COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          7a 
BRIEFING ITEM                             Date of Meeting     December 11, 2018 
DATE:     November 19, 2018 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    David McFadden, Managing Director 
SUBJECT:  2017-2018 Economic Development Partnership Program Results Presentation 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
In June 2016, the Port of Seattle Commission (POS) created the Economic Development
Partnership (EDP) program to advance local economic development in partnership with cities in
King County. The program, funded by the tax levy, provides cities $1 per capita with a minimum
funding amount of $5,000 and a maximum funding amount of $65,000. 
The Commission authorized a second round of EDP program funds in 2017. POS awarded just
over $950,000 to 30 King County cities through the EDP program during the 2017-2018 funding
cycle. During this funding cycle, the Port shifted the EDP program timeline to align with the
calendar year budget cycle after receiving feedback from multiple city partners. City partners
were finding it difficult to secure matching funding halfway through the municipal budget cycle. 
While most city initiatives will take time to show results, there were some immediate
measurable outcomes. 
Kenmore won the Association of Washington Cities 2018 Municipal Excellence Award in
Economic Development for the Kenmore Business Incubator and Business Accelerator
training. 
Kent partnered with the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) to establish
a  manufacturing  resource  center  helping  workers  find  jobs  and  job  training
opportunities in the aerospace industry and facilitating pathways to family wage jobs. 
Issaquah jump-started a new, city tourism promotion organization by hiring an
executive director and supporting two tourism events. 
Each city project is summarized in the following pages. Additionally, the Port hired Community
Attributes Inc. (CAI) to conduct an objective assessment of the EDP program's impacts on
regional economies and ability to advance the Port's Century Agenda. 


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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                 Page 2 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
CAI and Port staffs' main recommendations for the grant program are: 
1.  Consider alternatives for competitive grant awards and allocation 
2.  Provide impact measurement support to cities 
3.  Vary reporting requirements with grant amounts while maintaining accountability and
audit requirements 
4.  Facilitate more countywide economic development discussions 
5.  Allow for longer-term funding arrangements and some assurance of program
continuation 
Several cities plan to attend the December 11, 2018 Commission meeting to highlight their
initial results. CAI will also share their findings at the meeting. 
Staff is starting to implement the 2019 EDP program. We meet with participating cities on
December 13, 2018 to elicit their feedback and discuss the 2019 partnership funding cycle. 
RESULTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
The Port awarded just over $950,000 in the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) program
funds to King County's cities during the 2017-2018 funding cycle. The grant fund was structured
to drive meaningful outcomes  while providing cities with some flexibility  to define local
projects. Staff  worked  with  participating  cities   to  develop  initiatives  tied  to  economic
development, tourism development, and the Century Agenda. The Port also required a 50%
match to ensure cities were also committed to project success. 
City projects generally fell into the following categories: 
Business recruitment initiatives designed to attract new companies to a region or city; 
Small business development (including incubator/accelerator projects); 
Tourism development; 
Workforce development and training; 
Sector promotion, e.g., media, home-based businesses, technology, biotechnology, and 
sports medicine; 
Downtown or waterfront revitalization; and 
Website and wayfinding enhancements. 
Collaboration among cities provided a greater return on individual city investments. Cities were
able to initiate projects previously outside of their budget and the 2018 grant funds provided a
foundation for moving forward on major multi-year initiatives. 
Support and feedback from the cities continue  to be  overwhelmingly positive and they
enthusiastically anticipate the continuation of the program. 


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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                 Page 3 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
PROGRAM ASSESSMENT 
As the EDP program closes the second year of funding and projects, the Port of Seattle hired
Community Attributes Inc. (CAI) to conduct an objective assessment of the program's impacts
on regional economies and ability to advance the Port's Century Agenda. As part of the
assessment methodology, CAI interviewed program stakeholders including participating cities 
and compared the program to other grant programs. 
The report outlines the elements of the evaluation process, criteria, and metrics used in
evaluating the EDP program; summarizes the findings and recommendations from the
evaluation, and provides a detailed description of the 2017-2018 EDP program projects. 
CAI identified the following recommendations for potential changes to the program based on
findings from the evaluation and discussions with participating cities. 
1.  Consider a new grant allocation approach where a $100,000 separate, competitive pool
of funds is created for cities seeking to implement larger scale initiatives. To seed this
fund, staff recommends capping city awards at $50,000 instead of $65,000 and
reallocating this funding to offer competitive grants for larger projects or initiatives that
dovetail particularly well with Port initiatives (ex. Diversity in contracting). 
