Tacoma proudly welcomes Tall Ships
Thousands of local, national and international visitors will ascend upon Tacoma today and throughout the weekend for the 2008 Tall Ships Tacoma festival on Commencement Bay and the Thea Foss Waterway.
Experience the charm and romance of the 31 ships along with the fun and excitement of the festival.
The Parade of Sails, the grand arrival of the ships, will run today from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This year’s festival also includes three themed villages, with music, food, merchandise and activities for all ages, as well as ships to view from the shore.
More adventure awaits if you purchase a boarding pass to tour the ships. Advance tickets are available online or at Freighthouse Square, 2501 E. D St.
For more information, visit the 2008 Tall Ships Tacoma Web site.
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Downtown Tacoma organizations give Tall Ships attendees another way to celebrate
FreeTacomaProject, UrbanXchange, the Downtown Tacoma Merchants Group, Go Local! Tacoma and TwoKoi have coordinated free festivities to welcome Tall Ships, including a Shore Leave Kickoff Party at 7:30 p.m. in Tellefson Plaza, 17th Street and Pacific Avenue, featuring a captain’s parade, live music and chalk artists. On July 5, Lanterna Magica will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Pythian Temple, 926 Broadway. Then, on July 6, Kimya Dawson will perform at 5 p.m. for a free concert in Fireman’s Park, 803 A St.
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Freedom Fair lights up Ruston Way
Ruston Way will be filled to the brim for Freedom Fair, Tacoma’s 4th of July extravaganza, including live music, kids entertainment, open-air markets, food courts, pole vault competitions, army landing craft rides, a high-flying air show, a classic car show, military exhibits and more. The day will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display beginning at approximately 10 p.m. For additional information, visit the Freedom Fair Web site.
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TacomaOpolis shows off the city’s underground art scene
Connecting with Tacoma’s artist scene will be a cinch this weekend thanks to TacomaOpolis, an underground art and fashion event taking place from 8 to 11 p.m. on July 5 at 711 Court C in downtown Tacoma. This event will bring together artists, musicians and fashion designers for an organic, progressive evening of interactive exhibits and performances. Tickets are $18, which will benefit two of Tacoma’s independent art galleries, The Helm and Fulcrum. For more information, call (253) 549-6400.
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Tacoma in the News: Outside Magazine adds Tacoma to thier 2008 Best Towns list
The August edition of Outside Magazine has named Tacoma to their 2008 Best Towns list.
The write up that goes with this recognition includes eloquent descriptions of so many of Tacoma's fine attributes, including our revival, University of Washington Tacoma, Union Station, theaters and museums, arts, Titlow Beach, Commencement Bay, 6th Avenue, the Thea Foss Waterway and Point Defiance Park.
Copies of Outside Magazine are available at Borders, Barnes and Noble and REI. For more information, visit Outside Magazine's Web site.
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City Council designates International Financial Services Area
On June 17, members of the City Council approved a resolution to designate a International Financial Services Area (IFSA) as a special emphasis area within the Downtown Commercial Core Zone; requesting the City Manager to develop and report on recommendations for the expansion, retention, and recruitment of international financial services businesses in the IFSA; and stating the Council's intent to request that the Planning Commission evaluate existing downtown zoning regulations with the intent of facilitating international financial services business development.
The IFSA is defined as the portion of downtown Tacoma between, and defined roughly by, the parcels on the north side of South 8th Street and the south side of 15th Street; and by the west side of Commerce Street and 1-705 on the east, along with any contiguous parcels.
The City will establish services and incentives that serve to further investment potential within this industry cluster, including a phase out of the Business and Occupation tax for the International Financial Management classification of companies. Financial services are services such as banking, loan, security, investment management and investment advisory, mortgage servicing, contract collection, and finance leasing services engaged in by financial businesses or businesses similar to or in competition with financial business.
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City delivers Local Infrastructure Financing Tool application
The City of Tacoma recently submitted an application to compete for Washington State’s Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT) funding. This application is now available for viewing at www.cityoftacoma.org/rda.
The Tacoma City Council has approved a Revenue Development Area (RDA) in downtown Tacoma as a step in the process for the City of Tacoma to apply for LIFT funding.
Through LIFT, up to $1 million a year in state funds over 25 years may be invested in infrastructure improvements within the RDA. Tacoma is competing with approximately 21 other communities for this funding and Washington State’s Community Economic Revitalization Board is anticipated to award LIFT funds to three communities by the end of September.
For more information regarding LIFT and the RDA, including Tacoma’s application and appendix and a map of the proposed downtown Tacoma area, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/rda.
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Developers invited to apply for $12 million in federal tax deductions
Developers eyeing projects in Tacoma can apply for Tacoma’s Commercial Revitalization Deduction (CRD) allocation. The $12 million allocation of federal tax deductions will be distributed among projects located in the Renewal Community Zone—an area that covers most of Tacoma’s downtown core, the Port area, Upper Tacoma and a portion of the city’s East side.
To qualify, projects must be new construction or a substantially rehabilitated structure and must create space for new jobs. The maximum allocation per project is $10 million. Some projects may be eligible for an accelerated depreciation schedule, resulting in a reduced federal tax bill and an increased ability to make a project “pencil.” The financial relief comes early in the process when projects incur the most expenses.
For more information, visit the City of Tacoma’s news release.
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Connect with Broadway LID project updates
Now that the Broadway LID project is underway, community members can connect with helpful construction updates via e-mail and the City’s Web site. To subscribe to e-mail updates, send a message to karrie.spitzer@cityoftacoma.org, view the updates when you wish through the project Web site, www.cityoftacoma.org/broadwaylid, or call the construction hotline: (253) 591-5951.
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Don’t miss these upcoming Tacoma events
• Art on the Ave., a celebration of art and music, taking place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 13 on 6th Avenue between Cedar and Trafton streets.
• Zoobilee, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium’s black-tie fundraiser, occuring from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on July 18 inside the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, 5400 N. Pearl St., Ruston.
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C.E.D. wishes you well on the 4th of July
The Community and Economic Development Department sincerely hopes that you have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend. With so much to do in our fair city this weekend, we have no doubt that fun will be had by all.
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