Why Bellevue?

Downtown Bellevue

Downtown Bellevue is the economic and cultural heart of Seattle’s Eastside. As the home to some of the world’s most recognized brands, downtown offers a lively, live-work-play environment.

BelRed

BelRed is Bellevue’s innovation and arts district. Achored by the Global Innovation Exchange and running parallel to future light rail, this former warehouse district boasts more than 100 creative businesses and nonprofits.

Eastgate/Factoria

Eastgate/Factoria offers a traditional suburban office environment with a few twists—including a park-like atmosphere, connections to one of the largest public colleges in the state, and the Mountains-to-Sound Greenway cycling route.

Wilburton

Historically Bellevue's "auto row," Wilburton is in the middle of an ambitious redevelopment planning process. Ultimately, the live-work district could include as many as 8 million sq. ft. of residential and 6 million sq. ft. of office/medical uses, in addition to retail and hotel spaces.

Bellevue attracts talent from all over the world, and excels at producing engineering, science, technology and creative workers that become global thought leaders. With some of the highest educational attainment rates and best schools in the U.S., employers can access top talent and cutting-edge innovation.

Education

Our education system is renowned at all levels, but our world-class higher education system supports and drives our regional economy. Local institutions include:

• Four Bellevue high schools are consistently ranked in Newsweek’s Top 125.

• The premier state research university in the Northwest, with 35,000 students, University of Washington is consistently ranked one of the most innovative schools in the world.

• Northwest University prepares individuals to pursue business and management careers in technology.

• Cascadia College offers two-year and four-year degrees in technology subjects ranging from sustainable energy practices to mobile application development.

• DigiPen ranks as one of the best schools in the United States for digital arts and game design.

• The Global Innovation Exchange is a partnership with the University of Washington, Tsinghua University, and Microsoft to train tomorrow’s visionaries and tech trailblazers.

• Bellevue College opens the door of higher education to students from around the world, with degrees in technology and engineering.

With abundant transportation options, Seattle’s Eastside offers excellent, hassle-free access for your employees and clients—whether they will be commuting by foot, bike, bus, or car. Our location at the geographic center of the Puget Sound region is well connected to other parts of the region via: 

• Major federal and state highways 

• Bellevue Transit Center, served by more than 20 frequent transit routes from across the region

• Future East Link Light Rail 

• Planned bicycle infrastructure to complement existing bicycle routes

And over the next several decades, our region will invest more than $50 billion into new fast and frequent light rail lines, creating a 112-mile network rivaling cities like Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Two of these lines will be centered on Seattle’s Eastside—and the first is scheduled to open in 2023. 

Bellevue partners with TransManage and Choose Your Way Bellevue to offer comprehensive commute planning and transportation assistance programs for companies and individual employees.

The outdoors surround us, and many residents say that’s one of the best things about living here. But as one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, we also have more than our fair share of coffee shops, music venues, and boutique retailers. And as more and more people of all walks of life notice Seattle’s Eastside and the opportunities it can offer, the region has quickly become one of the most diverse areas of the Pacific Northwest.

Diversity

About one in three Bellevue residents was born outside the United States. About half identify as a person of color or ethnic minority. These diverse perspectives foster innovation and incubate new ideas. In the Bellevue, you will experience a welcoming environment, a cosmopolitan workforce, and a culture focused on global issues.

• No corporate income tax 
• No unitary tax
• No inventory tax
• No personal income tax
• No tax on interest, dividends or capital gains
• No sales or use tax on machinery and equipment used in manufacturing operations
• A state and local property tax with annual increases subject to statutory limitations
• A business and occupation (B&O) tax which is based on gross receipts 

In addition, Washington State compares favorably in per capita taxes compared to other states with significant technology sectors. Washington State also offers a range of incentives geared toward attracting and retaining businesses that will create jobs and enhance economic vitality and stability. Many of the incentives are customized to meet the needs of specific industries. Contact us for more information.

While state constitutional limitations mean that we cannot provide direct financial incentives to business, our team can still help craft a robust incentive package. Depending on the site, timeline, and other factors, the city can offer:

• Zoning incentives and density bonuses

• Multi-family tax exemption (MFTE) for new housing construction

• Streamlined permitting with single point-of-contact and ombuds assistance

• Transportation impact fee exemption for affortable housing

• Grants for transportation- or event-related expenses

Bellevue's Economic Development team can also assist with and support applications for:

• Brownfield remediation grants and state revolving loan fund

• State B&O tax credits

• Transfer of development rights (TDR) program through King County

• Career Connect Washington grants

• 4Culture grants

• Other grants, incentives, and tax credits as applicable