the pandemic and funding often helped anchor
assistance to local businesses during challenging times.
Additionally, this program convenes our city partners four times a year around local and regional
economic development initiatives to foster ongoing collaborative efforts. All in all, the Program
has led to tangible small business development, tourism and placemaking outcomes across King
County.
LOOKING FORWARD
The future of the program relies on being able to tell a collective story about the regional
economic development initiatives conducted in collaboration with our city partners. In efforts to
sync up better with the city partners’ biennial budgets, we recommend authorizing the program
for one-year in 2024.
Equity Considerations and Defined Metrics
As continued improvements are made to the program, program staff look forward to establishing
more defined and tighter metrics for the program that highlight and support inclusion of WBME
businesses. Additionally, the program application will be refined to include more of an emphasis
on diversity, equity, and inclusion and define which metrics to collect to reflect these outcomes.
Support for Small Cities
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 4 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Continued support will be provided to cities without economic development staff to support
projects. Additionally, we are recommending an increased minimum funding from $5k to $10k
for the smallest cities. Small cities will also receive additional time and attention they need to
formulate projects, applications, etc.
DETAILED INFORMATION ON CITY PROJECTS
Projects Descriptions by City and Regional Partnership
Regional Partnerships
Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Renton
• Startup 425 Revamped the Startup425 Program with Bellevue serving as the
administrator for the program and partnership. (startup425.org)
- Hosted 10 events on the Eastside with 216 cumulative attendees. Topics included:
Eastside Venture Capital Panel during Seattle Tech Week, CoWorking, and a “How to
Start a Business” resource specific to each participating city.
- Hired 2 entrepreneurs in residence to help run the program and trainings.
Individual City Projects
Auburn - $120,000
• Small Business Assistance with Green River College SBDC - Contracted with Green River
College's Small Business Development center to provide technical assistance.
• Digital Marketing Campaign for Tourism – Created an online marketing campaign to
increase tourism in Auburn focused on "Explore Auburn.”
Bellevue - $120,000
• Downtown Bellevue “Hello Again” and “Buy Local” - Partnered with the Bellevue
Downtown Association to host a downtown marketing and activation campaign. The
program promoted outdoor dining, Main Street businesses with outdoor dining, and
wayfinding of the Grand Connection pedestrian mall.
• BelRed Arts District Formation - The Cultural and Economic Development team
organized stakeholders to form a BelRed Arts District organization.
• Administered the Startup425 regional partnership to support small and startup
businesses.
Black Diamond - $5,950
• Marketing Video - Developed a marketing video to promote local businesses in Black
Diamond.
• Welcoming Packet - Produced a resource for new businesses to easily access and
streamline the process of opening a business in the city.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 5 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Bothell - $25,000
• Street Fair Buy Local Business Expo - Used targeted marketing and outreach to identify
and recruit 100 businesses to participate in the expo.
Burien- $74,125
• Small Business Assistance: Business Survey - Conducted a city-wide business survey to
understand what Burien businesses need moving forward to recover.
• ShopLocalBurien – Developed a "Shop Local Burien" marketing campaign in
partnership with local business groups to encourage residents to shop locally with
Burien businesses.
• ‘It’s a Wonderful Burien’ Program Support – Supported small businesses, retail shops,
and restaurants during the shopping season. Hosted a marketplace development
concept for entrepreneurs through pop-up retail opportunities in the plaza in
coordination with Small Business Saturday and economic development partners.
• Small Business Development Center and Soundside Alliance - Supported Burien’s
membership in the Soundside Alliance to further coordination and collaboration of
small business assistance, pandemic recovery, and funding for the Small Business
Development Center at Highline College to provide small business technical assistance.
Carnation - $10,000
• Small Business Summit, Survey, Business Directory - Hosted a Small Business Summit
and surveyed businesses to discover needs and opportunities. Results from the summit
and survey were used to create a business directory, which were mailed to all
households within city limits and distributed to local businesses to further promote
small businesses.
Covington - $13,333
• Small Business Assistance Center Partnership with Green River College SBDC -
Contracted with the Green River College Small Business Center to provide direct 1:1
business assistance to small businesses based in Covington.
Des Moines - $66,200
• EATS program - EATS (Emergency Assistance to Seniors) provided $2,500 each week to a
different restaurant/ food service provider, who then provided meals to 125 seniors and
veterans in our community. The economic development program helped provide
cashflow to local businesses.
• Marketing Campaign for Small Business Grant Program - Promoted small business
grants that were available for our local small businesses.
• Food Truck Pilot Program - Developed food truck pilot program to provide guidance and
recommendations for best practices for food truck hosting. Established a map that
provides current and future locations for food trucks.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 6 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Enumclaw - $25,660
• Enumclaw Expo Center Tourism Promotion - Marketing campaign focused on attracting
regional tourism to the events held at the Enumclaw Expo Center and the Plateau.
