Business View Civil and Municipal l January 2023

139 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 Todd Tatum Director of Community Services and Economic Development conveys, “It’s a real source of identity for the city of Edmonds. Our depth and breadth of creative know-how and the number of artistic businesses are really incredible.” Edmonds is also a gateway to other popular locations, such as the Olympic Peninsula, which is only a ferry ride away from the city. “People come through Edmonds, and when they see that our identity is marked by innovation and a strong support of local business it becomes very clear that Edmonds is a place that they want to visit in the future. So, we are a gateway to Washington’s broader recreational opportunities and also a destination in and of ourselves,” Tatum elaborates. Mayor Mike Nelson describes the city in three words – welcoming, charming and caring. “We are a city that is constantly putting on events, EDMONDS , WASHINGTON we have festivals, we have parades, we have car shows. We have folks come from all over and we love having visitors here. Edmonds is charming in the sense that we have very distinct neighborhoods, and our downtown is really well known for its certain character. We have very walkable streets. Our parks department and our community really emphasize beautification. Even though we’re a midsize city,when you walk around, you are always running into people you know, and finding yourself in conversations.” As for what makes Edmonds caring, he emphasizes the way the city and the community responded to COVID, stepping up to support small businesses in every way possible provides just one example. The city created a grant program which was a way for Edmonds businesses to stay afloat while customers stayed at home. Businesses with well-developed sales infrastructure