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Kenmore highlights wayfinding signs, FindKenmore refresh and Port of Seattle grant-backed shopping pass
Summary
City staff described a tourism-regeneration grant and Port of Seattle partnership that funded three art‑topped wayfinding signposts, upgrades to findkenmore.org and a digital shopping pass pilot (about 200 signups) with local business partners and the Bothell‑Kenmore Chamber.
Nicole Suarez, the city's community and business engagement coordinator, updated the council on completed and upcoming economic‑development and tourism projects funded through state and Port of Seattle programs.
Suarez said Kenmore received a Tourism Regeneration grant (funding flowed from the U.S. Department of Commerce via state tourism) to install three artistic wayfinding signposts in locations chosen to highlight local amenities: Downtown Kenmore (east side of the Hanger Building), the south end of the West Sammamish River trail and the corner of 522 and 73rd. The signs include neighborhood map panels and directional arrows designed to complement city sign standards.
She described a multi‑year partnership with the Port of Seattle (Kenmore's allocation roughly $24,003.50 per year under the Port's per‑capita program) and said that Port funds were used for place‑making and tourism projects. Suarez showed updates to FindKenmore.org, including new shop pages for pop‑up vendors and a digital shopping‑pass pilot launched in December 2025 in partnership with the Bothell‑Kenmore Chamber. "We had over 200 people sign up for these passes," Suarez said, describing increased traffic to participating small businesses.
Suarez said the city is planning a FIFA World Cup experience pass to promote parks and local businesses during the tournament and is placing ads in state tourism publications. She also noted a business‑support program that reallocates general budget funds into local projects chosen through the Kenmore Business Alliance's strategic voting process.
Why it matters: The projects aim to support small businesses, improve wayfinding for visitors and leverage external funding so the city does not use general fund dollars for marketing.
Next steps: Staff will continue to promote FindKenmore, expand content and coordinate event‑specific passes and kiosk use at the Hanger Building.
