Bottom Line Blog Office of Economic Development

Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

Mayor launches 2012 Only in Seattle campaign

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In a continued effort to encourage discovery and exploration of new neighborhoods and businesses in Seattle, Mayor Mike McGinn announced both the addition of three new neighborhoods to be featured in the 2012 Only in Seattle Campaign, and the launch of Only in Seattle Sundays – a special once-a-month neighborhood discount day.

“The locally-owned small businesses featured in Only in Seattle are great for visitors and locals alike,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “Our diverse neighborhoods are economically and culturally strong in large part due to these thriving small, independent businesses. Only in Seattle is about more than supporting our local economy, it’s about celebrating what makes Seattle special.”

Now in the campaign’s third year, the City is not only adding 12 new businesses in Fremont, Pioneer Square, and Wallingford, but also taking the campaign one step further by introducing Only in Seattle Sundays. The last Sunday of each month shoppers and diners will have the opportunity to take advantage of a customized set of discounts and freebies at local businesses and restaurants in neighborhoods across Seattle. Only in Seattle Sundays are designed in partnership with the neighborhood business districts to give people a great way to get out and discover what makes Seattle’s neighborhoods unique – and get some great deals while they’re at it.

Fremont will host the inaugural Only in Seattle Sunday on Sunday July 29th with 14 business offering discounts throughout the neighborhood. Visitors can start their day with an Only in Seattle Sundays brunch at Markettime Foods, spend some time shopping with 10% off at Only in Seattle featured businesses evo and Bitters Co. and finish off with “a buy one get one” free BBQ lunch at Pete’s Fremont Fire Pit, among other discounts throughout the neighborhood.

Following Fremont, locals can look forward to Only in Seattle Sundays hosted in Belltown (August) and Wallingford (September), and other neighborhoods in the subsequent months.

To redeem and view the monthly Only in Seattle Sundays deals, shoppers can download or print the Only in Seattle Sundays coupon available at www.onlyinseattle.org/ois_sundays . Additionally Seattleites are encouraged to follow Only in Seattle on Facebook and Twitter, where the City’s Office of Economic Development (OED) will be giving away prizes from select neighborhood businesses throughout the month.

The City promotes a healthy business environment for neighborhood business districts and organizations. The Only in Seattle marketing campaign is only one of numerous City-funded projects and activities that improve and strengthen local business districts under the broader Only in Seattle Initiative.

Annually, participating neighborhoods apply and are selected to be part of the Only in Seattle marketing campaign. Neighborhood business organizations interested in applying to participate in the 2013 Only in Seattle campaign should contact Theresa Barrearas at (206) 684-4505 or Theresa.barreras@seattle.gov.

Brooks Sports is coming to Fremont

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Brooks Sports announced that it will be relocating its global headquarters to the new ‘living building’ Skanska development planned for 3400 Stone Way in Fremont.  Set to open in late 2013, Mayor Mike McGinn said that “Brooks Sports’ decision to locate in Seattle means 300 new jobs. That’s a big deal for us right now.  It shows that Seattle has what it takes to attract significant new investment even in these tough economic times.  And Skanska’s response to the Seattle Living Building Pilot Program is evidence of regulatory reform facilitating job creation in Seattle. This is a win for business and a win for Seattle.”

Lisa Picard, executive vice president of Skanska USA Commercial Development’s Seattle office, said, “We are excited to have found a community and a tenant whose company aligns so well with ours and the deep green strategies planned for this building.”  The Fremont neighborhood is an attractive place for businesses to relocate; the new Brooks building will be located right on the Burke-Gilman trail and next to Lake Union.  The site offers the developer a unique opportunity to create a meaningful trailhead—a gathering place for the community and trail users—that is anchored by Brooks, a brand that promotes an active lifestyle.

Brooks Sports is recognized as one of the best places to work, and this Seattle office will be no exception.  The ground floor of the new Brooks headquarters building will also house the brands’ first ever retail concept shop.   President and CEO Jim Weber said, “We have an incredible opportunity to create a new home for our leading performance brands that exemplifies who we are and ingrains us in the local running community.  Brooks’ mission is to inspire people to run and be active, and it’s our hope that we become a welcoming trailhead along the Burke-Gilman Trail. We believe runners, walkers and others will gather at Brooks to meet friends, start their workouts and celebrate a good run.”

The project is Skanska USA’s first development effort in the Seattle market. The project is participating in the City of Seattle’s Living Building Pilot Program, which encourages the implementation of sustainable strategies toward the Living Building Challenge.  Such projects provide benefits to tenants and the community by lowering energy use, providing greater access to daylight and strong ground-floor community connection. 3400 Stone is the second project since 2010, and the first market-rate project, to pursue the City’s Pilot Program.  In a news release, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark applauds Skanska’s application to the City’s Living Building Challenge.

 

See the entire press announcement on the Seattle Channel.

View the full press release, fact sheet, and rendering of the project.

More coverage in Daily Journal of Commerce, Seattle P.I., and Seattle Times.