2.  Provide project impact measurement support to cities to define project outcomes early
in the grant process. Additionally, the Port can develop a workshop on effective
economic development outcome measurement and periodically conduct an economic
impact analysis of the EDP Program as a whole. 
3.  Work to streamline the EDP program for cities, while maintaining the need for financial
accountability, outcome accountability, and need to meet state audit standards. 
4.  Facilitate more countywide economic development discussions by holding workshops 
that allow cities to discuss specific economic development solutions and ways to
support regional collaboration. 
5.  Allow for longer-term funding arrangements or some assurance that the program will
continue in the next year to better facilitate larger scale projects that cities can
complete in stages over several grant cycles. 
CAI's findings and recommendations will be shared in a presentation to the POS Commission
during the December 11, 2018 Commission meeting. 




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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                 Page 4 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
CITY PROJECT SUMMARIES 
Regional Partnerships 
Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland 
Generated 1,200 unique visits on the Innovation Triangle website  a regional economic
development partnership between Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland. This was a 72.7%
increase over the prior year. Activities included refreshing data and content on the
website, improving website search engine optimization and social media, adding a new
business "soft landing" guide, and hosting a real estate broker collaboration event. 
Represented the Innovation Triangle at D.I.C.E., Mobile World Congress, Games Forum,
Select USA, and other conferences. 
Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Renton 
As part of Startup425, a partnership with Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and
Renton, promoted international trade workshops, small business workshops focused on
early-stage financing, and an online business start-up portal. Trade development
included bringing 8 technology companies to the Mobile World Congress technology
trade show from Bellevue and Kirkland. 
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,
facilitated tourism marketing activities for participating cities in the Snoqualmie Valley
to cooperatively encourage tourism and outdoor recreation in the region. 
Individual City Projects 
Auburn - $65,000 
Improved the Auburn Buy Local website, a business-to-business supply chain tool with
4,750+ listings that uses city business licenses to promote local purchases. 
Supported the Auburn Innovation Partnership Zone Business Incubator through inperson
and virtual business support classes, local marketing targeting area businesses,
and operations costs. 
Bellevue - $49,116 
Bellwether Arts Festival marketing generated 1,500 event visitors, 5,400 website visits,
paid advertisements in 4 regional publications,  and earned media in 4+ regional
publications. 
Participated in the Startup425 and the Innovation Triangle regional partnerships. 


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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                 Page 5 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
Bothell - $26,860 
Finished Visioning phase of the Canyon Park Regional Plan  a bio-medical innovation
partnership zone with over 40 manufacturing businesses employing 4,700 workers. 
Burien - $50,000 
Fabricated and installed 37 wayfinding signs as part of Burien's Downtown Mobility Plan 
to create a walkable, multi-modal downtown environment to attract visitors, new
businesses, and commercial development. 
Carnation - $5,000 (1 of 4 projects to be finalized in 2019) 
Added 2 gateway structures and signage to highlight the redevelopment of the Tolt 
Avenue business district. Installation of the signage is delayed until after major road
construction is complete in the second quarter of 2019. 
Covington - $13,051 
Worked with local businesses to create an identifiable, downtown destination using 80
street pole banners to define the main commercial corridor and draw visitors to stop at
local businesses. 
Des Moines - $30,800 
Completed a second phase analysis of the Marina redevelopment including updated
market analysis, various development scenarios, early-phase development plans to
connect the Marina to downtown Des Moines and engaged regional stakeholders. 
The study has "generated significant developer interest" according to the city. 
Duvall - $7,425 
Created a Snoqualmie Valley Arts and Culture brochure and map, off-trail attraction
signage along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, and a self-guided art walk in downtown
Duvall to encourage local tourism as part of the "Savor Snoqualmie Valley" tourism
promotion initiative. 
Enumclaw - $11,400 (1 of 4 projects to be finalized in 2019) 
Installing wayfinding signage and seasonal decorations to identify Enumclaw's historic
downtown for travelers and increase retail activity in the shoulder and winter seasons.
Due to logistical issues, the signage will be installed in January of 2019. 
Federal Way - $58,503 
Executed a business recruitment program identifying 400 firms that may be interested
in locating in Federal Way. The City is continuing to follow up on these contacts and
build relationships with potential prospects.
