Seattle-area industrial firms are alive and vibrant, including those in Ballard, and the city is committed to keeping them that way, according to the city.

Brian Surratt, manager of business and workforce development for the Office of Economic Development, presented early results of studies of the basic industrial firms and maritime industrial firms in the area at the April 8 Ballard District Council meeting.

The city studied the BINMIC (Ballard Interbay Northend Manufacturing & Industrial Center) and the Duwamish industrial areas from 2000 to 2007.

Surratt said the industrial sector has shown stability over that period in that job loss was less and recovery was greater than in the nonindustrial sector.

"It brings durability in our local economy that makes us less susceptible to these wild fluctuations in the economy," Suratt said.

According to the study, there were 96,000 industrial-sector jobs in 1995. That hit a low of 78,000 in 2004, but was back up to 82,000 in the time since.

Surratt said the city is looking at this data because they are seeing more nonindustrial activity in areas like the BINMIC and are committed to maintaining the boundaries and integrity of industrial areas.

"There's a unique character to this neighborhood," he said. "And, part of that character is the industrial and maritime sector."

The city looked specifically at the maritime sector because it is part of Seattle's economic history and is still very much a part of the city, Surratt said.

He said maritime industries had a $4.2 billion economic impact on the region in 2006.

Surratt said the city wants to use this data to argue against people who say that industries are in decline and should be moved away from in the form of land-use changes.

He said the city may not always side with industries in zoning issues, but it is absolutely committed to maintaining Ballard's industrial area.