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List of Public Development Authorities (PDAs)


This page lists all current and some former public development authorities (PDAs), also known as public corporations, in Washington State that MRSC is aware of, as well as the purposes for which they were created and selected establishing ordinances. This information is primarily drawn from reports from the State Auditor's Office. Please contact MRSC if you notice any errors or omissions.

For a general overview of public development authorities, see our page on Public Development Authorities (PDAs).

Adams County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Ritzville Public Development Authority 2001-present To facilitate economic development in the city. Ritzville City Code Ch. 1.45
Washtucna Public Development Authority 2002-present To promote economic development. Washtucna Ordinance No. 202

Chelan County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Mission Ridge Public Development Authority 2000-?? (dissolved) To buy and operate the Mission Ridge ski area. (Purchase did not occur.) Chelan County Code Ch. 1.286

Clallam County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Hurricane Ridge Public Development Authority 2000-2006 To acquire and manage National Park Service’s Hurricane Ridge Lodge and ski facility.  
Port Angeles Harbor Works Public Development Authority 2008-2010 To clean up and redevelop the Rayonier Mill property and assess hazardous waste and potential remediation measures in Port Angeles Harbor.  

Clark County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Downtown Redevelopment Authority 1997-present To oversee development and operation of a hotel and convention center in downtown Vancouver. Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 2.73
Vancouver Area Development Authority 1987-2006 To rehabilitate 21 historic houses.  
Vancouver City Center Redevelopment Authority 2006-present To facilitate the redevelopment of property in accordance with the Vancouver City Center Vision plan. Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 2.71

Cowlitz County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Longview Public Development Authority 2013-present To facilitate redevelopment within the Cowlitz County Event Center Master Plan area. Longview Ordinance No. 3255

Ferry County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Republic Public Development Authority 2003-present To operate an industrial park. Republic Municipal Code Ch. 17.16

Franklin County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Downtown Pasco Development Authority 2010-present To encourage downtown revitalization.  

Grays Harbor County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority 1986-present To build and operate a maritime museum.  
Grays Harbor Public Development Authority 1998-2013 To oversee creation of the Satsop Business Park. (Transferred assets and operation to Port of Grays Harbor in 2013.)  

Jefferson County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority 2011-present To renovate and fill underused buildings at the Fort Worden campus with educational and cultural enterprises. Port Townsend Municipal Code Ch. 2.84

King County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Bellevue Convention Center Authority 1988-present To operate the Meydenbauer Convention Center. Bellevue Ordinance No. 4092
Burke-Gilman Place Public Development Authority 1983-present To provide healthcare, education, and housing facilities. Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 3.110
Community Roots Housing 1984-present To preserve, improve, and restore affordable homes in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 3.110
Central District Community Preservation Development Authority 2019-present To preserve the unique character and history of Seattle's Central District. Created by state legislature under Ch. 43.167 RCW
Cultural Development Authority of King County (4Culture) 2002-present Evolved from Office of Cultural Resources to promote arts, heritage, historic preservation, and public art. King County Code Ch. 2.49
Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority 1974-present To preserve and enhance historic buildings. Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 3.110
Historic South Downtown Community Preservation and Development Authority 2007-present Preserving, restoring, and promoting the health, safety, and cultural identity of Seattle’s Pioneer Square and Chinatown-International District neighborhoods. Created by state legislature under Ch. 43.167 RCW
Kent Downtown Public Market Development Authority 1998-2003 To acquire and renovate historic lumberman’s barn.  
King County Museum of Flight Authority 1985-present To develop and operate the Museum of Flight. King County Code Ch. 15.90
Mercer Island Development Authority 1988-?? To facilitate acquisition, development, equipping, leasing, operation and maintenance of a city hall. (Lease back arrangement, bonds paid off in 2008.) Mercer Island Ordinance No. B-61
Museum Development Authority of Seattle 1985-present To construct, manage, and operate the Seattle Art Museum. Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 3.110
Pacific Hospital Preservation and Development Authority 1981-present To provide funding for healthcare programs benefiting vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals. Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 3.110
Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority 1973-present To own, manage, and preserve Pike Place Market, increase opportunities for farm and food retailing, support small businesses, and provide services for low-income people. Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 3.110
Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority 1975-present To preserve cultural and ethnic characteristics of the International District. Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 3.110
Seattle Indian Services Commission 1972-present To provide services, activities, and programs for American Indian residents of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 3.110
Seattle Popular Monorail Authority 1997-2003 To develop monorail system. Replaced by city transportation authority.  
Seattle Southside Tourism Development Authority 2014-present To serve as the official domestic marketing organization for SeaTac, Tukwila, and Des Moines, and to administer the interlocal tourism promotion area under Ch. 35.101 RCW. SeaTac Ordinance No. 14-1013
South Correctional Entity Facility Public Development Authority (SCORE) 2009-present To build and operate a jail in south King County.  
Valley Communications Center Development Authority 2000-present To finance and build a regional 9-1-1 center. Kent Ordinance No. 3510 (2000)

Kitsap County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Kitsap County Community Development Corporation 2002-2010 To stimulate economic development by providing small business loans. Kitsap County Code Ch. 2.50
Kitsap 911 Public Authority (PDA) 2016-present To provide public safety emergency communications services. Kitsap County Code Ch. 2.110
Poulsbo Public Development Authority 1990-2002 To acquire, construct, and operate the Marine Science Center. Poulsbo Ordinance No. 90-05 and related documents

Kittitas County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Ellensburg Business Development Authority 1994-present To provide economic development services for the city. Manages the incubator and airport buildings. Ellensburg City Code Ch. 1.62

Lewis County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
East Lewis County Public Development Authority 1996-present To promote small business and light industrial development in eastern Lewis County. Operates the Packwood Business Park. Lewis County Code Ch. 2.30
Southwest Washington Public Development Authority 1999-2003 To manage Southwest Washington Fairgrounds and develop projects related to tourism, recreation, and entertainment.  

