By Omari Salisbury

Converge Media has been following the Rainier Beach High School redevelopment project since its inception, documenting every step of this transformative journey. From the initial planning phases to the groundbreaking ceremony, the pouring of the foundation, and the gradual rise of the walls, we've been there to witness the progress.

Now, three years into this endeavor, we're shifting our focus to the project's economic impact on the surrounding community and taking a look into how Lydig Construction and The Vida Agency are actively working to support and uplift local businesses, ensuring that the benefits of this redevelopment extend far beyond the school's walls.

A Commitment to the Community

From the outset, the project team, led by Project Manager Patrick McGlothlin of Lydig Construction, made a commitment to the community. "We really had four commitments: women and minority-owned businesses, workforce, student engagement, and then community engagement," says McGlothlin. This commitment led to the creation of a unique local loyalty program, developed in partnership with The Vida Agency.

The Local Loyalty Program: Investing in the Community

The local loyalty program is a creative initiative designed to ensure that the project's economic benefits are reinvested in the local community. "It's really us trying to invent a way to allow the project and the dollars being spent on the projects to be reinvested in the community we're in, versus employees going home and spending the money elsewhere," explains McGlothlin.

The program incentivizes construction workers to patronize nearby businesses. Participants are provided with an app to track their purchases. Once they've collected 20 stamps, they receive a $15 gift card to a local business. The program currently has 6 local businesses. 

"We're excited to have each of you go and, you know, experience something new, or maybe get some traditional stuff or cultural things that you guys are used to, but it's here in the community," says Amir Sadeghi, Events Manager at The Vida Agency.

Local Businesses: The Heart of the Community

Local business owners have embraced the program with enthusiasm. Harold Fields, owner of Umami Kushi restaurant, sees the program as an opportunity to build relationships and stimulate commerce in the community. "It gives me an opportunity to see if we can hold some of these developers and these companies that are coming into neighborhoods accountable for stimulating commerce in the communities," says Fields.

Ashanti Mayfield, owner of Creamy Cone Cafe, emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses. "I think it's okay to, you know, step out and see what's in the area that you're working in, and see what they have to offer and try something new," she says.

Building Bridges and Fostering Connections

The program is not just about economic impact; it's about building bridges and fostering connections between the construction workers and the community. Tim Collins, an employee at Creamy Cone Cafe, invites the construction workers to "come on in, look at the neighborhood a little bit, and then come in and support our business."

A Model for Future Projects

The Rainier Beach High School redevelopment project is setting a new standard for community engagement in construction projects. By actively involving local businesses and investing in the community, the project is creating a lasting legacy that goes beyond the physical structure of the school. This is also important because, for the most part, the majority of the construction workers on this job do not hail from South Seattle or, in most cases, from within the Emerald City, so having a mechanism setup that encourages them to contribute back to the local economy surrounding the project is not only important but very welcome. 

Stay tuned for future Converge Media updates from the Rainier Beach High School Redevelopment Project. #BuildTheBeach #ForUsByUs