TagKing County(169)

The Port of Seattle Commission considered authorizing up to $960,000 for its 2019 Economic Development Partnership Program, which provides grant funding to King County cities based on a $1-per-capita formula (minimum $5,000, maximum $65,000) to support local economic development projects. Eligible activities include small business development, business recruitment, workforce development, tourism, and downtown revitalization, with cities required to provide a 50% funding match. The program, funded through the Port's property tax levy, has been running since 2016 and previously awarded about $950,000 to 30 King County cities during the 2017–2018 cycle.

The Port of Seattle's Tourism Marketing Grant Program, presented at the December 11, 2018 commission meeting, outlines the fourth year of a partnership initiative aimed at advancing statewide tourism and promoting use of Port facilities across Washington. The program has built partnerships with 26 organizations spanning King County, Eastern Washington, the Olympic Peninsula, and Western Washington, generating visitor interest and travel throughout the state. Smaller tourism organizations have been noted as particularly appreciative of the program's support.

Fact sheet summarizing Tukwila’s tree canopy management program, including regulations prohibiting tree removal, public planting initiatives, and environmental benefits. The city targets 29% tree canopy coverage by 2034 and provides $493K in yearly environmental benefits.

The Green Cities Partnership, funded by the Port of Seattle, supports healthy urban forests in the near-airport communities of SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines through community-based restoration projects. Key initiatives include a Forest Steward Program, where trained volunteers lead park and natural area restoration efforts, and a Neighborhood Tree Program offering tree walks, plantings, and care activities. The project also includes an urban forest assessment and a community-supported enhancement plan aimed at reducing carbon emissions 80% from 2007 levels by 2050.

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 Commission is requesting authorization for its 2019 Tourism Marketing Support Program, a grant initiative now in its fourth year that distributes up to $200,000 in King County tax levy funds to local destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, and nonprofits to promote tourism across Washington State. Grants of up to $10,000 each require a two-to-one match from recipients and must be used for advertising, public relations, digital marketing, trade shows, or familiarization tours aimed at attracting out-of-state visitors. Over its first three years, the program funded 57 projects and generated approximately $700,000 in additional tourism marketing statewide.

In a June 2018 email, acoustics consultant Ben Sharp contacts Sharyn Ward, former manager of King County's Sound Insulation (SI) program, while researching aging airport sound insulation treatments for an FAA report responding to a Congressional inquiry. Sharp notes that SFO is the only airport he has found planning a replacement/repair program for homeowners within the DNL 65 noise contour, funded without FAA assistance. He specifically asks Ward about known aging problems with windows installed during the early years of the Sea-Tac (SEA) sound insulation program, noting that the program is not currently planning to offer any assistance to affected homeowners.

The Port of Seattle's 2018 Tourism Marketing Support Program awarded grants totaling $200,000 to 26 organizations across Washington State to promote local tourism destinations. Recipients, including visitor bureaus, arts councils, and cultural organizations, received up to $10,000 each in matching funds for projects such as digital marketing campaigns, familiarization tours, and international outreach. The program required a two-to-one match, meaning for every Port dollar awarded, the recipient contributed fifty cents.

A 2017 economic impact report from the Port of Seattle shows that Seattle-Tacoma International Airport supported $22.5 billion in total economic activity and approximately 151,400 jobs across the region, including direct employment and multiplier effects. More than 350 employers operate at the airport, with on-site jobs averaging $73,500 in total compensation, and the surrounding communities of King and Pierce counties benefiting significantly from visitor spending and airport-related business revenues.