![]() |
OED NewsEconomic impact study reveals the importance of manufacturing in SeattleA new study commissioned by the Office of Economic Development and the Department of Planning and Development confirms the importance of manufacturing in the Seattle economy. The Basic Industries Economic Impact Analysis addresses the economic impact of Seattle's Basic Industries, which include industrial and maritime businesses that lead exports from the region and serve the region with supplies and industrial service. These industries offer job growth potential; provide accessible, family wage jobs; fit with Seattle's comparative advantages; and contribute significantly to the City's tax base. The study found that manufacturing jobs in Seattle grew by 10 percent from 2005 to 2008, adding nearly 8,300 positions, while the nation lost nearly 5 percent of its manufacturing jobs during the same time period. According to the study, industrial businesses make up almost one fifth (18 percent) of Seattle's total job base and are critical in maintaining a balanced local and regional economy. Click here to download the full study. August 7, 2009 Mayor kicks Kicks Off 2009 Summer Jobs ProgramMayor Greg Nickels announced today that funds from the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative will help the city put 650 young people to work this summer, engaging them in positive and productive jobs. This summer’s employment program will significantly increase the number of participating youth, up from 492 last summer. “One of the best ways to reduce youth violence is to show our young people new opportunities and a bright future. The city’s summer jobs program will give hundreds of young people new skills and help put them on the right path,” said Nickels. Click here to view the full press release. June 24, 2009 Seattle Ranked North America's #2 High-tech CenterIn a new report by the Milken Institute, Seattle is ranked as North America's second most innovative and economically vibrant high-tech center. The study noted that cities with strong high-tech bases will perform best as the economy recovers because the jobs generated by these fields pay so well. The report is an update to the Institute’s 1999 publication, America's High-Tech Economy: Growth, Development and Risks for Metropolitan Areas, a groundbreaking study that was one of the first to show the importance of high-tech industry to regional economic growth. Click here to go to the Milken Institute's website and download the entire report. June 2, 2009 Mayor Announces Awards to Help 22 Neighborhood Business Districts City investments in Seattle neighborhoods help small businessesToday Mayor Greg Nickels presented funding awards totaling $128,384 to 22 Neighborhood Business District Associations throughout Seattle to continue the city’s investments in building healthy communities and supporting our local economy. Click here to read the full press release. May 21, 2009 Seattle Tops National Magazine's List of CitiesSeattle has been named City of the Year on Fast Company’s 2009 ranking of “Fast Cities.” Editors cited Seattle’s “smarts, foresight, social consciousness, and creative ferment” as the ingredients that made it tops this year - “ingredients that we believe will bring our communities - and country - back to prosperity.”
Click here for the full press release from Mayor Nickels. April 21, 2009 Seattle Ranked #3 Best Metro to Start Small BusinessAccording to a February 2009 bizjournals.com (parent company of Puget Sound Business Journal) study, Seattle ranks third in small business vitality, putting it just behind Raleigh and Charlotte, NC and just ahead of Austin and Boise. The highest scores in bizjournals' study went to areas that have prosperous economies, are expanding rapidly, and are densely packed with small businesses. The accompanying story noted “Seattle enjoys a strong concentration of small businesses, 29.44 for every 1,000 residents. That’s 20 percent better than the average for America’s 100 largest markets (24.57 per 1,000), a nice cushion against tough times ahead.”
Mayor highlights McKinstry expansion; 500 new jobs expected
Mayor Greg Nickels presented McKinstry Company with a permit and approved plans for an expansion of its Georgetown facility in south Seattle. The company expects to hire an additional 500 people, a combination of professional and union craftsman, in the next two to three years. McKinstry is a construction and engineering firm, specializing in energy efficiency.
Seattle Rankings
Economic & Demographic DataFor more information about Seattle demographic databases, visit OED's Economic and Demographic Data page or Site Selection Assistance page. |
| Business Owners | Business Districts | Key Industries | News & Resources |