The City of Redmond was recently awarded a grant from the Port of Seattle to help with economic development.
The grant is for $59,180 and will go toward a marketing campaign to promote the city.
Jill Smith, an economic development manager for Redmond, said the campaign will include photographs and videos as well as print and digital brochures to help with the city’s business recruitment efforts. She said these materials will help tell Redmond’s story to businesses that may be considering setting up shop here. In addition, Smith said the materials can be used to help local businesses whose headquarters may be elsewhere choose to stay and or expand in Redmond.
Part of the grant will also be used toward the city’s partner OneRedmond participating in a couple of trade shows next year.
The first show is the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit in February 2017 in Las Vegas. This show brings together top video game designers and developers from around the world and business leaders from all major publishers to discuss the state of the industry, its trends and the future.
OneRedmond will also participate in the 33rd Space Foundation Space Symposium in April 2017. This trade show will be in Colorado Springs, Colo. and feature space leaders from around the world to discuss, address and plan for the future of space since the inaugural event in 1984.
Despite its name, the Port of Seattle’s jurisdiction is all of King County and includes owning and operating Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Fishermen’s Terminal, two cruise terminals in downtown Seattle and more.
“We should be named the ‘Port of King County,'” said port commissioner Stephanie Bowman.
One of the biggest impacts the port has on the Eastside is through the airport. Bowman said for local businesses such as Microsoft Corp. with international travelers, it is important that SeaTac can accommodate them. To help with this, she said the port is working on a few capital projects at the airport that include expansion with a new Alaska Airlines terminal and improving the airport’s international arrivals area to help with the customs process.
Bowman said a lot of cities in the county do not feel any impact from the Port of Seattle. And since for her, making sure every community in King County feels a positive impact from the port is important, she came up with the economic development grant program. Bowman said to ensure all cities feel that positive impact, she worked with staff to make sure the grant application was as easy as possible and that anyone who applies receives at least $5,000.
The grant is open to all 38 cities in King County (Seattle is not included), non-competitive and cities receive funds based on their population.
Bowman has been a commissioner for four years and she has been working to visit all cities to let them know that the port represents them.
“I take that charge very seriously,” she said.
On Thursday, Bowman visited Redmond to speak to the board of directors at OneRedmond.
Bart Phillips, CEO for OneRedmond, the city’s private-public partnership for economic and community development, said ports are a huge part of economic development for communities and they do very valuable work. He added that he applauds the port for its grant program to support this agenda.
