Published January 14 2015
The city's recently-hired economic development director was part of a staff team that provided a quarterly update on efforts to implement an economic development plan the City Council adopted last July.
James Henderson, who was born and raised in Bellevue, told the council on Monday that he has spent the past two decades working in Washington D.C., Europe and, most recently, in San Antonio. After an opening slide featuring his Bellevue High School yearbook photo -- and some good-natured ribbing -- Henderson and his Planning Department colleagues recapped recent economic development efforts. They include:
- Cultivating the next generation of technology entrepreneurs: Two startup incubators have launched in Bellevue in recent weeks. Impact Hub, which opened its doors in underutilized, city-owned space at Lincoln Center, just east of downtown, now has 40 members and eight businesses. ExtraSlice, a co-working space that opened in late December in the Bel-Red area, has 15 new members and five startup companies;
- Attracting foreign investors, employers and institutions: Bellevue is part of a regional working group developing a trade strategy to promote local exports and attract foreign direct investment in the Puget Sound region;
- Strengthening tourism: City officials are working with Visit Bellevue, a tourism marketing campaign in partnership with the Meydenbauer Center and other organizations. With new downtown hotels proposed or under construction, a market study could help to generate more visits by tourists;
- Creating an economic development marketing campaign: Henderson said he has met with counterparts in Redmond and Kirkland to discuss the possibility of a jointly marketing the Eastside for economic development opportunities; and
- High-speed connectivity: A city team from multiple departments is working with private partners to provide more high-speed internet service to residents and businesses.
More information on the quarterly economic development update is available.