News
Discover what's happening in Burien and the Seattle region by reading our news and local success stories.
News Articles

5 Reasons Families Are Moving to Burien
Mar 2 2023Families are moving to Burien from throughout the Seattle-Tacoma region, the country and the world. “33 percent of our residents speak a language in addition to English at home,” said Lorraine Chachere. “We are truly a global community,” she said. So, why are people choosing to move to Burien?...

Burien’s Main Street & Downtown Recognized
Feb 23 2023Burien, Washington has an incredible downtown with the Main Street-vibe that attracts visitors from throughout the region. If you live here, you’ll love visiting downtown for the farmer’s market, or parking your car and walking between different restaurants and shops for an evening out. “People love living in Burien and...

You Belong in Burien (Here’s Why)
Feb 16 2023You belong in Burien and we would love to have you here! Burien is a welcoming and inclusive community that is incredibly diverse - both in population and lifestyle. You can live in a condo downtown and walk to shops and restaurants, live on Lake Burien, near the water with...

Burien Has a Multilingual Workforce
Feb 9 2023In Burien, 33 percent of residents speak a language in addition to English. Our multilingual workforce is ideal for supporting companies serving diverse customer populations, and for those doing business internationally. “Our diverse workforce is a true asset for international companies and those with an emphasis on Diversity, Equity and...

Site consultants - if you need help finding a location in the Pacific Northwest, Chris Craig, Economic Development Manager, is available to assist. “Burien is the prime Pacific Northwest location. We are 5 minutes from Sea-Tac International Airport, the 9th busiest in the country, and 15 minutes from Seattle, but...

The program provides matching support of up to $10,000 to non-profit destination marketing organizations (DMO’s), attractions, cities, counties, and chambers of commerce which can effectively attract out of state visitors traveling through Port facilities.
In 2023, the Port says its program will increase its emphasis on responsible outdoor tourism...

“I work one-on-one with business owners, helping them to get a business license, find a retail or office space, and make the most of their business opportunities once here,” said Lorraine Chachere, Economic Development Specialist for the City of Burien. “Burien is such a supportive community and we want to...

Burien demographic data can be obtained on our website. The Community Profile tool presents demographic information in an easy-to-read infographic format. To dive deeper into the data you are most interested in, simply click on that section to have a spreadsheet open up.
Burien, WA Demographics Report
The...

Burien, WA offers unmatched connectivity to the Pacific Northwest’s largest city - Seattle, and the country’s 9th busiest airport - Sea-Tac International. “Burien is in the perfect location because we have immediate access to the airport, light rail and public transportation, and two freeways that are rarely backed up. One...

Small business owners are setting up shop in Burien’s walkable downtown. “Local retailers, restaurants, and bars are clustered in our downtown, making it a regional destination,” said Lorraine Chachere, Economic Development Specialist for the City of Burien. “You can park and walk from one shop to the next, grab dinner...

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the 9th busiest airport in the United States and Burien is 5 minutes from the airport. Connected via 518 (a local freeway), airport passengers can hop on a shuttle and reach Burien’s walkable downtown within minutes. Burien has one of the most walkable downtowns in the...

Tech startups and growing tech companies looking for a location near Seattle, should consider Burien. The advantages of locating in Burien include:
28.8 percent lower utility costs
22.5 percent more affordable than Seattle
1 Gbps broadband and download speeds
Burien is only 15 minutes from Seattle,...

STOREFRONT REPAIR GRANT PROGRAM LAUNCHED
Dec 19 2022The City of Burien is launching a new grant program to mitigate financial hardship and support the economic recovery of small businesses that have experienced property damage to their storefronts.
Through the Storefront Repair Grant Program, small businesses can apply for grant funding up to $1,000 to help cover...

Burien Has Space for the Arts: Create Here
Dec 15 2022Located immediately south of Seattle, Burien is a creative and diverse community with room for the arts. Our city’s support of the arts is legendary. Just ask Dr. Anthony Spain, Music Director for the Northwest Symphony Orchestra. “Burien is attractive for artists because it’s growing, developing its identity and there...

Follow the City of Burien, and our Economic Development team, on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest business and development news. Burien is full of opportunities for businesses, developers and investors looking to grow in the Seattle region. We are also a close and inclusive community, where everyone has a...

State Broadband Office offers $120 million in grants to build “last mile” infrastructure
Nov 28 2022OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Broadband Office is accepting applications now through January 17, 2023 for grants of up to $12 million each for broadband infrastructure construction projects. With $120 million available, the grants target “unserved” areas – defined as areas lacking access to reliable wireline connection service at...

Department of Commerce announces $32.5 million in grants from new Small Business Innovation Fund
Nov 21 2022OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced 22 projects conditionally awarded Small Business Innovation Fund (SBIF) grants ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. The total $32.5 million awarded will fund a variety of activities, including:
small business incubators and accelerators,
support for local procurement...

“It’s a Wonderful Burien” Event Series Encourages Community to Celebrate and Shop Local in Burien
Nov 15 2022The City of Burien is proud to announce the return of “It’s a Wonderful Burien”, an annual campaign encouraging community members to celebrate the holidays locally by supporting local businesses, arts organizations, and local artists. Winter lights will illuminate Town Square Park every night in December, inspiring people to...

Latinos in south King County now have more spaces to find educational resources, labor programs, and community.
The Latino Civic Alliance and Casa Latina nonprofits each have new locations south of Seattle. Both cited the move in part due to the growing Latino communities that are being priced out...

To Nancy Salguero McKay, Executive Director of the Highline Heritage Museum, having the museum be located in Burien made a lot of sense (The Highline area includes the cities of Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and White Center). To her, Burien has always been a vibrant, dynamic town. “Burien is always evolving,...

Entrepreneur Builds Two Companies in Burien
Jul 7 2022For 25 years, Michael Johnson has been straddling the fence between two industries - accounting and entertainment. Over the years, he has helped artists and musicians with bookkeeping, tax return filings, and other accounting needs. And he gets huge satisfaction in getting systems to perform as best as they can...

City of Burien Achieves Aa1 Bond Rating
Feb 21 2022City of Burien Achieves Aa1 Bond Rating
New Rating Will Save City in Excess of $1.2 Million On Debt Interest Over Ten Years
Burien, WA, September 29, 2021—The City of Burien has had its bond rating upgraded to its highest level yet, from “Aa2” to “Aa1”, after...