Federal Way - $18,733
• Business Outreach and Survey – Conducted survey and outreach to businesses to
measure how businesses are doing and the resources they need.
Issaquah - $81,280
• Regional Business Summit with Chamber of Commerce - Hosted a Regional Business
Summit to discuss regional issues and peer learning on business topics.
• #IssaquahLoyal – Supported local businesses through the #IssaquahLoyal shop local
campaign, created seasonal marketing campaigns focused on highlighting existing
businesses via videos, electronic news articles, and Shop Small Saturday activities.
• Economic Analysis and Planning - Conducted strategic planning efforts to understand
new opportunities to serve "office workers" working from home as well as business
retention and expansion.
• Participated in Startup425 regional partnership.
Kenmore - $41,800
• Business Acceleration Training – Hosted a 5–6 week business training series to
accelerate businesses and offer 1:1 consultations to small businesses.
• Back Our Businesses and Tourism Promotion – Designed a marketing and social media
campaign using professional photos to promote local businesses, business districts, and
home-based businesses.
• Competitive Analysis of Downtown Kenmore - Analyzed downtown Kenmore's ability
to draw talent and investment compared to other communities in the subregion.
Kent - $40,440
• Food Business Acceleration & Partnership Development in Food Ecosystem –
Conducted a study on business incubation, private market services, and developed
more explicit connections between CDFIs looking to create business acceleration
services for BIPOC business owners in the food industry.
Kirkland - $120,000
• Shop, Local Kirkland/Explore Kirkland Campaign – Updated functionality of
ShopLocalKirkland.com website to expand business opportunities locally. Integrated this
with ExploreKirkland.com to promote tourism and “All Things Kirkland.”
• Workforce Development Procurement – Developed regional workforce development
strategies and provided recovery help for businesses struggling with worker attraction,
hiring and retention, and connecting those seeking employment with employers
requesting certain skillsets in the marketplace.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 7 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
•
Home-based Business Survey and Pop-Up Expo – Surveyed 3,800 home-based
businesses to better understand the needs of this large business population to inform
design and deployment of resources, programs, and services the city proposes. Hosted a
Pop-Up Business Expo and invited businesses to vend their products.
• Participated in Startup425 regional partnership.
Maple Valley - $53,000
• Business Leakage Study – Conducted a business leakage study to analyze commerce
data and trends from 2017 to current, with special attention to COVID-19 economic
issues. The study informed how the city can support local businesses, including small
businesses and women-and-minority-owned businesses.
• Business Marketing Video – Produced a marketing video using the data and analysis
from the business survey and business leakage study to target small businesses and
retain them.
Mercer Island - $51,280
• Outdoor Seating – Partnered with local businesses to design attractive outdoor seating
areas to expand dining capacity and create “eating destinations” in the Island’s central
eating business districts.
• MInext Buy Local Campaign – Designed and implemented a summer campaign under
the MInext Buy Local marketing program to promote outdoor experiences, including
dining al fresco, visiting the Farmers’ Market, and attending socially distanced
community events.
North Bend - $10,004
• Downtown Business Marketing Buy Local Campaign – Partnered with the North Bend
Downtown Foundation (NBDF) for “buy local” marketing campaigns to support, plan,
and manage cherished downtown events.
• SnoValley App – Partnered with the chamber to develop the SnoValley app to highlight
and promote local businesses to residents and tourists.
• Business & Outreach Assistance - Partnered with the SnoValley Innovation Center and
SnoValley Chamber of Commerce to develop business-focused surveys and focus
groups to better understand issues.
Normandy Park - $11,667
• Small Business Mixers and SBDC Referrals – Hosted five Business Mixers with the
Southside Chamber of Commerce. Topics included business assistance and support,
arts and culture, nonprofits, innovation, and hospitality. Emphasis on offering support
for home-businesses and making referrals to the SBDC.
Pacific - $7,125
• Veterans Memorial along Interurban Trail - Supported pre-construction, site
development, and groundbreaking of three additional war memorials along a
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 8 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
prominent location along the Interurban trail to honor veterans from World War I
through the Afghanistan War to promote tourism along the Pacific section of trail.
Redmond - $120,000
• Small Business Walk Program - Visited small businesses to learn about their challenges
and concerns. Targeted businesses who are being impacted by redevelopment and
those who were in high displacement areas.
• Local Small Business Resiliency Support Program - Offered tailored one-on-one advising
to small businesses in the areas of marketing, business management, cashflow analysis,
buying and selling the business, international trade, expansion and relocation needs,
accounting/tax advising and more.
