Translate
Business retention and expansion
In partnership with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, we support local businesses so they stay, grow, and thrive in King County — because a strong existing base is the foundation of an inclusive and resilient economy.
Why we focus on retention and expansion
Businesses already rooted in our region are more than job-creators — they are community anchors, innovation engines, and supply-chain partners. By helping them deepen their operations, hire locally, and expand strategically, we reinforce stability, elevate equity outcomes, and strengthen King County’s competitiveness.
- Preserve and grow jobs where they already exist.
- Strengthen regional supply chains and local sourcing.
- Advance equity by supporting under-represented business owners, improving access to capital, and scaling inclusive practices.
- Enhance competitiveness by helping businesses stay agile, adopt new technologies, and connect to new markets.
Our services for established firms
Working alongside the Seattle Metro Chamber, our team offers a full suite of support services geared to businesses in retention or expansion mode:
Strategic business consultation
One-on-one engagements to assess growth opportunities, operational bottlenecks, and market shifts.
Workforce and training alignment
Coordination with local workforce boards and training providers to align talent pipelines with your expansion needs.
Access to capital and incentives
Guidance through funding programs, tax-credits, loan-guarantees and incentive packages to support growth.
Real estate and site assistance
Helping you evaluate facility options, expansion space, relocation within the region, or re-tooling existing sites.
Supply-chain and procurement connections
Identifying local suppliers, building new partnerships, and strengthening linkages to anchor industries.
Equity and community integration planning
Supporting inclusive hiring, supplier-diversity programs, and community benefit strategies — because growth should lift all communities.
Key sectors and strategic priorities
We focus on industries where King County offers a competitive advantage and where growth can yield meaningful equity and inclusion outcomes:
- Advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and mobility
- Life sciences, biotech and health innovations
- Creative economy, media production, and digital content
- Clean tech, sustainability, and circular-economy enterprises
- Food-systems innovation, agri-tech, and regional supply-chain growth
- Global trade and logistics hubs, especially with the Pacific Rim
The equity engine: Community Business Connector program
A cornerstone of our business retention and expansion strategy is the Community Business Connector (CBC) program—an innovative equity initiative designed to reduce systemic barriers and ensure all businesses can access growth supports. The CBC program offers trusted liaison support to small businesses—especially those in historically underserved communities—linking them with funding, technical assistance, regulatory guidance, and culturally responsive outreach.
Launched as a partnership among the Seattle Metro Chamber, Port of Seattle and King County, the CBC program has reached hundreds of BIPOC-owned businesses, funded community‐based Connectors, and earned recognition for diversity, equity and inclusion. Find more information about the CBC program at Seattle Metro Chamber
How our partnership model works
Our collaboration with the Seattle Metro Chamber ensures a streamlined, region-wide approach to retention and expansion:
Unified intake process
Businesses connect once and are quickly routed to the right support team—whether at the County, Chamber, or a community-based partner.
Coordinated follow-through
Partners share data and insights to ensure businesses get timely, responsive help without redundancy or delay.
After-care and retention support
We provide post-expansion check-ins to ensure long-term success, stability, and ongoing connection to County programs.