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OneRedmond tells council it exceeded contract metrics in 2024, highlights small-business support
Summary
OneRedmond CEO Christina Hudson reported to the Redmond City Council that the public–private economic development partnership exceeded its 2024 contract metrics on business visits and advising, described events and programs delivered, and outlined work with partners on workforce, small-business resiliency grants and the Redmond Space District.
OneRedmond CEO Christina Hudson reported to the Redmond City Council on March 18 that the nonprofit economic development partnership exceeded several contract targets in 2024 while delivering events, technical assistance and outreach to local employers.
Hudson said OneRedmond conducted business visits and outreach that reached 164 businesses, surpassing the contract metric of at least 100, and provided advising services to 110 businesses against a contracted target of 50. "We're the only public private economic development partnership in East King County," Hudson said, describing OneRedmond's mix of business retention, recruitment and community programming.
The presentation summarized services delivered to categories including professional and technical services, accommodation and food services, arts and entertainment, and retail. Hudson listed top concerns reported by businesses in 2024 as displacement, crime, affordable housing and rising costs. The organization hosted monthly industry-cluster meetings (including for the hotel sector and companies in the Redmond Space District), supported 18 business recruitment inquiries, and connected employers with city staff on zoning and permitting questions.
OneRedmond also described events and noncontract activities that it said amplified economic development work: the group reported more than 1,500 attendees across signature events and said its digital channels generated about 3.74 million impressions. Hudson noted support for the Redmond Small Business Resiliency Grant program (which she said closed in January 2024) and said awardees included 38 minority-owned, 18 immigrant-owned and 60 women-owned businesses. She also described small-business workshops held in November 2024 and a Washington State microenterprise grant-funded webinar series that served 238 businesses.
Council members thanked Hudson and asked follow-up questions about OneRedmond's revenue sources and how the organization measures outcomes beyond outputs. Councilmember Fields asked how OneRedmond evaluates outcomes versus outputs; Hudson described weekly coordination with city staff and individualized support for recruitment and expansion cases and said the team uses those conversations to refine strategy. Councilmember Kritzker and Vice President Forsyth both praised the organization’s work and requested follow-up on specific items Hudson referenced, including childcare convening details and programmatic outcomes for the recording-studio music program.
Hudson said OneRedmond partners with nearby cities (Bellevue, Kirkland and Bothell), receives grant funding such as a Washington State microenterprise association grant for some programming, and leverages private-sector sponsorship and regional collaborations. She closed by offering to provide additional details to council and staff.
The presentation was informational; no council action was taken on the report.
Ending: Hudson provided contact information and told council members she would follow up on specific program questions; council members requested additional details on program outcomes and the childcare convening.
