A strong economy is essential to a thriving city. As mayor, I am committed to making Tacoma a place where businesses grow, families prosper, and everyone can find meaningful work. By building on Tacoma’s unique strengths and assets, including its commitment to sustainability, we can create a vibrant economy that supports good-paying jobs and positions Tacoma as a leader in innovation and opportunity.
Tacoma is home to major economic drivers like the Port of Tacoma and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. These assets make us a hub for logistics, trade, and innovation. But we can go further. We have the opportunity to transform Tacoma into a center for advanced manufacturing and green technologies. By aligning with the Tacoma Green Economy Strategy, we can grow industries like renewable energy, sustainable construction, and resource-sharing initiatives that reduce waste while creating jobs—this kind of transformation benefits not just businesses but every city resident.
Our downtown is another essential part of Tacoma’s future. With assets like the University of Washington Tacoma, museums, theaters, and the waterfront, we have the foundation for a vibrant and dynamic downtown core. From the Tacoma Dome to the waterfront, we can build a downtown where people want to live, work, and spend their time. Revitalizing downtown will take a mix of creative thinking, public-private partnerships, and targeted investments to create an environment that drives economic activity and fosters community.
Supporting local businesses is also key to our city’s success. Tacoma’s economy thrives when our local businesses do. Instead of focusing solely on attracting outside companies, we must help the businesses already here grow and succeed. Whether it’s small businesses expanding to mid-sized operations or mid-sized companies reaching new markets, we need to create an environment where Tacoma’s businesses can grow, invest, and hire locally.
Our economic growth must also be inclusive. It’s not enough to create jobs—we must ensure our workforce is ready to fill them. By partnering with schools, higher education institutions, workforce development organizations, and trade unions, we can ensure Tacoma residents have the training and skills needed to access the opportunities available in our city.
If elected mayor, I will focus on three key priorities to strengthen Tacoma’s economy:
- Supporting and Growing Local Businesses: Provide resources, reduce barriers, and leverage our city’s unique assets, like the Port and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, to help Tacoma’s businesses grow and thrive.
- Building a Skilled and Ready Workforce: Partner with schools, colleges, and workforce organizations to create pathways to meaningful careers and ensure Tacoma residents have the skills to support local businesses and industries.
- Revitalizing Downtown: Transform downtown Tacoma into a vibrant, walkable district where people want to live, work, and spend time while investing in entertainment, public transit, and business growth to make it a regional destination.
A Vision for Tacoma’s Future
By focusing on these priorities—supporting local businesses, building a skilled workforce, and revitalizing downtown—we can create an economy that works for everyone. A thriving economy strengthens our neighborhoods, attracts investment, and makes Tacoma a place where families and businesses can succeed together.
As mayor, I will work tirelessly to ensure Tacoma is a city where opportunity is abundant, innovation drives progress, and everyone has a chance to thrive. A stronger economy means a stronger Tacoma—a city that works for everyone.
