Attachment 6
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT
Goals
EDG1 Add Achieve employment growth in the City of between 131,400 and 146,600 jobs in the city over the next 20-year period covered by this Plan, in order . Stimulate job growth and to alleviate and prevent economic distress in or decline throughout the City so as and to ensure long-term economic security and social equity to all Seattle residents.
EDG2 Accommodate the a broad mix of jobs as projected by the Puget Sound Regional Council (or its successor), while actively seeking a mix with a greater proportion of highfamily-quality wage jobs that will have greater benefits to a broad cross-section of the people of the City and region. (See the Economic Development Appendix for PSRC Employment projections.)
EDG3 Encourage iIncreased activity in sectors of the economy in the City that:
1. ·
Pay higher-than-average wage levels,
2. ·
Bring new capital into the economy, reflecting multiplier effects
other than high wage,
3. ·
Have reasonably good future growth prospects,
4. ·
Involve a cluster of businesses engaging in similar activities,
5. ·
Use quality environmental practices, or
6. ·
Diversify the regional economic base.
EDG4 Develop a highly trained local work force that can better compete for meaningful and productive employment, earn a living wage and meet the needs of business. (Amended 11/95)
EDG5 Create a positive business climate, with high-quality customer service to business and access to working capital and other forms of financial assistance, in order to build a stronger economic future for all Seattle citizens and to nurture entrepreneurship, innovation and business growth.
EDG6 Ensure that the infrastructure needed to support the economy is in place.
EDG7 Maintain a competitive edge over other regions in fostering a positive environment for international trade.
EDG8 Recognize Seattle’s cultural resources including institutions, art organizations, traditions, historic resources and creative people as important contributors to the city’s economic vitality.
EDG9 Encourage vitality and growth in the industrial sector in order to support retention of existing businesses, including small firms and attract new industrial businesses and to expand close-in employment and training opportunities for Seattle residents.
Discussion: A strong Seattle and Puget Sound economy is a critical underpinning of a positive future for Seattle. Our future economy should beA diverse and stable economy can, offering long-term economic opportunity and social equity to all Seattle residents. City government has limited ability to influence the economy, and thus must be strategic in its activities and use of resources. Realizing the increasingly international nature of the local economy and the pace of technological change, the City will monitor the economy and will periodically alter and refine the goals and policies in this element in response to on-going changes in the economy.
The City's transportation system and City investment decisions on transportation are significant to the accomplishment of economic development goals. Rail, shipping, air, and truck transport of goods are vital links to economic activity, especially import and export activities. See tThe transportation element of this plan which addresses these issues in greater detail.
A. LABOR FORCE EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING
Discussion: While not having direct control over the education of its citizens, the City has a responsibility to advocate actively on their behalf. A skilled and competitive work force is important to a community’s growth and prosperity. The following policies encourage employers, employee organizations and education and training institutions and agencies to provide all Seattle residents opportunities for training and retraining. Certain policies related to education and employability development may be found in Section D of the Human Development Element. (Amended 11/95)
Policies
ED1 Continue to work with the Seattle Public Schools to improve the quality of public education and increase the likelihood that all young people will complete high school having achieved the basic competency needed to continue their education and/or to enter the work force.
ED2 Facilitate the creation of coalitions of business, labor and educational institutions, including community colleges, to develop competency-based education and training programs for Seattle community members that are targeted to needs of business. This may include vocational training programs, apprenticeship programs, entrepreneurial skills training, customized on-site training and technical and vocational preparatory programs at the high school level. (Amended 11/95)
ED32.2 Support employability development and entry-level and career employment efforts for low income youth and adults, people of color, women, individuals with disabilities and the homeless. (New policy added 11/95)
ED42.4 Encourage opportunities for people in training or working to meet their dependent care needs. (New policy added 11/95)
ED52.6 Promote regional approaches to better link individuals in distressed communities with job resources and livable wage job opportunities in growing employment sectors (reference p.112 See policies related to Geographic Strategies later in this element.). (New policy added 11/95)
E2.8 Encourage increased linkages between community job access and information systems and training programs. (New policy added 11/95)
ED63 Encourage the development of ongoing training programs for people currently employed so they may improve the skills they use in their current jobs or expand their skills into new arenas.
