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IX. Economic Development Activities <br />Policy 2.1.3 of the City's Comprehensive Plan states the City "[should] identify a single contact point and <br />information source for the business community." In 2004, the City hired its first staff person to focus <br />solely on economic development activities and to serve as a contact person for businesses. In 2014, the <br />Mayor, with support of the City Council, reorganized staff in the Mayor's Office and transferred a Senior <br />Planner from the Department of Community Development to provide more resources for economic <br />development activities. The coming years will be very exciting time for the Economic Development Work <br />Group as it gets fully established and organized. The following outlines some of the economic <br />development activates that are currently taking place or that will be occurring in the near future. <br />A. Soundside Alliance <br />The City of Tukwila is a member of the Soundside Alliance group, which includes the cities of SeaTac, <br />Burien, Normandy Park and Des Moines. Additionally, Highline College, the Southwest Chamber of <br />Commerce and the Port of Seattle are also members. The Alliance focuses on marketing and <br />economic development activities for the southwest area of King County. The Alliance current major <br />project is completing a Workforce Study. <br />B. Tukwila Tourism Promotion Area <br />Earlier this year, Economic Development staff negotiated an interlocal agreement with the cities of <br />SeaTac and Des Moines to form a Tourism Promotion Area among the three cities. The TPA will be <br />funded by a per night room fee in certain hotels and motels. Funds generated will be used to <br />support additional tourism marketing efforts. The funds will be administered by a Public <br />Development Authority set up by the City of SeaTac. <br />C. Seattle Southside Visitor Service <br />Economic Development currently oversees the Seattle Southside Visitor Services (SSVS). SSVS, using <br />lodging tax funds, conducts various activities to increase tourism activities in the cities of SeaTac, <br />Tukwila, and Des Moines. Earlier this year a visitor center opened in the Westfield Southcenter Mall. <br />Other activities include operating a shuttle connecting SeaTac hotels /motels to Tukwila's Urban <br />Center. Most of SSVS activities will be merged with the TPA discussed above. <br />D. Tukwila Village <br />The development of the Tukwila Village site has been led by Economic Development. A ground <br />breaking for the project is scheduled for August 1, 2014. <br />E. Small Business Development <br />The City of Tukwila, along with other Soundside Alliance cities, supports the Small Business <br />Development Center (SBDC) at Highline College. SBDC provides support and guidance for individuals <br />wishing to start a business as well as support for existing small businesses. <br />F. Southcenter Marketing Partnership <br />As was discussed above, over the last 15 years the City has seen a decline in market share for <br />taxable retail sales. To combat the loss in market share, the Economic Development group will be <br />launching the Southcenter Marketing Partnership whose purpose is to market the Southcenter area <br />15 Economic Development Background Memo <br />51 <br />