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City of Tukwila <br />Allan Ekberg, Mayor <br />INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Planning and Economic Development Committee <br />FROM: Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator <br />CC: Mayor Ekberg <br />DATE: January 29, 2020 <br />SUBJECT: 2020 Port of Seattle Economic Development Grant Application <br />ISSUE <br />Staff requests Committee approval to apply for an economic development grant from the Port of <br />Seattle. <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Port of Seattle is accepting applications for its 2020 Economic Development Partnership <br />Grant Program. Applications are due February 27. Funds are based on each city's population <br />and the City of Tukwila is eligible to receive $20,930. The Port requires the applicant to provide <br />matching funds of at least 50 percent of the grant. Of the required match, at least half needs to <br />be met by direct city expenditures such as contracts for services. The balance of matching <br />funds may be met through in -kind resources such as staff time. The City would have to expend <br />the Port funds by the end of October 2020. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Staff would like to apply for the full $20,930 of Port funds. The funds would be used for two <br />projects. <br />Kent Valley Business Recruitment <br />In 2019, the City used $7,000 in Port Grant funds to support the development of a business <br />recruitment website in partnership with the Cities of Auburn, Pacific, Renton and Kent. The City <br />of Kent was the lead on the project and invested $100,000 of funding to develop the website <br />and implement a public and media relations plan. The website was launched in the summer of <br />2019 and can found at KentValleyWA.com. <br />For 2020, staff would like to continue to support the Kent Valley Partnership and provide up to <br />$4,000 to the City of Kent for website maintenance and updated messaging. <br />Tukwila Tourism Digital Media Program <br />Staff would like to use the remaining Port grant funds to develop a digital media program for <br />tourism. The Port grant funds would be combined with lodging tax funds to develop a digital <br />media strategy, a website, email and social media accounts for Instagram and Facebook, and <br />compelling content such as photos, videos, images, stories, information, and other resources. <br />The digital media program would be primarily intended to attract visitors by improving the visitor <br />experience when in Tukwila. A secondary benefit would be attracting residential and other <br />commercial development that is drawn to a city with amenities such as entertainment, retail, <br />restaurants, and outdoor recreation. This is an essential component in the City's overall <br />branding efforts. <br />K <br />