COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          7c 
BRIEFING ITEM                             Date of Meeting        July 28, 2020 
DATE:     July 10, 2020 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Dave McFadden, Managing Director of Economic Development 
SUBJECT:  Responding to COVID-19 using the 2020 Economic Development Partnership Program 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The Port's Economic Development Partnership program was established in 2016 to advance local
economic development in collaboration with King County cities (except Seattle). The program 
has an annual budget of $960,000 that is funded by the tax levy. Grants to support local or
regional economic development are provided on a $1 per capita basis with a minimum funding
amount of $5,000 and a maximum funding amount of $65,000. The Port also requires a 50 
percent match (up to 25 percent monetary match and 25 percent in-kind resource match) to
ensure that cities are committed to project success. 
Cities have used Port partnership grants to implement local and regional projects that have
helped boost economic activity across King County. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
Cities rapidly shifted their grant projects to support relief and recovery efforts necessitated by
economic dislocation. 
Port staff worked with City partners recently to evaluate and suggest changes to the partnership
grant program. As a result of these discussions staff and our city partners are recommending
focusing next year's grant initiatives on a narrower range of activities that will help small business
recover and regenerate consumer confidence around shopping and visiting local attractions. 
PIVOTING PROJECTS TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY 
On December 10, 2019, the Commission authorized the Executive Director to execute contracts
supporting the 2020 Port of Seattle Economic Development Partnership Program. Thirty -one
cities are participating in the program this year. 
Table One shows how grant funds are distributed and matched by participating cities: 
Approximately 63 percent of 2020 funds are awarded to nine large cities (cities with
populations greater than or equal to 50,000 people), 
30 percent of funds are awarded to twelve mid-size cities (cities with populations
between 10,000 and 49,999), and 

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                 Page 2 of 10 
Meeting Date: July 28, 2020 
7 percent of funds are awarded to ten small cities (cities with populations less than
10,000.) 
Table 1: 2020 Economic Development Partnership Awards by City Size 
Total         # of
City Size                   Port Award         City Match
Investment     Cities 
Large cities 
$562,970 (63%)      $ 358,300     $921,270        9 
(50,000+ population) 
Mid-size Cities 
$263,560 (30%)      $ 198,040     $461,600        12 
(10,000 - 49,999 population) 
Small Cities 
$61,290 (7%)        $ 49,895      $111,185        10 
(under 10,000 population) 
Total                     $887,820          $ 606,235     $1,494,055        31 
Most cities developed their 2020 grant projects prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of
the pandemic's economic dislocations, manycities quickly pivoted to focus on economic relief
and recovery. As examples: 
Five East King County cities launched (Re)Startup 425 to provide a central website for
small business  assistance in five languages, CARES ACT loan resources, business
resiliency resources, and a "What's Open" virtual map. 
Kent expanded a workforce program to address retaining needs for dislocated workers
and moved classes online. 
Burien, Enumclaw, Mercer Island, and Woodinville started working closely with their
chambers of commerce to communicate crucial information to businesses and develop
projects that aid re-opening and recovery. 
Staff facilitated the pivot by modifying over half of the city contracts so cities could meet
immediate needs in their communities. The following table shows how cities have refocused to
address small business issues and regenerate consumer confidence (tourism and placemaking).
This is a significant shift compared to 2019 when business recruitment and business assistance
and retention were the top priorities. 
Table 2: 2020 Awards by Category and Number of Cities 
# of
Project Category          Port Funding          City Match      Total Investment
Cities 
Small Business
$304,209 (34%)       $ 179,451        $483,660         17 
Assistance 
Tourism                 $183,243 (21%)       $ 169,262         $352,505         13 
Downtown/
Commercial            $160,406 (18%)       $ 118,737        $279,143        14 
Revitalization, etc. 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                 Page 3 of 10 
Meeting Date: July 28, 2020 
Business Attraction
and Trade               $127,412 (14%)        $ 34,000         $161,412         6 
Development 
Feasibility - Real
$46,050 (5%)         $ 65,535         $111,585         4 
Estate Development 
Workforce                $66,500 (7%)         $ 39,250         $105,750         2 
Total                          $887,820           $ 606,235         $1,494,055        56* 
*Some cities are pursuing multiple projects across different project categories. 
This shift in focus mirrors national economic development trends. In a report by the SizeUp
Company titled "Coronavirus Economic Development Case Studies and National Survey Results"
(see attachment), economic development has shifted in a similar manner across the county: 
86.5 percent of respondents listed assisting local businesses as their highest priority in
economic development now in the context of COVID-19; 
64 percent of respondents have "increased community relations and communications;"
and 
32 percent have "stopped or significantly reduced business attraction and prospecting." 
SUPPORT RELIEF AND RECOVERY: RECOMMENDED PROGRAM REVISIONS FOR 2021 
As the shift in economic development focus was unfolding,          City Advisory Panel 
Port staff worked with a team of City representatives to   Bre Keveren        North Bend 
evaluate  the  partnership  grant  program  and  make   Doug Lein          Auburn 
recommendations around next year's focus considering the   Ellen Miller-Wolfe   Kirkland 
COVID pandemic.                                         Philly Marsh        Bellevue 
Tanja Carter         SeaTac 
This group completed a SWOT analysis of King County's   Tim Morgan        Maple Valley 
COVID-19 economy, identified needed actions and priority  Eric Lane          Des Moines 
strategies, discussed funding options, and evaluated whether special funds for countywide or
regional initiatives would favorably impact partnership program outcomes. 
The advisory committee recommended: 
1.  Narrow the eligible activities to the highest impact relief and recovery initiatives. Port
funding should support COVID-19 relief and recovery. 
2.  Eligible  projects  should  be  narrowed  to  small  business  assistance  (resiliency  and
reopening), tourism development, and local/ regional placemaking. 
3.  Trade development, workforce development, and feasibility/ planning studies would still
be allowed but require a pre-application consultation with Port staff to make sure
initiatives support COVID-19 relief and recovery. 
4.  Discourage business attraction and community branding or placemaking initiatives that
are not tied to reopening and recovery. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.


COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                 Page 4 of 10 
Meeting Date: July 28, 2020 
These advisory group recommendations were also shared and discussed with economic
development staff from King County cities. The cities endorsed the new priorities and were open
to working together on new regional or countywide economic development initiatives. Port staff
indicated an openness to explore new regional or countywide initiatives subject to funding
availability. 
These program recommendations will be implemented if the Commission ultimately budgets and
authorizes the partnership grant program in 2021. 
APPENDIX A: 2020 CITY PROJECT SUMMARIES 
Regional Partnerships 
Redmond and Kirkland (Bellevue participated using separate funds) 
Innovation Triangle  Business attraction (and retention) initiative targeted towards
technology companies that would benefit from Eastside location. 
Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Renton (Bellevue participated using separate funds) 
Supporting Re-Startup 425  A new regional web portal for COVID-19 resources for
East King County. The site offers an email for businesses to request technical
assistance from a variety of service providers, business resources by business type
(sole-proprietor, essential businesses, etc.), and webinars for businesses on how to
handle the economic changes. 
Supporting Startup 425's pilot accelerator program in partnership with Bellevue
College. 
Duvall and Snoqualmie 
Supporting "Savor Snoqualmie Valley" tourism initiative by replacing signage,
implementing social media promotions, and implementing a cooperative marketing
campaign. 
Individual City Projects 
Algona - $5,000 
King County Transfer Station Transition to Commercial Land Use  Conducting a real
estate study to determine how to redevelop King County's waste transfer station
property that is being transferred to the city. 
Auburn - $65,000 
Auburn IPZ Incubator Operations  Continuing to bring entrepreneurs and startup
businesses together in a collaborative environment that provides the necessary tools
to launch, grow, and commercialize their businesses. 
Buy Local Auburn  Marketing and growing electronic, citywide business directory

