New task force brings together business, labor and key industries to remove barriers to growth, foster collaboration and expand economic opportunity.
Seattle – A strong Seattle economy depends on employers who can grow and employees who can afford to stay, and it falls to this administration to make that happen.
Today, Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced the members of her Resilient Seattle Economy Task Force, established by executive order to develop strategies to strengthen and diversify Seattle’s economy.
“I’m charging this task force with identifying where the City can make connections, remove barriers and provide support within individual industries and across our economy,” said Mayor Wilson. “We need to diversify our economy while expanding opportunities for local entrepreneurs and young people.”
The task force reflects the breadth of Seattle’s economy and the workers who power it – bringing together leaders from hospitality, manufacturing, clean technology, tech and AI, maritime, small business, nightlife and the creative economy, alongside organized labor.
Members will build on the findings of the Seawall: Building a Resilient Seattle Economy report. Their recommendations will address both the distinct needs of individual industries and shared challenges affecting Seattle’s growth and competitiveness.
Resilient Seattle Economy Task Force members
- Alvertis Brooks, Executive Director, Rainier Valley Community Development Fund
- Anson Fatland, Associate Vice Provost for Innovation Strategy & Ventures, University of Washington Co-Motion
- Bill Frame, Chairman & CEO, Kidder Mathews
- Cate Bridenstine, CEO, The Imagine Institute
- Dae Shik Kim, Executive Development Producer, Spotify & Get Me Outta Here
- Donna Moodie, Chief Impact Officer, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and Founder & CEO, Marjorie Restaurants
- Jared Axelrod, Sr. Manager, Public Policy, Amazon
- Joe Nguyen, President & CEO, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
- Katie Garrow, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, MLK Labor
- Laura Clise, Founder & CEO, Intentionalist
- Marcus Lalario, Founder & CEO, Sugarshack Unlimited
- Mel Clark, President & CEO, Cleantech Alliance
- Rian Watt, Executive Director, Economic Opportunity Institute
- Ryan Calkins, President, Port of Seattle
- Shannon Braddock, President & CEO, Greater Seattle Partners
- Tammy Canavan, President & CEO, Visit Seattle
- Terrance Stevenson, Director of Industry and Community Relations, Washington Technology Industry Association
- Yifan Zhang, Managing Director, AI House
Next steps
Members of the Resilient Seattle Economy Task Force will convene this year to conduct industry-specific roundtables and listening sessions. Mayor Wilson has directed the team to deliver initial findings by February 2027.
“Seattle is at a critical moment where we must diversify our economy while retaining and growing the businesses we already have. I believe there is a shared path forward where our incredible workforce and businesses of all sizes can win,” said Beto Yarce, Director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development. “I am very excited for what this task force will discover and the actions we can take to strengthen our economic ecosystem in a way that works for everyone. We want to spread the word far and wide – Seattle is open for business.”
Early work will focus on downtown revitalization, cross-sector collaboration, business attraction and retention, and improving the process of opening and operating a business in Seattle. The task force will submit its final report and recommendations by November 2027.
What people are saying
Bill Frame, Chairman & CEO, Kidder Mathews
“Seattle is open for business, and that means every part of our economy working together. From my vantage point in commercial real estate, I see how all phases of the economy must work together and be connected at all levels and phases to be successful. When Downtown is vibrant, all businesses – large and small, housing, security/safety, office space, hospitality, labor, and tech all benefit, and when it struggles, they all feel it. The Resilient Task Force is the vehicle for us to work and plan together, on purpose, so we emerge from our current situation in a much stronger and sustainable position”.
Cate Bridenstine, CEO, The Imagine Institute
“Our economy relies on families who can go to work without worrying about the safety and wellbeing of their children. For this to happen, we need affordable, reliable, and high-quality child care, staffed by trained and fairly compensated early childhood educators. I am excited to join this task force that brings industries together to turn that shared priority into practical solutions for working families.”
Dae Shik Kim, Executive Development Producer, Spotify & Get Me Outta Here
“Seattle is a hub for creatives, from film and music to visual art, performance art, design, fashion, and more. That creative energy is one of the best tools we have to bring life back to Downtown. I’m looking forward to working with this task force to build the pathways that let our young people see themselves reflected in this industry, and prove you can be based in Seattle and build a sustainable career right here at home.”
Mel Clark, President & CEO, Cleantech Alliance
“Seattle already leads in clean technology and clean energy, with a strong technology ecosystem, research institutions, and deep talent. Recent assessments, including the Seawall report, identify clear opportunities to build on that lead. CleanTech Alliance works across the full cleantech lifecycle, from research and tech transfer to startup growth and scale-up. We look forward to working with the City and the Task Force to help clean tech companies start, grow, and scale here, and to build a clean, resilient economy for Seattle and the region.”
Randa Minkarah, Chief Operating Executive, Washington Technology Industry Association
“Seattle has long been a vital hub for entrepreneurs, grounded in a culture of innovation and creativity producing life-improving technologies. Our ability to attract and support founders is central to the city’s economic resilience, and WTIA is glad to see Mayor Wilson prioritize this work. We look forward to bringing the perspectives of Washington’s technology sector to the task force, and to working alongside leaders across our community so small and midsize businesses, innovators, and founders can start, stay, and grow here.”