Shoreline unveils draft five-year economic development strategy; council urges focus on small business and place-making

City economic-development staff presented a draft five-year economic development strategy to the Shoreline City Council on June 23, detailing six interrelated focus areas intended to translate the comprehensive plan’s 20-year goals into near-term actions.

Esteban Daum, who led the presentation, said the strategy "sets the next 5 years" and is grounded in the comprehensive plan, the newly adopted city strategic plan and resident input. Staff highlighted the city’s planning assumptions — 13,000 new housing units and an aspirational goal of 10,000 new jobs over the 20-year planning horizon — and said the five-year strategy will focus on smaller-scale actions to support local business, placemaking and jobs closer to home.

The strategy emphasizes small-business supports as foundational, including expanding partnerships with the Washington Small Business Development Center, exploring use…