Welcome to Downtown!
Ignite Meeting Logo

Our Economic Vitality Committee holds IGNITE! meetings about every other month that features guest speakers on topics of interest to small business owners. These are great opportunities to meet with members of the Renton Downtown Partnership and other small business owners and managers from downtown Renton.

If you are a downtown Renton business owner, you can register to attend these meetings by emailing [email protected]. To stay in the loop about future IGNITE! meetings, you can add your email to our communications list here. If you have questions or thoughts about the IGNITE! meetings you would like to discuss, please call or text us at (678) 7-IGNITE.

Upcoming Meetings

IGNITE! meetings will be back in 2023 with more speakers, engaging topics, and networking opportunities!

Past Meetings

June 2022

On June 14th, several guest speakers discussed ways to grow your business and refresh your storefront. Sue Bollinger, RDP Economic Vitality Chairperson, covered an opportunity from the Economic Vitality Committee to help update or create your Google Business Profile and get you on Google maps. Steven Burke, SBDC Business Advisor, talked about the no-cost resources offered by the SBDC to small business owners. Puget Sound Energy Outreach Coordinator Zach Kaija presented on the FREE small business energy assessment, no- to low-cost energy upgrades, and other programs for small businesses from PSE. And finally, RDP Executive Director Christian Switzer briefly discussed refreshing your storefront to attract more customers and increase sales.

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Sandra Havlik

May 2022

Sandra Havlik, the Communications & Engagement Coordinator/PIO for the Renton Police Department, came back to talk with us on May 17th. She discussed the topic of crime prevention through environmental design and the tools that the Renton Police Department use to make recommendations for increasing safety in both business and residential areas.

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April 2022

On April 12th we hosted a Main Street program presentation given by Jonelle McCoy, the Main Street Specialist from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. Topics of discussion included: using the Main Street Approach to revitalize Downtown Renton, why it's so important and beneficial for Downtown Renton to become a Main Street Community, and what the Renton Downtown Partnership is doing to achieve this goal. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet and have their questions answered by our new Executive Director, Christian Switzer!

March 2022

Sgt. Morgan and CPC Sandra Havlik from the Renton Police Department discussed what is being done in relation to crime and safety in downtown Renton and answered questions from the audience of downtown Renton business owners. Some topics of discussion were the emphasis of efforts put in place by Chief Jon Schuldt for the downtown, the Business Watch program, the benefits of filling out a Business Trespass Authorization form, and the possible lifting of restrictions when it comes to pursuing a subject, vehicle, or detaining to investigate a potential crime.

Resources:

  • Business Watch Program– a free crime prevention program that encourages an active collaboration between business owners and the police to help reduce crime
  • Business Trespass Authorization form– will authorize the police to go on the property on the owner’s behalf and remove any unwanted individuals that have no legitimate purpose to be there
  • Renton Citizen Camera Registration program– new crime prevention program which will allow residents and business owners to help solve crime and assist in lowering incidents of criminal activity
Shawn Palmer

February 2022

February’s presenter was Shawn Palmer, a Small Business Development Center (WSBDC) Business Advisor with OneRedmond & OneEastside. Shawn gave a presentation and answered questions on How to Optimize Your Pricing Strategy to Maximize Profits. You can register to rewatch February’s presentation on OneEastside’s website at https://oneeastside.org/program/pricing-strategies/. You can also contact Shawn for a no-cost, one-on-one advising appointment, by emailing [email protected] or calling (425) 885-4014, option #3.

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