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                 Page 5 of 10 
Meeting Date: July 28, 2020 
that prepopulates all businesses with a business license. Businesses have been able
to manage their profiles during COVID-19 showing their open hours and services like
delivery or curbside pickup. 
Bellevue - $65,000 
Grand Connection Development and Bellwether Arts Festival - The city will continue
to  brand,  identify,  and  activate  the  Grand  Connection, Bellevue's signature
downtown space. 
BelRed Arts District - The City is supporting the retention and growth of "creative
sector" businesses in the BelRed Arts District. 
Participating in the Startup425, Re-Startup 425, and the Innovation Triangle regional
partnerships using separate funding. 
Black Diamond - $5,000 
Commercial Area Placemaking Project  The City is enhancing its key commercial
district to increase local shopping, visitation, and foot-traffic in the area, and help
develop a "great place" for residents and tourists. 
Burien - $52,000 
Grow the Discover Burien Maker Space and Commissary Kitchen to promote foodoriented
microenterprises through training, collaboration, and shared kitchen space. 
Downtown 153rd  Street Activation   Public space activation and streetscape
improvement programs to drive economic activity and visitor spending to local
businesses and provide attractions for travelers and tourists who stay in airport
hotels. 
Regional Visitor and Business Attraction  Working with the Seattle Southside
Chamber of Commerce to run a Burien visitor attraction campaign targeting regional
tourism and continue supporting business attraction through the Soundside Alliance
for economic development. 
Carnation - $5,000 
Tolt Avenue Business Retention  Support key local businesses impacted by Tolt
Avenue construction project. Work includes connecting business owners with
technical assistance and creating local "special events & promotions" to draw people
to the downtown core during road construction. 
Covington - $20,000 
Covington Small Business Assistance Center Partnership  Providing services to
existing businesses and potential new small start-ups through the Small Business
Assistance Center to retain businesses while two new developments open. 
Website and Marketing Refresh  The City will update its website to promote new
amenities in Covington's Town Center and the Lakepointe Development. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                 Page 6 of 10 
Meeting Date: July 28, 2020 
Des Moines - $31,580 
Identification of Public and Private Partners for Des Moines Marina - Building on the
first 3 Port of Seattle grants, the City will now be pursuing funding to support the Des
Moines Marina redevelopment. The grant will help the City identify potential
financing and development partners. 
Duvall - $7,840 
Savor Snoqualmie Social Media Outreach  Support Savor Snoqualmie Valley's social
media outreach, including videography to showcase events and happenings
throughout the valley and in Duvall. 
Restoration of Main Street/ SR 203 Wayfinding Signage - Rehab existing wayfinding
signs on Main Street. 
Enumclaw - $12,200 
Small Business Outreach and Assistance  Partner with the Enumclaw Chamber of
Commerce to contact 50  100 businesses in all industry segments to identify
companies needing help and to assess the economic impact of the Covid-19
pandemic on the business community. 
Recovery Buy Local Campaign - Create an economic recovery plan that includes a buy
local campaign to support local businesses. 
Federal Way - $65,000 
Promoting 2021 NCAA Event - Preparation for 2021 NCAA Swimming and Diving
Championships (athletic event) expecting over 2000 athletes and 10,000 people. 
Virtual Consulates of Washington Event - Promotion of international trade and
investment opportunities in Federal Way with consulates and other groups using a
virtual event. 
Hospitality and Tourism Training Program  Online hospitality education and tourism
training for industry staff at over 400 businesses. 
Issaquah - $37,590 
Regional Business Summit with Chamber of Commerce - Host a Regional Business
Summit to discuss regional issues. 
Data collection project with Chamber of Commerce - Work with the Chamber of
Commerce to obtain information on home-based businesses, new businesses each
year, or annual economic development growth and other business data. 
Great Careers for Students - Hosting "Great Careers" career fair to introduce students
to living-wage jobs that do not require a 4-year degree. 
Business Retention and Buy Local program  Contacting businesses to see how the
city can support them and running a marketing program encouraging residents to
support local businesses. 
Participated in the Startup425 and Re-Startup 425 regional partnerships. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                 Page 7 of 10 
Meeting Date: July 28, 2020 

Kenmore - $23,320 
Business Survival Training  A free, virtual business training series helping small
businesses deal with business challenges from COVID-19. 
Professional Photos for Economic Development Attraction - Update aerial and
community stock photos for economic development marketing. 
Kent - $65,000 
Apprenticeships and Advancing Manufacturing Training - Establish a new, nonredundant
,  non-competitive,  easily  accessible  technical  training  program  for
incumbent and dislocated employees in the Kent Industrial Valley. The program was
modified to better support dislocated workers and is being delivered online during
COVID-19. 
Kirkland - $65,000 
Participating in the Startup425, Re-Startup 425, and the Innovation Triangle regional
partnerships. 
Maple Valley - $26,180 
Entrepreneur and Resident Survey on COVID-19 and Economic Data - Conduct two
surveys (one for businesses and one for residents) to identify where residents work
and to collect information from businesses on assistance needed during COVID-19
pandemic. 
Advertising/ Marketing for Outdoor Recreation - Market opportunities promoting the
city as a destination for outdoor recreation in travel, outdoor recreation, or economic
development publications, trade shows, and events. 
Mercer Island - $24,470 
Buy Local Economic Recovery Initiative - Encourage local spending and sales at
Mercer Island businesses by residents and tourists through a "Shop Local-Spend Like
It Matters," buy local marketing campaign. Working with businesses to share
resources and document needs. 
Milton - $5,000 
Mainstreet Placemaking Project - Better delineate and promote Milton's main
commercial corridor with street banners and wayfinding signage. 
Newcastle - $12,450 
Retail Gap Analysis and Report  Conduct a retail gap analysis to identify retail and
service businesses that could be attracted to the city. 
Normandy Park - $6,610 
Update Economic Development Website  Integrating city and Soundside Alliance

