SULTAN — Searching for ways to help with the city’s money woes, city officials and business people landed on a unique idea: Hold a photo contest.
Photos would show people what a nice place Sultan is to do business in.
The contest is open to everyone who lives in the Skykomish Valley.
Winners will get “Sultan Bucks,” gift certificates that can be used at some Sultan businesses.
The photos could be used on the city’s new economic development Web page, which is intended to entice small businesses and tourists to this city of 4,500 people.
Sultan has few businesses that generate sales tax revenue for the city. People often do shopping in Monroe, located six miles west of Sultan. Monroe, population 16,000, has more stores and entertainment attractions than Sultan.
Looking at the smaller city’s financial problems earlier this year, a Monroe city councilman even suggested that Monroe annex Sultan.
The photo contest could do a little to help Sultan change the tide.
“I totally support this idea,” said Carolyn Eslick, Sultan’s mayor-elect. “The city has never had an economic development page. By having the page, it puts us up front.”
Earlier this year, city officials learned that the city’s general fund would be about $450,000 short, partly because the city didn’t receive forecast revenue from building permit fees.
Sultan officials recently discussed how to upgrade the city’s Web site as part of an effort to attract and retain businesses.
They agreed they need good photos to reflect opportunities for businesses in Sultan, said Donna Murphy, the city’s grants and economic development coordinator.
There was one hitch, however.
It’s the dead of winter. Wet and gloomy, there is something about the season that just doesn’t say, “Hey, you have a bright future here.”
So the Sultan Economic Development Board, which is made up of local business leaders, decided that the city could use winners of its regular scenic photo contest in January for the city’s Web site.
The contest will be open to photos taken earlier when the weather was better.
Pretty photos alone may not entice business, Murphy said.
The new Web page will feature statistics and explain how the city can help businesses start and stay in Sultan.
“It’s going to be a combination of everything,” she said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
How to enter
People in the Skykomish Valley are invited to enter their photos for a photo contest, run by the Sultan Economic Development Board. Winning photos may be posted on the city’s Web site at www.ci.sultan.wa.us. The contest gives away “Sultan Bucks” certificates. The first-place winner gets a $100 voucher to spend at certain Sultan businesses.
The deadline to submit photos is Jan. 17 at various businesses in the city. For more information, contact Bart Dalmasso at 360-799-1222 or bart@allre-inc.com.
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