By Matthew Bott

With three children all under age seven, I’m obligated to watch certain favorite kids’ movies over – seemingly hundreds of times. Without question, one of my all-time favorites is Disney/Pixar’s 2006 hit “Cars.” (If you know what tractor-tipping is, you can relate).

The movie is about a small town on famed Route 66 that fights to identify its niche and welcome folks to town to spend their money and help the community succeed and survive. It’s a real heart-warmer.

Cars’ Route 66 is a far cry from Issaquah/I-90 and certainly cartoonish, but here’s the point: a community with a unique sense of place shouldn’t shy away from boldly showcasing its unique assets and welcoming visitors to town.

Issaquah is a unique Northwest community and a great way to showcase this is through “Welcome to Issaquah” signage. Have you ever noticed there’s nothing compelling on I-90 exit ramps or other thoroughfares into town that says you’ve officially arrived at Issaquah?

This should change.

In late January the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce’s Tourism Advisory Committee, under the adept leadership of Phil Morris, sent a supportive letter to the Issaquah City Council strongly encouraging the city to move forward with establishing “Welcome to Issaquah” signage.

In many communities, visitors pulling into town are greeted by a sign that proudly (and tastefully) invites them into their community, communicating the messages of: “Welcome…we are proud of our town…enjoy your stay…come back soon….and tell others about us.”

Issaquah has this sense of place. Signage would say to travelers that we are more than a place to fill up for gas or grab a bite to eat on their way to Seattle or to skiing at Alpental.

But signage is not only about community pride; it is also about economics. Properly invited in, new visitors discover Issaquah’s unique tourism treasurers: our family-friendly Cougar Mountain zoo, the famed Issaquah Fish Hatchery, Village Theatre, Boehm’s Chocolates, the historic downtown, Lake Sammamish State Park, Costco’s world headquarters, great restaurants and more.

Many new visitors, wooed by a great first impression, become new residents and sometimes even new employers. Others simply depart with a greater sense of Issaquah’s unique brand, our compelling offerings, and our values. In any case, visitors will leave knowing Issaquah is much more than a long stretch of freeway along I-90.

Guaranteed, welcome to Issaquah signage will make a positive difference for our community.