Kent economic development report highlights rising vacancy, aerospace strength and May 28 funding deadline

Bill Ellis, Kent’s chief economic development officer, updated the City Council on May 19 about local tourism efforts tied to FIFA visitors, industrial vacancy trends and a near‑term federal tax‑incentive application.

Ellis said the city is sponsoring Taste of Kent culinary tours and working with lodging‑tax dollars to direct international visitors to local restaurants and cultural sites ahead of FIFA events. On the economy, he reported Kent’s industrial vacancy rate has risen to a little over 10% while the Kent Valley’s most recent figure sits around 9.7%; he said the valley contributes substantially to statewide economic output and accounts for a large share of Washington’s aerospace manufacturing workforce.

Ellis described a competitive state and federal tax‑incentive designation with a May 28 application deadline. The program awards points based on community need, policy alignment and project readiness; Ellis said the city is collecting letters of support, engaging Opportunity Zone fund managers and identifying at least three projects per eligible census tract to demonstrate readiness. He cautioned the program will be highly competitive and that the governor will choose only a small number of tracks statewide.

Ellis also recognized Michelle Wilmont for a regional aerospace award and flagged continued conversation about workforce pipelines and the possibility of forming a Washington State Space Commission to support aerospace education and talent development.

Council members asked follow‑up questions and congratulated staff and partners on outreach and recognition work.