The Bellevue City Council recently met to review progress on the 2025 Economic Development Plan. The discussion focused on data and community feedback that will help shape how the city grows economically in the coming years.
According to the City of Bellevue, the city has added more than 10,000 jobs between 2018 and 2023. During that same period, median household income rose by about 39%. Downtown Bellevue also saw about 4.3 million square feet of new office space built over those years.
Another insight from the city’s Economic Profile showed that since 2000, Bellevue has consistently grown its job base by about 1.12% per year. City projections estimate nearly 193,000 jobs by 2035.
The plan update includes feedback from residents, business owners, and local organizations. Staff said they’re analyzing which industries—like technology, retail, tourism, and professional services—are expanding, and how to support businesses that may struggle to keep up with growth. Housing demand and affordable housing were also raised as important issues to address in the updated plan.
At the meeting, the council approved several projects and funding decisions. These included:
- $7.25 million for the Northwest Bellevue Walkways and Safety Improvement Project to make it easier and safer for people to walk in that area.
- $1.7 million for road and sidewalk repairs throughout the city.
- About $1.46 million to buy a new fire engine.
- Nearly $400,000 in state funds for work on regional stormwater and detention facilities.
- An additional $69,000 in federal funding to support commuter programs, including school-pooling.
The council also agreed to adjust some boundary lines with Kirkland. This will make it clearer which city is responsible for certain areas, such as the South Kirkland Park & Ride and streets near NE 38th Place and 108th Avenue NE.
Next steps for the Economic Development Plan update include gathering more community feedback and drafting final strategies. The council expects to review a full draft of the updated plan before the end of 2025.
