TagEconomic Development Partnership Program(45)

The Port of Seattle awarded over $950,000 to 30 King County cities through its Economic Development Partnership (EDP) program during the 2017-2018 funding cycle, supporting projects in areas such as small business development, tourism, and workforce training. An independent assessment by Community Attributes Inc. evaluated the program's effectiveness and offered recommendations including creating a competitive grant pool for larger projects, streamlining reporting requirements, and allowing longer-term funding arrangements to better support multi-year city initiatives.

The Port of Seattle's Economic Development Partnership Program provides approximately $1 million in annual grant funding to the 38 cities in King County, distributed on a $1-per-capita basis (capped at $65,000, with a $5,000 minimum for the smallest cities). Cities can use the funds for eligible activities such as business recruitment, small business development, tourism, and downtown revitalization, but not for capital projects, and must provide a 50 percent local match. Cities may partner with local nonprofits or collaborate regionally to maximize the impact of their projects.

In June 2016, the Port of Seattle Commission launched a grant program distributing funds to 38 King County cities to support local economic development across the region. Grants were awarded at $1 per capita, ranging from $5,000 to $65,000, and cities used the money for projects such as business assistance, marketing, tourism promotion, and planning studies. The program encouraged collaboration between cities and helped kick-start initiatives that had previously been beyond individual city budgets.