Hosted a forum with nearly 40 foreign consulates and honorary consulates located in
Washington State highlighting business and investment opportunities in Federal Way. 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                 Page 6 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
Issaquah - $27,220 
Jump-started Visit Issaquah, a new tourism promotion organization, by hiring a CEO and
hosting an international Geo-Coinfest event ($847,000 in economic impact, estimated
10% were international visitors) and Pro Volleyball Tournament (7,500 visitors). 
Hosted "Chamber University" for 49 different businesses in partnership with the 
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce. 
Modernized the city's economic development web pages with relevant economic data. 
Hosted a sports medicine event to highlight the Issaquah Sports Medicine Innovation
Partnership Zone and provided marketing funding to the center's staff. 
Participated in the Startup425 regional partnership. 
Kenmore - $22,320 
Won  the  Association of Washington Cities 2018 Municipal Excellence Award in
Economic Development for the Kenmore Business Incubator and Business Accelerator
training. 
Trained 16 new and existing businesses owners to "accelerate profitable and sustainable
business growth" as part of the business accelerator program. 
Worked with local breweries to build the "Brewer's Row" neighborhood brand using
flagpole signage along major corridors including the Burke Gilman Trail. 
Created a commercial land capacity report to inform economic growth and market
developable sites to developers and relocating companies. 
Kent - $65,000 
Funded the new Advanced Manufacturing Prep (AMP) Training Center, which offers
weekly information sessions; monthly 2.5-day industry overviews; quarterly 10-week
pre-apprenticeship training programs (Manufacturing Academy, or MA); and an 18-
month, registered apprenticeship for Industrial Manufacturing Technicians. 
Since opening, 203 participants received advising and training services and engaged 25
young adults in AMP and MA training with the Aerospace Joint Apprentice Committee. 
Hosted AMP employer roundtables and marketing efforts that resulted in 26 student
hires by 9 industrial employers. 
Kirkland - $65,000 
Completed an economic and financial feasibility study  on the options to increase
moorage capacity at the Kirkland Marina. 
Participated in the Startup425 and the Innovation Triangle regional partnerships. 
Lake Forest Park - $26,000 
Supported planning to identify opportunities to convert an aging "Town Center" into "a
vibrant  mixed-use,  transit-oriented development"  that  will  increase  daytime  and
evening populations in the downtown along a new Rapid Transit line. 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                 Page 7 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
Hosted extensive outreach to residents and stakeholders, including the property's
owners and Sound Transit, to identify desired uses for the site. 
Maple Valley - $24,700 
Created an economic development sales kit for company attraction. Purchased an ad in
a business publication focusing on the city's assets for doing business. 
Printed 20,000 and distributed 15,000 visitor guides. Purchased tourism ads in 3 tourism
publications. 
Completed a hotel study that demonstrated insufficient demand to adequately support
a new lodging facility. 
Mercer Island - $23,660 (1 of 4 projects to be finalized in 2019) 
Designed 16 wayfinding signs and 4 Town Center directory signs to help encourage
visitation to local businesses and support local business growth. Due to logistical issues,
the signage will be installed in January of 2019. 
Newcastle - $11,000 
Created historical and destination signage to identify the downtown business district
and "help evoke the [historical] nature of the area." 
Normandy Park - $5,681 
Created an advertisement in Sea-Tac International Airport that directed 523 unique
visits to VisitNormandyPark.com. 
North Bend - $6,570 
Created a new website highlighting local attractions, outdoor recreation adventures,
and businesses to increase awareness and visitation by travelers and a growing base of
new residents. 
Created wayfinding signage marking North Bend's historic downtown as part of a
regional plan coordinating visitors' experience throughout the Snoqualmie Valley. 
Participated in the "Savor Snoqualmie Valley" tourism promotion initiative. 
Pacific - $6,797 
Inventoried and classified 248 businesses to understand the city's business clusters. 
Added NAICS codes data to the city's business license form to keep municipal business
information current.
Completed 21 business surveys and 11 in-person interviews to understand the local
business climate. Outreach identified 11 firms for follow-up activities. 
Created a monthly "coffee hour" with the mayor to meet with local businesses based on
findings from outreach activities. 
Redmond - $47,354 
Created a new marketing video highlighting Redmond's technology sector. 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                 Page 8 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
Improved Redmond marketing materials and economic data on the city's website. 
Participated in the Startup425 and the Innovation Triangle regional partnerships. 
Renton - $65,000 
Created a plan identifying Renton's key retail districts and the best opportunities for
retail based on demographics, psychographics, and existing retail gaps. 
