Even though the actual reopening date for the West Seattle Bridge remains in limbo due to the concrete driver's strike, the effort to celebrate both that event and the ability for the public to enjoy the amenities on the West Seattle peninsula is moving ahead.

A zoom meeting on March 1, brought together the various committees that have been established to gain sponsors, plan events and promote them, and bring people in.

The first sponsors are on board with Mara Haveson of Compass Realty and her husband Craig Havenson of STS Construction signing up at the $25,000 level.

What are they sponsoring? Right now discussions are revolving around a website, a video, a potential run or walk on the bridge itself, and local neighborhood hub events that might feature live music and local merchants. All these cost money of course but the exposure and demonstration of commitment to the community is extremely valuable.

The goals are to:

• raise $150k
• To develop a website
• Create a video to promote the peninsula
• Sponsorship packet 
• Graphic designer needed to assist in cresting the e-sponsorship packet

Different Sponsorship Levels:

1- Community Title Sponsor: $25k

• Offerings:  title sponsor presents the re-opening of the West Seattle Bridge
• Title Name on t-shirts
• Title feature name on website to include a video
• Title feature on video
• Title name on stickers & yard signs
• Coffee mugs
• Title sponsor on banner/signage
• Media recognition / press release
• Speak/ present at opening ceremony and neighborhood events
• Recognized on WS Chamber website & newsletter

2-Alki Sponsor: $15k:

• -recognized on website link to their website
• -video: featured in the video
• -t-shirts: logo
• -Logo on banners
• -real estate space via banners at the neighborhood events
• media recognition / press release
• Recognized at opening ceremony and at neighborhood events
• Recognized on WS Chamber website & newsletter

Admiral Junction Sponsor: $5k

• recognized in video
• recognized on website
• Recognized at neighborhood events and opening ceremony
• Recognized on WS Chamber website & newsletter

Alaska Junction Sponsor: $5k

• recognized in video
• recognized on website
• Recognized at neighborhood events and opening ceremony
• Recognized on WS Chamber website & newsletter

Long Fellow Creek Sponsor: $2,500

• recognized on re-opening bridge website
• Recognized on WS Chamber website & newsletter

Olympic Sponsorships:

Gold: $750
Silver: $500
Bronze: $250

If you are interested in being a sponsor for any or all of these events, please contact laina@headspinagency.com

More meetings are scheduled and updates on the progress will be provided as they become available. 

In the meantime SDOT has said that they still believe a mid year opening is possible but that possibility gets further out the longer the strike lasts. The SDOT Press Secretary Ethan Bergerson said, "Even without concrete, we are continuing to work on other aspects of the bridge repairs like injecting epoxy into cracks and installing carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge. We are continuing to work with our bridge contractor to reevaluate the sequence of work activities to keep the project moving forward. We will continue to revise contingency plans depending on the length of the strike, and work towards minimizing delays as much as possible with the ongoing goal of reopening the bridge as close to mid-2022 as possible."