The Office of Economic Development (OED) was created in 1972 as part of the Department of Community Development to provide information to businesses expanding or relocating in Seattle. Its main efforts consisted of business development and capital investment, business assistance and advisory services, business liaison, special projects, and research.
In 1992 the City Council reorganized the functions of the Department of Community Development and established the Economic Development Transition Project. This project was assigned responsibility to contract for services to manage the City's business loan programs and to develop and recommend a strategy for the City's economic development programs.
OED was reorganized into the Executive Department in 1993. Its assigned functions included coordination of programs and policies related to the support of a diversified economy, livable wage jobs, access to education, job training and self-employment opportunities, and increased capacity for local neighborhood revitalization. OED administered the City's business loan programs, including loans funded by Urban Development Action Grants, the Neighborhood Business Development Loan Program, Washington State Development Loan Funds, the Seattle Small Business Lenders Association, and Community Development Block Grants.
The Office negotiated and administered contracts with organizations engaged in the provision of economic development services. Additional functions included the implementation of Community Development Block Grant contracts, as well as administration of federal, state, and local grants such as Central Seattle Neighborhood Special Purpose Grants, Economic Development Administration Planning Grants, the Southeast Opportunity Fund, and the Southeast Good Neighbor Fund. OED provided staff support to the City's Industrial Development Corporation, which issued industrial revenue bonds to provide low-interest financing for private business investment in Seattle. The Office also assumed responsibility for staffing the Mayor's Small Business Task Force and administering certain contracts. The director was appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council.
Series contains correspondence, reports, brochures, and flyers for KidsPlace, a program designed to re-establish Seattle as a child-friendly city. KidsPlace was founded in 1984 by the Junior League of Seattle, the Metrocenter YMCA, and the City of Seattle. Its first program was a survey of 6750 school-age children asking them what they liked, disliked, and would change about Seattle, as well as what they would do if they were Mayor for a day. KidsPlace created a number of programs throughout Seattle, including further Mayor for a Day events and a Kids Salute. This series contains correspondence about the establishment of the program and its events, reports on the program, and correspondence from other U.S. cities seeking information and assistance on establishing their own KidsPlace programs.
Records are open to the public.
[Item and date], KidsPlace Records, Record Series 2105-03. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.