Hosted a workshop called "Creating Stellar Storefronts" focused on signage and retailing
best practices attended by 30+ business and property owners. 6 businesses received
one-on-one assistance. 
Improved key retail districts through a faade improvement program, 2 new murals, 3
artistic utility box wraps, and marketing that encouraged neighborhood foot-traffic and
retail spending. 
As part of Startup425, Renton hosted 10 entrepreneurial trainings where 80% of the
attendees identified as female and/ or people of color. Web traffic to Startup425.com
from Renton increased by 152% year-over-year. 
Sammamish - $61,250 
Completed a new destination brand in collaboration with extensive outreach to
residents and stakeholders. The project included multiple full-page ad templates for the
new Town Center. 
SeaTac - $27,810 (1 of 4 projects to be finalized in 2019) 
Visited 250 out of 300 contacted businesses to understand area needs, connect local
buyers and  suppliers, and develop relationships with local businesses.  Comments
collected during outreach culminated in a report with 50 recommendations the city can
implement to support businesses. 
Updated economic  development data to support business outreach process and
economic development attraction. 
Created wayfinding signage to help drivers find local services and navigate to Sea-Tac
Airport. Due to permitting challenges, the signage will be installed in January of 2019. 
Shoreline - $36,986 
Quantified the number of home-based businesses (1,264 licensed) and developed
recommendations on how to support them through policy and outreach. 
Created a vision and identified "quick-wins" for improving the Downtown Ridgecrest
complex. Outreach showed strong business community support for large-scale business
district improvements. 
Continued seeking letters of interest in the SeaSound media campus to lobby and secure
state government resources. 
Skykomish - $5,000 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                 Page 9 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
Designed and installed an interpretive kiosk as part of a multi-year plan to build a
historic downtown walking tour to encourage tourism foot traffic. 
Snoqualmie - $10,000 
Printed 20,000 copies of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail  Map  to promote outdoor
recreation. 
Designed and printed 20,000 copies of the "2018 Locals' Guide" and held 5 "Locals' 
First" campaigns to extend tourism stays in the Snoqualmie Valley. 
Hosted 2 Snoqualmie Valley Wine Trains. A local non-profit will be expanding the Wine
Train tourism activity in 2019. 
Hosted a "Great Sasquatch Scavenger Hunt" to encourage tourists to visit local
businesses during a shoulder season. 
Fabricated and installed 2 new wayfinding signs as part of a regional signage plan. 
Participated in the "Savor Snoqualmie Valley" tourism promotion initiative. 
Tukwila - $13,160 
Created marketing materials to promote development along Tukwila International
Boulevard. 
Produced a tourism video to attract new conventions and events, specifically Comic
Cons and other "nerd" and "geek" related events. 
Woodinville - $11,570 
Enhanced a major gateway to downtown Woodinville with 2 murals artistically
highlighting the local winery and agricultural industries in partnership with the Chamber
of Commerce, business owners, and the community. 
Awarded funds used is calculated based on the final project reports provided by participating 
cities. The grant award amount is shown for the cities of  Carnation, Enumclaw, Mercer Island,
and SeaTac as their projects are still being finalized. 
2019 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP GRANT TIMELINE 
Staff is starting to implement the 2019 EDP program. The Port is meeting with participating
cities on December 13, 2018 to kick off the 2019 EDP program funding cycle. After the meeting,
the Port will make the program application for funds available to cities. As participating cities
finalize their work plans, the associated contracts will be approved by the Port.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 


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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                Page 10 of 10 
December 11, 2018 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
June 12, 2018  The Commission approved a specific city grant contract with the city of
Enumclaw. 
November 14, 2017  The Commission approved specific city grant contracts with the cities
of Carnation, Woodinville, Pacific, Bothell, and Lake Forest Park. 
October 10, 2017  The Commission approved specific city grant contracts with the cities of
Auburn,  Bellevue,  Covington,  Kirkland,  Newcastle,  Normandy  Park,  North  Bend,
Redmond, Sammamish, SeaTac, Snoqualmie, and Tukwila. 
September 12, 2017  The Commission approved specific city grant contracts with the cities
of Des Moines, Issaquah, Kenmore, Renton, Shoreline, and Skykomish. 
August 15, 2017  The Commission approved specific city grant contracts with the cities of
Burien, Duvall, Mercer Island, Kent, Federal Way, and Maple Valley. 
June 27, 2017  The Commission saw a presentation on the results of the 2016-2017
Economic Development Partnership Program. 












Template revised September 22, 2016.