Bottom Line Blog Office of Economic Development

Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

Council Approves Renewal of Metropolitan Improvement District

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The Seattle City Council voted yesterday to renew the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) in Downtown Seattle for another 10 years, expanding the MID’s service area from 225 to 285 square blocks with the addition of the Belltown neighborhood and several added blocks in Pioneer Square.

The MID provides a broad range of services to Downtown that go beyond those provided by City of Seattle, including – streetscape cleaning, public safety, human services outreach, hospitality, and other services. The MID’s work is designed to keep Downtown’s participating neighborhoods inviting, clean and safe.  The new service areas will begin on July 1, 2013.

Jim Miller, president of the Belltown Business Association, said his neighborhood is excited to be part of the MID. “We require added services in order to address our crime, human service and cleaning needs beyond what the City could offer. Now, as part of the MID, we’ll get the help we need.”

Each day, the MID’s team of 62 uniformed Ambassadors can be seen providing services in the Denny Triangle, Pioneer Square, Retail Core, Waterfront and West Edge neighborhoods, and now Belltown. MID Ambassadors clean streets and alleys, remove graffiti, help visitors find their way, coordinate services for people in need and much more. The MID also employs off-duty police officers who help reduce crime in special emphasis areas.

Among the enhancements a renewed MID will bring are:

  • Additional MID Ambassadors for sidewalk and curb cleaning.
  • Additional off-duty SPD teams to focus on drug activity and other illegal behavior.
  • New retail recruitment program to help fill street-level storefront vacancies.
  • More outreach services to homeless people and others in need.

Learn more about the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID)

Holidays in Seattle Launches 4th Annual Holiday Campaign

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Now in its fourth year, the annual Holidays in Seattle campaign – geared toward helping promote downtown Seattle as an outstanding destination for holiday travel – offers an exciting assortment of holiday happenings from Pioneer Square to Seattle Center. The holiday season begins this November with seasonal favorites like the DSA Holiday Carousel presented by KING 5 benefitting Treehouse; Winterfest Ice Rink; Argosy Christmas Ship festival; and Macy’s Holiday Parade. A full list of events can be accessed here.

Photo credit: Christopher Nelson

For the first time, Holidays in Seattle is partnering with Seattle-based geocaching company GeoTeaming, to offer the Holiday Goosechase, a free holiday mobile-based scavenger hunt. The Holiday Goosechase is a fun new activity designed to get participants out and about in the city to take pictures related to the task on their smartphone, which they then submit for evidence. Images are automatically added to an activity feed for participants to keep track of the leader board.  The hunt begins Nov. 23 and runs through Dec. 31 and includes multiple ways to win prizes throughout the week, such as two nights at Hotel Monaco or four passes to the Seattle Great Wheel, among others. Finally, a grand prize winner will be named at the end of the hunt. The GooseChase mobile app can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the iTunes App Store, using the search term “Holidays in Seattle” to join the game.

Visit HolidaysInSeattle.com, facebook.com/seattleholidays and @seattleholidays throughout the season for updates. You’ll also find event and visitor information, travel tips and much more. Also look for the official “Holidays in Seattle” guide in person at the Seattle Visitor Center and Market Information Center and at other retailers in the downtown area. The guide is also available in the December issues of the Seattle Metropolitan and Portland Monthly magazines.

Holidays In Seattle was created to highlight the unique and enriching holiday experience of Seattle’s city center, from Seattle Center to Pioneer Square. The goal of the campaign is to enhance the economic impact of the 2012 holiday season by promoting the diversity and wealth of holiday attractions, events and promotions that make Seattle the premier holiday destination in the Northwest. Campaign organizers hope to expand the campaign in future years
to leverage greater seasonal growth in retail, restaurant, hotel, arts and entertainment and other Seattle business.

Holidays in Seattle is a partnership of the Downtown Seattle Association/Metropolitan Improvement District, Seattle Center and Seattle’s Convention and Visitor Bureau to promote downtown Seattle as your destination for season favorites and new traditions alike.

Biking and the Bottom Line Q&A Forum – Thursday, March 29

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(From www.downtownseattle.com)

You already know traveling by bike is great for your health and pocket-book, but did you know it’s good for business, too? Join the Downtown Seattle Association and Commute Seattle on Thursday, March 29 and learn how supporting high-quality bike infrastructure strengthens Downtown’s ability to attract businesses and stay economically competitive by connecting employees, residents, and visitors to opportunities to live, work, shop, and play.

The discussion will revolve around a Q&A session, and will be useful for business leaders, Downtown residents, sustainable commuters, bike enthusiasts, and everyone in between.

The panel at the Q&A will include:

  • Charles Finkel, Owner of the Pike Brewing Company, who will share how Downtown business can benefit from improved bike travel and infrastructures
  • Greg Johnson, CEO of Wright Runstad, who will describe how the growing demand for bike amenities impacts his downtown business
  • Brian Surratt, Business Development Director of the Office of Economic Development (OED), who will explain how such business amenities in Downtown attract outside creative workforce and businesses to the area.

Erin O’Melinn, Executive Director of the Vancouver Cycling Coalition will speak about Vancouver, BC’s recent experience and success leveraging new bike infrastructure to benefit local businesses.

Biking and the Bottom Line Q&A Forum
Thursday, March 29th
Noon – 1 pm
Columbia Center, 40th floor conference room
Register at: info@commuteseattle.com

Is your business in downtown Seattle? Be an official partner of this year’s Holidays in the City campaign

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Each year Seattle’s holiday traditions serve as an important driver for downtown’s retail stores, hotels, restaurants, cultural and performing arts, events, attractions and a whole host of visitor service providers.

Two years ago the Downtown Seattle Association, Metropolitan Improvement District, Seattle Center and Seattle’s Convention &Visitors Bureau joined forces to produce a Holidays in the City marketing campaign.

This year they would like to expand the reach of the Holidays in the City campaign theme even further, but they need your help!

Sign on today as an official promotional partner of Holidays in the City.

Participation is FREE! All you have to do is agree to carry the trademark Holidays in the City logo, whether it be in window displays, on shopping bags, video screens, websites, tray liners, drink coasters, holiday signage, hotel card keys, event programs, marketing collateral – or proudly display the official Holidays in the City window cling identifying your business as an official promotional partner.

Also, along with the traditional Holiday Carousel, Westlake Center’s Tree Lighting and many other downtown holiday festivities, they’re asking businesses to join in the effort by dressing up their streetscape with tree lighting or up-lighting their buildings with colorful lights and/or light designs.

Participating can be as simple as adding lights to exterior trees or lighted window designs or image projections. They’ve partnered with the lighting specialists at Hollywood Lighting, who will be happy to meet with property owners/managers to discuss the possibilities….and have agreed to pass along a special discounted rate.

For more information call 206-623-0340 or email info@downtownseattle.org.