The City of Issaquah is currently in negotiations with The Green Car Company, which is considering a move from their current Bellevue headquarters.
This coming Tuesday, Susan Fahnestock, owner of The Green Car Company, will meet with city and chamber officials, including Mayor Ava Frisinger, in Issaquah.
Fahnestock told The Reporter on Friday that as the business hunted for new digs, Issaquah was “definitely on the radar,” adding that the city and chamber staff had been “very welcoming,” and encouraging of a possible move.
She said that she had met with officials from the City of Kirkland, who also welcomed the idea of the Green Car Company relocating there.
Fahnestock said it wasn’t certain yet that the company would move from its current location, but added that she hadn’t been pleased with the treatment the company had received from the City of Bellevue.
“No one from the city has dropped by to see us once,” she said.
City of Issaquah Economic Development Manager Dan Trimble said he was not in a position to make an announcement about the possible move at this time, while still in a period of negotiation.
It is understood that The Green Car Company has met with at least one local realtor to tour available properties.
Member of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and candidate for city council Nathan Perea said he approached The Green Car Company in October of last year, while doing personal research on alternative energy systems and businesses on the Eastside.
“I got talking with Susan, and she said a few things about how they weren’t too happy with their current location, and so I said, ‘hey, why don’t you have a look at Issaquah?'” he said.
Perea believes that from the business’ perspective, the demographics of Issaquah and Sammamish would provide a good marketplace.
“And this is a great example of the kind of business we want,” he said.
Perea said that negotiations with The Green Car Company were just one example of how the chamber is hoping to partner with the city in actively recruiting and retaining businesses that would benefit the region.
He added that businesses like The Green Car Company would distinguish Issaquah.
“This is an opportunity to show that we are cutting edge,” Perea said. “I have a hope and vision that we can attract businesses like that, and I hope the city can embrace that idea. This would be something that could grab national and global attention.”
Perea said that he wasn’t sure at this stage what the city could do to encourage a business like the Green Car Company to move to Issaquah, but that “we could make sure that businesses that come here have a soft landing.”
Stay tuned.