• Participated in Startup425 regional partnership.
Renton - $120,000
• Geolocation Marketing Campaign – Promoted Renton as a destination for tourism,
recreation, business opportunity and investment using geolocation technology to
determine who visits Renton, where they are coming from and what is driving their visit.
• Film Competition – Worked in partnership with the Renton Municipal Arts Commission
and REELRenton, the City hosted a filmmaking challenge designed to support local
filmmakers to create short promotional videos that highlighted local businesses and
built a name for Renton as a leader in the film industry.
• Arts and Culture Incubator – Activated a creative hub with local artists and art
programming and create a toolkit with resources and testimonials about the creative
economy in Renton, including links for how to get involved.
• Main Street Workshop and Pitch Competition – Hosted an entrepreneurial pitch
competition that educated start-ups how to pitch their business and work through their
business plans. Awards were given at the end with the potential for a business to
receive a grant to locate their business downtown.
• Participated in Startup425 regional partnership.
Sammamish - $38,400
• Developed an Economic Profile and SWOT Analysis - Completed economic
development data analysis to understand the impacts of the pandemic, including
business activity, economic characteristics of residents, etc. The City engaged the
community at the annual Block Party to receive feedback and formed a Community
Advisory Group to inform the study.
SeaTac - $60,125
• Business Retention Outreach Program and COVID-19 Referrals – Conducted an
outreach and business climate survey to local businesses focusing on hospitality and
airport related businesses, while making referrals for businesses to seek resources.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 9 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Shoreline - $118,000
• Music Industry Recovery, Incubation, & Tourism – Hosted Fourth Annual Shoreline
Music Summit + Showcase to include a new Shoreline Music Summit that offered live
music at multiple locations to support the recovery of highly vulnerable live-music
venue businesses as well as promotion of emerging and BIPOC artists.
• Glass Art Festival Tourism and Local Business Support – Hosted a national tourism
attraction by hosting live-demonstrations of glassmaking with Shoreline’s “Friday Glass
Studio” artwork. Also promoted the neighborhood commercial center Downtown
Ridgecrest as an emerging as a creative district.
• Shoreline Place Farmers Market - Increased awareness of the Farmers’ Market as an
essential business, retain customers during period of disruption, due to a new
location due to construction and physical distancing requirements due to COVID-19.
• Juneteenth Music and Marketplace - Hosted Shoreline's first-ever official Juneteenth
celebration including live music, mural, video production, and vendor fair featuring local
Black-owned food vendors and Black-owned small businesses.
Snoqualmie - $25,695
• Trail Map - Created a trail map highlighting trails and businesses for visitors to explore
in the area.
• Outdoor Seating/Furniture – Installed outdoor seating and tables for visitors to stay a
while and dine out after shopping in downtown Snoqualmie.
• Snoqualmie Winter Lights Marketing – Supported a marketing campaign for the
Snoqualmie Winter Lights event in downtown Snoqualmie.
• Wedding Venue Guide – Partnered with SnoValley Chamber of Commerce to produce
a wedding venue guide highlighting local wedding industry businesses in the SnoValley
region.
Tukwila - $44,000
• Experience Tukwila – Produced high-quality videos and photography for small,
consumer facing businesses to promote the businesses on Experience Tukwila and other
platforms. (experiencetukwila.com)
• Economic Development Update - Updated the city’s economic development data and
created the city’s first economic development plan. This data was synthesized into one-
pagers the city used for promotional and businesses information needs. The city also
created a video to promote the city to tourism groups and business groups.
Woodinville - $26,000
• “2-Days in Woodinville” Tourism Promotion - Partnered with the Woodinville Chamber
of Commerce and developed a “Stay in Woodinville” tourism and buy-local campaign
focused on keeping Woodinville visitors in Woodinville longer.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 10 of 10
Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
The Port of Seattle Economic Development Partnership program is an initiative that will cost
approximately $900,000 to implement in 2024. The Port property tax levy will be used to support
this grant program.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
February 8, 2022 - The Commission authorized the Executive Director to execute contracts
supporting the 2022-23 Port of Seattle Economic Development Partnership Program in an
amount not to exceed $1,860,000.
February 9, 2021 – The Commission authorized the Executive Director to execute contract
agreements and implement the 2021 Economic Development Partnership program with
King County cities in an amount not to exceed $930,000.
July 10, 2020 – The Commission heard a briefing on how the 2020 Economic Development
Partnership Program funding was being used to respond to COVID-19.
December 10, 2019 – The Commission authorized the Executive Director to execute contract
agreements and implement the 2020 Economic Development Partnership program with
King County cities in an amount not to exceed $965,000.
July 23, 2019 – The Commission heard a briefing on the 2019 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 – Presentation to the Commission 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.
