With administrative support from King County Local Services, four cities and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe built a partnership to bring economic vitality to their communities and surrounding unincorporated areas. The new Snoqualmie Valley Economic Alliance will soon apply for its first federal grant.
A new alliance
Following a year of collaboration, King County, four cities, and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe have established the Snoqualmie Valley Economic Alliance. This historic intergovernmental partnership agreement will coordinate equitable support for local businesses and lead economic empowerment services across the valley.
This partnership was made possible in part from a $5.25 million allocation made by the King County Council in 2020 to help communities in unincorporated parts of the county that were hit hard by the COVID pandemic. With grants and administrative support from the county’s Department of Local Services, and in response to community requests, the county created the King County Economic Alliance in 2022 to help businesses in unincorporated areas recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
Through that program, the county’s Economic Alliance Program Manager, Anjilee Dodge, organized meetings in the Snoqualmie Valley with the cities of Carnation, Duvall, North Bend, and Snoqualmie, as well as the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe. Together, they created the Snoqualmie Valley Economic Alliance, a group built on sharing resources to bring economic strength to their communities and the surrounding unincorporated areas.
Over the past year, the four cities and the tribe each laid out their own values, goals, focus areas, and priority lists, leaning on one another for expertise and becoming a group greater than the sum of its parts. They also learned about ways to increase their chances of securing larger federal grants.
“The creation of the Snoqualmie Valley Economic Alliance is an example of how partnership across communities and governments ensures we build a welcoming community where every person can thrive,” said Executive Dow Constantine. “I am pleased that Local Services could collaborate with the cities and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe to support equitable economic development throughout the valley.”
“The most exhilarating facet of the Alliance is in witnessing a diverse array of community members unite with mutual respect, all driven by a singular goal: strengthening the Snoqualmie Valley,” said Sally Mayo, a member of the SnoValley Innovation Center Board of Directors.
“With almost 110,000 residents living in the cities, rural towns, Tribal land, and unincorporated areas of the Snoqualmie Valley, it’s important that the voices and economic interests of our community members are heard and brought together for the economic vitality of all,” said King County Councilmember Sarah Perry.
“King County’s Department of Local Services understood this when creating the Economic Alliance initiative,” Councilmember Perry added. “They are doing excellent work with each of our Valley cities, the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce, and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe to bring all voices together in an impactful way, promoting District 3’s unique economic opportunities and strengthening our communities for years to come!”
What’s next
In Spring 2024, the federal government will open grant opportunities through its Department of Agriculture. The Snoqualmie Valley Economic Alliance meets the agency’s criteria for funding and plans to apply. King County’s COVID recovery support for the program runs out in December, but Local Services will continue to provide administrative support to the group. Dodge and others are confident the relationship between these valley communities will last.
“The SnoValley Innovation Center is absolutely thrilled to have championed this effort with the support of the cities, the Tribe, and the SnoValley Chamber,” said Rob Wotton, Snoqualmie City Councilmember and President of SnoValley Innovation Center.
“The creation of the Snoqualmie Valley Economic Alliance is an example of how partnership across communities and governments ensures we build a welcoming community where every person can thrive. I am pleased that Local Services could collaborate with the cities and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe to support equitable economic development throughout the valley.”
King County Executive Dow Constantine
“With almost 110,000 residents living in the cities, rural towns, Tribal land, and unincorporated areas of the Snoqualmie Valley, it’s important that the voices and economic interests of our community members are heard and brought together for the economic vitality of all. King County’s Department of Local Services understood this when creating the Economic Alliance initiative. They are doing excellent work with each of our Valley cities, the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe to bring all voices together in an impactful way, promoting District 3’s unique economic opportunities and strengthening our communities for years to come!”
King County Councilmember Sarah Perry
“One thing we all have in common is our work in encouraging a healthy, vibrant Valley Community. Working hand-in-hand with our neighbor cities and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe through the Snoqualmie Valley Economic Alliance provides fresh perspectives and opportunities to strengthen local businesses and economic opportunities for our residents, and for all of us.”
North Bend Mayor Mary Miller
“The City of Snoqualmie is excited about this partnership opportunity with Snoqualmie Valley cities, King County, and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe to foster economic growth, green jobs, and advocacy for our roads in ways that maintain our rural character and small-town charm.”
Snoqualmie Mayor Katherine Ross
“The SnoValley Innovation Center is absolutely thrilled to have championed this effort with the support of the cities, the Tribe, and the SnoValley Chamber. Together we are going to be much more effective in helping local businesses with resources to foster responsible economic growth”
President of SnoValley Innovation Center and Snoqualmie City Councilmember Rob Wotton
“The most exhilarating facet of the Alliance is in witnessing a diverse array of community members unite with mutual respect, all driven by a singular goal: strengthening the Snoqualmie Valley.”
Sno Valley Innovation Center Board of Directors Sally Mayo
“As CEO of the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce for the past seven years, we’ve missed out on numerous opportunities due to the absence of a unified voice for the Valley. The establishment of the Snoqualmie Valley Economic Alliance now empowers us to pursue grant opportunities and speak as one collective voice to achieve greater progress and success for our community.”
SnoValley Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Coughlin
“Economic Development in one part of the Valley in turn bolsters the commerce in the rest of the Valley. Our unique communities have supported one another for years, and this MOU formalizes and strengthens this connection.”
Carnation City Manager Ana Cortez
“Sustainable economic development can only happen when leaders collaborate with community to coordinate programs, policy, and services centered around the collective wellbeing of each other and the planet. Through this historic partnership, the Snoqualmie Valley can move in unison toward reaching mutual goals and embracing shared values.”
Unincorporated King County Economic Alliance Program Manager Anjilee Dodge:
To learn more about the Unincorporated King County Economic Alliance, visit publicinput.com/ukcalliance.
King County Local 
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