ED74 Encourage and facilitate the development of programs for dislocated workers to assist in a successful transition to new jobs. (Amended 11/95)
ED85 Strive to increase access to literacy development and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs for those in need of assistance of in overcoming literacy and language barriers to employability. (Amended 11/95)
ED96 Encourage educational and training institutions to provide education in foreign languages, geography and international affairs in order to enable people to better function in the international economy. (Amended 11/95)
ED106.5 Offer apprenticeship and other workplace learning opportunities in Seattle City government, with particular emphasis on providing access to low income youth and young adults from diverse cultures and races. (New policy added 11/95)
B. BUSINESS CLIMATE
Discussion: A positive relationship between government, residents, and business is important to the well-being of the City. Business needs cover the range from those of major employers and institutions to small businesses.
Policies
ED117 Foster a positive entrepreneurial environment for business start-up and expansion incubation and small business growth and support the retention of Seattle's existing business and major institution base. Focus foremost on the health of local business and, where appropriate, recruit or attract outside business.
ED128 Support the development of Seattle's major public and/or non-profit institutions which significantly because they contribute to a diversified economy, comprised ofbring high family-wage jobs, bring new activity and capital into the economy, develop and promote advanced technology, and provide substantial public benefits and needed services to Seattle's residents. Balance this support with the interests and needs of the surrounding neighborhoods and other goals of this plan.
ED138.5 Support Seattle’s artists, arts organizations, and institutions because of their significant contributions to the city’s healthy business climate;, their role in creating a cultural environment that attracts other high family- wage employers, as well as tourists, to t he region;, and the substantial benefits they provide to Seattle’s residents and communities. (New policy added11/97)
ED149 Recognize the importance of the business climate in efforts to encourage the expansion of international trade in Seattle and the region. Consider support of programs to open up new markets, especiallyexpand export opportunities for goods and services and the transportation of goods through our region the city. Also, consider support of programs to improve and maintain international cooperation. Examples of programs include industry-specific international trade fairs, export trade linkages for home-grown businesses, and Sister Cities programs., and Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
ED150 Recognize the importance of tourism and its support of international trade as well as its contribution to the health of the Seattle retail core.Consider the importance of tourism in its support of international trade and the health of the Seattle retail core.
ED161 Support the principle of regulatory reform at the state and county levels that would decrease in order to strike a balance between the financial impacts of regulation on businesses and developers, while and maintaining an appropriate level of safeguards for the environment and worker safety, consistent with the goals and policies of this plan.
ED172 For regulatory activities that affect land development, consider ways to conduct permit processing within shorter timeframes, streamline regulations, eliminate unnecessary layers of control and promote predictability in the review of permit applications, consistent with the goals and policies of this Plan. Consider ways to reduce or streamline the regulations and processes affecting land development, consistent with the goals and policies of this plan. For example, the City may seek to shorten permit processing time frames, may evaluate development regulations for unnecessary layers of control or may promote greater consistency and predictability in the regulatory control systems of other levels of government.
ED183 Support development of Consider use of programmatic environmental impact statements (PEIS) for geographic-specific plans, or other approaches, which may be used to help reduce the permit processing time and to increase predictability for individual development projects that are compatible with the PEIS.
ED1914 Recognize the importance of maintaining and enhancing the City's tax base, including property taxes, sales taxes and business and occupation taxes, to provide funds for capital facilities and city services for existing and future populations.
ED2015 Periodically assess the effects of City policies regarding taxes, fees, or utility rates on economic development goals, considering the balance between economic development goals, financial health of the City government, cumulative debt and tax burdens of overlapping jurisdictions, and other goals of the Comprehensive Plan.
ED2116 Strive to increase communication among government, businesses, major institutions and other entities that may provide economic opportunities, in order to: (a) enhance the City's common understanding of business issues that may impact related to employment growth, and business competitiveness,; (b) enhance the business community's understanding of public policy goals and program implementation issues; and (bc) help promote more partnerships between government and business to achieve the goals of this plan.
ED2216.5 Strive to anticipate and lessen the impacts of involuntary job changes through efforts to retain businesses in Seattle and by providing those businesses with the opportunity to thrive. (New policy added 11/95)
ED2317 Strive to work with the business community and the residential community equitably to identify and promote areas of common interest and to facilitate the resolution of conflicts in a manner that recognizes and respects legitimate differences.
ED2418 Strive to improve coordination of information and services among government offices which affect the viability of business in Seattle. Seek to better coordinate changes to City policies and programs with other jurisdictions within the region, in order to more effectively participate in the development and implementation of state, regional and county economic development goals.
