Posted on April 9, 2025
The Port of Seattle Commission today approved $1.9 million to support economic development partnerships with cities in King County for the next two years. The extension is a continuation of support for local cities that the Port began in 2016.
“A core part of the Port of Seattle’s mission is to support our local and regional economy, and that includes offering economic development partnerships that are accessible to all of the King County cities,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho. “These matching grants are essential for cities across the county to work on economic development projects that are of benefit to their residents, but also to the work that we do at the Port of Seattle.”
To cities selected by the program, the Port provides matching grants based on a per capita formula. The grants range from $10,000 to $60,000, and the cities must provide at least a 50% match.
In 2024, the program granted $804,052 to 27 cities across King County. Including city matches, over $1.44 million was invested in economic development projects. Projects funded included business assistance, tourism efforts, and buy local or placemaking campaigns.
“The City of Tukwila used our Port grant to hire the Somali Independent Business Alliance (SIBA) to host a fashion show so that our very small East African retailers could promote the culturally appropriate clothing that they sell. Tukwila’s goal was to help our small businesses improve their marketing and attract visitors to the City. As an added benefit, the event was very successful for building connections across cultures,” said Derek Speck, the City of Tukwila’s Economic Development Administrator.
“Overall, the financial support from the Port of Seattle and local funding sources has played a vital role in positioning South King County as a premier destination,” said Chris Pasinetti, Community Development Director for the City of Enumclaw. “By enhancing the marketing efforts of the Enumclaw Expo Center and its events, this funding has helped drive tourism and boost economic activity throughout the region.”
“The City of Kenmore is sincerely grateful for the funding provided through the Port of Seattle Economic Development grant. Kenmore relies heavily on these grant funds to implement projects that support our business community and Kenmore’s economic growth,” Nicole Suarez, the City of Kenmore’s Community and Business Engagement Coordinator, said. “In recent years, this grant has funded Kenmore’s new Oktoberfest events, professional photography services for local businesses, shop local marketing campaigns, and small business consulting and training services. As a small city with limited staffing and resources for economic development work, the Port of Seattle grants allow us to execute projects that would not have been feasible. These initiatives have had a meaningful and lasting impact and have strengthened our partnerships with the Kenmore business community.”
The funding authorized for 2025–2026 will focus on supporting projects and initiatives related to Port industries including aviation, maritime, construction trades, and green jobs. Learn more about the program.
