Published May 2003

Marysville plans for impact of tribal development

With the Tulalip Casino only a month away from opening, and the development of Quil Ceda Village into a regional tourism, entertainment and retail destination moving forward rapidly, it’s appropriate timing for the city of Marysville to release its 279-page economic development plan.

The new plan was presented to the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce in late April by Chief Administrative Officer Mary Swenson and the city’s economic development coordinator, Greg Young.

“We see some pretty exciting things happening,” Swenson said. “When we looked at what the Tulalip Tribes are doing, we realized, of course, that it would impact us. But we also realized our city is well positioned to partner with the tribes. Also, we need to decide how to deal with that impact.”

As Young presented some of the highlights of the plan, he noted that traffic would be one of the major impacts. But that could be one of the benefits, too, if some of the visitors to Quil Ceda Village could be drawn into the city for shopping, dining and special events, such as the Marysville Strawberry Festival.

“It’s like building an Alderwood Mall next to the city. There are going to be a lot of opportunities for Marysville. A lot of things will have synergistic effects on us,” Young said.

Since the Marysville Economic Revitalization Committee was formed in 2000, residents, city staff and elected officials have been analyzing events and setting strategic goals for developing the city in tandem with the growth of the Tulalips’ giant shopping center and business park, with its casino, hotels, convention center, retail outlet mall and amusement park.

Now, with the issuing of the Economic Development Plan and the forming of City Council, planning department, business and citizen committees and subcommittees, plans will begin forming that will shape Marysville’s future.

It’s fortunate the city’s leaders, its residents and its business community are all getting involved. It’ll be great to see what new kind of city — and city economy — they create.

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