Downtown Foundation touts growth in events, social media and visitor initiatives

Jessica Self, executive director of the North Bend Downtown Foundation, briefed the council on the foundation’s promotions, events, business-support work and downtown appearance efforts on March 3.

Self listed recent successes and upcoming programming: a downtown block party (third Saturday, July 18), Trick or Treat Street, holiday events and the Real Twin Peaks weekend that drew national and international visitors. She said the foundation’s social‑media presence has grown substantially: the foundation reported roughly 3,000 Facebook followers, about 3,400 Instagram followers as of February and reported large year‑over‑year gains in views (presenter‑reported figures). She said recent fundraiser pub crawls raised $1,550 for the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank and $1,800 for Snow Valley Pet Services.

Self also described new initiatives: a printed city map and a visitor‑information kiosk planned near Tweed’s, a self‑guided historic walking tour developed with the Snoqualmie Valley Museum (with window clings and a digital guide), and a visitor booth staffed by volunteers and partners, including King County Search and Rescue materials for hikers. She asked for continued collaboration with the city and volunteers, and invited council members to follow up about ways to help.

Council members thanked the foundation. Brian Davis, board president, and others who spoke reinforced the foundation’s focus on promotions and community collaboration. The presentation was informational; no funding request or formal council action was recorded during the meeting.