ED2519 Strive to coordinate the provision of public services in ways that support the implementation of Comprehensive Plan goals for business and employment growth. For example, public safety and neighborhood services should be well-coordinated with industrial area needs.
ED260 Periodically analyze available economic information to understand the City's economic base and the regional economy in order to review and adjust as needed the City's economic development goals and policies.
C. INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL FACILITIES
Discussion: One of the primary responsibilities of government is to provide the infrastructure needed to support the economy. An adequate infrastructure is fundamental to Seattle's ability to attract and retain jobs, to enhance business growth and realize increased use existing development capacity to support the achievement of job growth targets. The following policies supplement the policies in the capital facilities and transportation elements by addressing ways in which the City's infrastructure plans and capital investment decisions can support its economic development goals. Additional detail may be found in these other Pplan elements.
Policies
ED271 Seek to coordinate, where appropriate, City investment in utilities, transportation and other public facilities with business, employment and economic development opportunities.
ED282 Strive to eEncourage early deployment of improvements in technology and the combined telecommunications distribution system (including fiber, coaxial and wireless elements of the system) within the greater Seattle area with the goals ofhaving:
a. Equitable access to for all service providers that seek to use the distribution network in reaching their customers.
b. Competition that will result in promotes state of the art services and competitive with pricing.
c. Universal access to all citizens, businesses, and institutions within the greater Seattle area.
d. Effectiveness based on: (i) flexibility, (ii) system security, (iii) reliability and (iv) affordability. (Policy amended 11/96)
ED293 Take into consideration the ability of technology and telecommunications technology to enhance the provision of City services to citizens and businesses when making City investments in communications and computer systems. (Policy amended 11/96)
ED3024 Encourage the development of technology and telecommunications infrastructure city-wide and region-wide. (Policy amended 11/96)
D. BUSINESS START-UP AND GROWTH
Discussion: The majority of businesses in Seattle have fewer than 100 employees and most have fewer than 10 employees. Sectors with a high proportion of small businesses include construction, wholesale trade, manufacturing, retail and related services. Working capital and other forms of financial assistance are an important component of business start-up and growth.
Policies
ED3125 Continue to promote close working relationships between Seattle's financial institutions and its business community. Where appropriate, promote the development of new initiatives and innovative programs (e.g., the Seattle Small Business Lenders Association program, loan packaging for SBA loan guarantees, Industrial Development Revenue Bonds) to lower the cost of borrowing or to assist small business growth, through increased access to capital.
ED3226 Where appropriate, support efforts to assist small business through technical assistance for business start-up and/or expansion.
ED3326.5 Recognize that artists make a significant contribution to the local economy as small businesses, and support efforts to ensure that Seattle’s vulnerable artist communities may thrive within the city. (New policy added 11/97)
ED3427 Seek ways to improve the environment for small businesses to thrive in Seattle, where consistent with the goals and policies of this plan.
E. GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGIES
Discussion: While the City devotes attention to economic development in ways which benefit the broad spectrum of firms and major institutions, by necessity the City needs to focus its support and use efforts because of the scarce resources available for economic development. The following policies address ways in which the City will focus its economic development efforts in different parts of the City. Strategies and activities vary from one part of the City to another, depending on the circumstances within a particular geographic area. In order to appropriately focus its efforts over the lifetime of the Comprehensive Plan, the City intends to monitor the economy and to periodically amend the Comprehensive Plan so that policies reflect shifts in the economy as well as changes that occur in geographic areas of the City.
Policies
Economic Development And The Urban Villages Strategy
ED3528 Strive to maintain the economic health and importance of downtown as the economic center of the City and the region and home to many of Seattle’s vital professional service firms, high technology companies, regional retail activity, as well as cultural, entertainment, convention and tourist facilities.
Strive to maintain the economic health and importance of downtown as the economic center of the City and the region, as the largest designated Urban Center and as home to many of Seattle's vital producer-service firms, regional retail facilities and strategic economic development activities.
ED3629 Pursue opportunities for growth and strategic development, where appropriate, in urban centers and hub urban villages, which are planned for the greatest concentrations of jobs and job growth outside of downtown.
ED3730 Strive to provide a wide range of goods and services to residents and businesses in urban centers and villages by encouraging appropriate retail development in these areas.