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                 Page 8 of 10 
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website resources including a GIS property search tool. 
Ecotourism Marketing Video  Producing an "ecotourism marketing video" to use on
the city's website and in marketing programs. 
North Bend - $6,965 
Tourism Attraction Signage - Work with the North Bend Downtown Foundation to
create and restore wayfinding signage and add 16 seasonal beautification and
community event hanging light pole banners. 
Lake Forest Park - $13,250 
Events at the Town Center - Purchasing a used "show-mobile" (mobile stage) to host
distanced or drive-in events, like a Battle of the Bands, at the Town Center shopping
center to bring community visibility to open businesses offering take-out or curbside
pick-up. 
Pacific - $6,875 
Business Engagement Survey  Partnering with a local chamber of commerce to
developing a business outreach and engagement program to survey businesses and
see how the city can support them during COVID-19. 
Redmond - $64,000 
Light Rail Displaced Businesses Outreach - Supporting businesses impacted by light
rail construction activities. 
Participating in the Startup425, Re-Startup 425, and the Innovation Triangle regional
partnerships. 
Renton - $65,000 
Food Entrepreneur Small Business Development  Guiding the creation of a food
business incubator in downtown Renton that supports food entrepreneurs and
businesses. 
Digital Tourism Development  Running a marketing campaign to attract visitors,
event planners, and investors to Renton. This plan will be modified as needed for the
COVID-19 economic conditions. 
Downtown Faade and Storefront Improvement Program  Continue a faade
improvement and storefront design incentive program to "refresh" the appearance
of the City's retail district. 
Participating in the Startup425 and Re-Startup 425 regional partnerships. 
SeaTac - $29,180 
Business "Synergy" Retention and Expansion Program  Conducting outreach to
business community support  key enterprises and COVID-19 assistance to local
businesses. 
Website COVID-19 Update for Businesses - Updating the SeaTac city economic

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                 Page 9 of 10 
Meeting Date: July 28, 2020 
development website with relevant information for businesses about COVID-19 and
resources for economic recovery. 
Shoreline - $56,370 
Music Industry Incubation and Tourism - Support the growth of Shoreline's music
industry through a partnership with the local chamber of commerce. 
Glass Art Festival Tourism and Commercial Center Activation - Promote the city's
neighborhood commercial center through participation in Refract 2020: The Seattle
Glass Experience. 
Urban Pop-Up, Drive-In Series - Support local, independent filmmakers by providing
paid opportunities to showcase their products to local audiences, while encouraging
audiences to use a regional, online map showing open restaurants. 
Shoreline Place Farmer's Market Promotion- Promote the Farmers Market to new
audiences and build upon the 2019 growth during the upcoming period during
COVID-19. 
Skykomish - $5,000 
Digital Interpretive Tour of Skykomish History - Create a digital walking tour of
Skykomish working collaboratively with the Skykomish Chamber of Commerce, the
Skykomish Historical Society, and the U.S. Forest Service. The tour will be marketed
with QR codes at points of interest, physical signage and marketing collateral, search 
engine optimization, and social media. 
Snoqualmie - $8,000 
Seasons in Snoqualmie Destination Marketing and Tours - Promote the "Seasons in
Snoqualmie" brand to encourage visitation to Snoqualmie year-round and contract
with Savor Snoqualmie Valley to grow Instagram content and run the "Unexpected
Pairings" marketing campaign to raise the visibility of unique activities in and around
the City of Snoqualmie. 
Tukwila - $20,930 
Digital Media Program for Tourism - Create a digital media program for tourism by
creating new content shared through a new website, email newsletter, and social
media accounts. 
Business Assistance  Contracting with the Seattle Southside Chamber to provide
technical assistance and service referrals for Tukwila businesses during COVID-19. 
Kent Valley Industrial Area Company Recruitment -  Maintaining the business
recruitment campaign for aerospace and manufacturing companies across the Kent
Valley in partnership with Kent and Auburn. 
Woodinville - $12,410 
COVID-19 Online Resource Hub  Partner with Woodinville Chamber of Commerce to
create, maintain, and market a COVID-19 business recovery resource micro-site while

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7c                                Page 10 of 10 
Meeting Date: July 28, 2020 
contacting businesses with resources to reopen. 
Neighborhood Commercial Branding  Improve placemaking and neighborhood
identification for tourists through updated and expanded neighborhood banners, a
social media campaign, and a future visitor map. 
Awarded funds are calculated based on the budgets submitted by participating cities in the 
applications and agreements executed by the Port of Seattle. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)    ED Partnership Program PowerPoint Presentation 072820 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
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 an updated 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. 










Template revised September 22, 2016.