Choose Auburn! To Start, Grow or Relocate Your Business

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2010

Contact:
Kevin Snyder, Planning & Development Director
City of Auburn
253-876-1982
ksnyder@auburnwa.gov

AUBURN, Wash. – December 10, 2010 – Choose Auburn! if you are planning to start, grow or relocate your business. With the launch earlier in the year of its new Customer Service Center, a laser-like focus on meeting client timelines and expectations and a commitment to problem-solving and newly designed economic development online service portal (www.auburnwa.gov/ecdev) Mayor Peter Lewis, staff and business partners are working over time to support and attract existing and new businesses. The goal of these efforts is to cement the city of Auburn as the preferred place in the Puget Sound to open or expand a business.

"The launching of the new Economic Development website is a great addition, highlighting the strong partnership between the City of Auburn and the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce, by creating the desire for businesses to locate here over any other city in our region,”stated Nancy E. Wyatt, President & COO of the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce.

Over the last year, the City has taken a critical look at how it does its regulator job and has identified and implemented process and code changes that make working with the City even easier. The City has invested in significant customer service training for its staff from Directors to front counter staff, with the goal of making sure that staff are asking the right questions, meeting client needs and problem-solving continuously. The City knows that the best measure of how it performs is when it has helped its clients succeed.

Mayor Pete Lewis believes it all starts with attitude. “While we are government and have to follow rules and regulations that the private sector doesn’t, we don’t have to act like government. We are committed to giving our clients consistent and high quality customer service. We know that they have a choice when they are deciding to open or expand their business. We want to give them every reason to only think about doing this in Auburn,” says Lewis.

Besides great City service, why else would you choose Auburn for your business to grow or start? Here are a few reasons:

• Auburn is the 14th largest city in Washington* with a current population of over 68,000 and a service area of over a quarter of a million people.
• Auburn is at the crossroads of the regional transportation network comprised of State Routes 167 and 18. Interstate 5, with a north/south bound full interchange, is located just 3 miles west of the City limits. The City is located 15 miles from Seattle Tacoma International Airport, 15 miles from the Port of Tacoma and 20 miles from the Port of Seattle. The City also has its own general aviation airport, Auburn Municipal Airport.
• Auburn is strategically located in the heart of the Green River Valley Industrial Complex that is one of the largest concentrations of industry on the entire West Coast with over 30,000 employees and thousands of businesses.
• Auburn is home to over 4,000 large, medium and small businesses that provide business to business marketing opportunities.
• Auburn is fast becoming known as a place for green businesses to locate, grow and be successful. Several successful green businesses got their start in Auburn, and the City is working with several more to locate here. These businesses choose Auburn because of its low cost of business, proximity to transportation networks and markets, and the City’s business friendly attitude.

“Downtown Auburn is the heart of the Auburn community. Generations of family-owned and unique businesses fill its streets. Centrally located with easy freeway access and a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier, it is the place to live, work and do business,” according to Kathleen Keator, Executive Director of the Auburn Downtown Association. “Remember your downtown when you shop. Choose Auburn!”

Auburn is the center of entertainment for two counties – King and Pierce Counties. Emerald Downs, Muckleshoot Casino and the White River Amphitheater, to name a few, are all located in the Auburn community and are major regional draws. In addition, Auburn has a 1,000 seat performing arts center and the Auburn Avenue Theater, a downtown live theater venue.

So if you are thinking of starting a business or expanding your business, Choose Auburn! It is More Than You Imagined!

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City of Auburn Economic Development
25 West Main Street
Auburn, WA 98001
253-931-3041
www.auburnwa.gov/ecdev

*Population ranking based on April 1, 2010 population size from the Washington State Department of Financial Management www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/april1/default.asp.