ED380.5 Use cultural resources as a tool for stimulating economic development in Seattle’s neighborhoods, as these resources provide attractions that can draw people to and enhance public perception of an area. (New policy added 11/97)
Manufacturing And Industrial Redevelopment And Growth
ED3931 Pursue development of a strategic plan for adoption by the City Council to guide City policy and investment strategy for supporting manufacturing and industrial activities in Manufacturing and Industrial Centers. Create this plan in conjunction with the Use neighborhood plans adopted for the Manufacturing and Industrial Centers to help guide investments and policy decisions that will continue to support the retention and growth of industrial activities in these areas. Continue collaboration with both geographically-focused and citywide organizations representing industrial interests so that the needs and perspectives of this sector can be recognized and incorporated, as appropriate, into the City’s actions and decisions.
Consider the creation of Manufacturing and Industrial Council(s) which will include representatives from each of the Manufacturing and Industrial Centers. The Council(s), in conjunction with other groups and people affected by industrial activity, would assist the City in the development of the strategic plan.
ED4032 Strive Work with other levels of government and with the private sector to support and encourage the cleanup of contaminated soil contamination and other environmental remediation problems associated with the redevelopment re-use or expansion of industrial sites. Potential actions may include, but not be limited to: helping to facilitate consent decrees or agreed orders as authorized by the Model Toxics Control act; issuance of exempt facility industrial revenue bonds to finance cleanup actions; identification of federal or other grant sources that might fund cleanup actions; or formation of interjurisdictional partnerships.
ED4133 Strive through efforts with other public jurisdictions to address the problems of site assembly, infrastructure improvements inadequacies and traffic congestion which may inhibits industrial expansion goods movementin industrial areas.
ED4234 Strive to assist industrial firms in addressing capital needs through mechanisms such as the issuance of Industrial Development Bonds or and by seeking additional funds to by expanding small business financing programs to assist manufacturers.
High Technology Clusters
ED4335 Seek ways to assist related technology-oriented businesses to locate in close proximity to one another and near major research institutions create a local business environment that promotes the establishment, retention, and expansion of high-technology industries in the city. Promote the development of a "technology triangle" in Seattle connecting Where possible, look for opportunities to link these businesses to existing research institutions, hospitals, educational institutions and manufacturing other technology businesses. companies in First Hill, Lake Union and the University of Washington.
ED4436 Seek ways to assist clusters of related businesses in advanced manufacturing, information technology and biotechnology to collaborate more closely with one another and to market themselves as magnets for capital, research talent and high-skill manufacturing jobs.
ED4537 Seek ways to support technology transfer and other efforts that increase the global competitiveness of Seattle's manufacturers and service exporters in advanced manufacturing, information technology, biotechnology and services in cooperation with other jurisdictions and with major education and research and development Iinstitutions.
Marine Businesses
ED4638 Preserve and support continued use of suitable shoreline areas for water-dependent and related businesses involved in ship-building and repair, fisheries, tug and barge, provisioning and the cruise-ship industries.
ED4739 Support national policies which stabilize maritime industries and promote their expansion.
Distressed Communities
ED480 Strive to address the special needs of areas in Seattle that historically have experienced less economic opportunity and that have high concentrations of people living in economic hardship.
a. Seek to provide resources to assist in planning for distressed communities and assist low-income areas in developing and implementing economic development strategies; where possible, do so in conjunction with the neighborhood planning process.
b. Attempt to gain State and Federal Special Area designations for lower-income Seattle communities where such designation can confer tangible benefits.
c. Target programmatic resources, including small business capital access and entrepreneurship training programs, as well as new infrastructure investment toward the economic development objectives of distressed areas.
d. Support the role of community-based organizations in planning and implementing economic development activities in distressed communities.
City Strategic Support
E41 Consider use of City resources to support implementation of the urban village strategy, including manufacturing and industrial centers, and to support distressed communities through infrastructure investment decisions, and implementation of business climate, capital access and education and labor force development policies.
Examples may include utility and other long-term capital investment decisions, investment in transportation to support goods movement, and the design, timing and City financial support of neighborhood and other planning processes. Various City departments may incorporate strategic economic development activities in their functional plans and in annual work plans, and target programmatic resources to support the start up, expansion and retention of firms and major institutions.
Identification of specific projects or activities will vary from one part of the City to another, depending on the circumstances within a particular geographic area.