Lincoln County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Harrington Public Development Authority 2003-present To create infrastructure and opportunities for economic diversification, including renovations of opera house and downtown revitalization.  
Northwest Lincoln County Regional Public Development Authority 2001-?? (inactive) To help Almira, Creston, and Wilbur create sustainable economic development opportunities.  
Odessa Public Development Authority 2000-present To create an industrial park and bring new businesses to Odessa. Odessa Ordinance No. 546
Reardan Area Public Development Authority 2006-?? (inactive) To incubate small businesses; to manage the Audubon Lakes Wildlife Viewing Area and a railroad museum.  
Sprague Public Development Authority 2004-present To develop an industrial park.  

Okanogan County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Twisp Public Development Authority 2008-present To develop the TwispWorks site and increase economic activity in the Methow Valley area. Twisp Municipal Code Ch. 2.120

Pacific County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
North Beach Public Development Authority 2004-2009 To acquire two private water companies and operate a water utility until water district could be formed. (Transferred ownership to North Beach Water District in 2009.)  

Pierce County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Authority
Foss Waterway Development Authority 1996-present To oversee property development and marketing of publicly owned Foss Waterway property. Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 1.60
Pierce County Community Development Corporation 1985-present To manage housing repairs and business loan programs benefiting low-income county residents. Pierce County Ordinance No. 2013-11 (amended charter)
Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority 1973-present To administer grants and loans to a variety of clients, including low-income households, affordable housing developers, and businesses that create jobs and rehabilitate blighted buildings. Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 1.60

Skagit County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Citation/Source
Anacortes Downtown Development Authority 1986-2014 To facilitate economic development, job creation, and employment opportunities.  
Anacortes Public Development Authority 2002-?? To act as a community renewal agency under Ch. 35.81 RCW and clean up and redevelop an old plywood mill site. Anacortes Municipal Code Ch. 2.88
Hamilton Public Development Authority 2005-2010 To help move town facilities, infrastructure, and residences out of floodway; to facilitate economic development; to provide social service functions. Hamilton Ordinance No. 241
Skagit County Emergency Medical Services Commission 2003-2014 To provide countywide EMS services. Replaced by county EMS department in 2014.  

Skamania County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Citation/Source
North Bonneville Public Development Authority 2013-present To operate a recreational marijuana retail store. North Bonneville Ordinance No. 1028
Wind River Public Development Authority 2003-2007 To promote, develop, and market the former Wind River Nursery site in Stabler conveyed to the county by the U.S. Forest Service in 2002.  

Spokane County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Citation/Source
Northeast Public Development Authority 2011-present To stimulate economic development in the northeast part of Spokane; re-formed in 2019.  
Spokane Forestry Project Public Development Authority 2001-2017 To administer a community forestry project; was no longer needed due to city’s urban forester and forestry program and was formally dissolved in 2017.  
Spokane Parking Public Development Authority 1997? - 2005? To manage and regulate the River Square Parking Facility and other public parking facilities. (Encountered financial and legal problems related to using parking meter revenue to pay debt service on bonds. See River Park Square v. Miggins.)  
Spokane Volunteers Public Development Association N/A To administer a volunteer program to restore, maintain, and improve public open spaces such as rights-of-way, parks, and other public spaces. Established in 2001 but never formed a board or met and was formally dissolved in 2017.  
United Native Americans Public Development Authority 2007-?? To improve general living conditions for Native Americans living in Spokane. Spokane Municipal Code Ch. 04.25A
University District Public Development Authority 2012-present To assist Spokane in implementing the University District Revitalization Area and improving economic conditions; re-formed in 2019.  
West Plains/Airport Area PDA 2017-present Interlocal agreement to assist City of Spokane, Spokane County, and Spokane International Airport with improving local economic conditions; re-formed in 2019.  

Whatcom County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Citation/Source
Bellingham City Center Development Authority (Bellingham Development Association) 1985-1995 To assist with public improvements and enhance the viability and attractiveness of the Bellingham central business district. Bellingham Municipal Code Ch. 6.64
Bellingham Public Development Authority 2008-2014 To generate revenue for the city through property development. (Dissolved after failing to turn a profit.) Bellingham Municipal Code Ch. 6.64

Whitman County

Name of PDA Years Active Purpose Citation/Source
Garfield Public Development Authority 2005-present To encourage residential and commercial development in the town. Garfield Ordinance No. 313-N
St. John Public Development Authority 2006-?? To provide senior housing (Community Pride Senior Living).  
Tekoa Public Development Authority 2005-2012 To administer and execute federal grants or programs; receive and administer private funds, goods or services; and perform any lawful public purpose or public function within the city. Tekoa Ordinance No. 748
Uniontown Community Development Association 2001-present To promote economic improvement of the town. Uniontown Municipal Code Ch. 5.06

Last Modified: April 02, 2021
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Related Materials

 TOPICS

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in Washington

Washington Statutes Relating to Financing Economic Development

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