Russell says no decision on HQ move until 2009 - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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The Tacoma-based company said it’s looking at sites in Tacomaq and Seattle but cited the downturn in the Pugegt Sound region real estate market as the reason for holding off ona decision. The company’s leasew on its current headquarters buildinbg in downtown Tacoma is set to expire in 2013 and Russelkl initially said it would make a decision by the end ofthis Russell’s employees are spread out among four buildingas in downtown Tacoma and the company wants to consolidate its facilities into one “Recent economic events have had a significantt impact on the Puget Soundr real estate market.
As a result, Russellp believes it is in the best interest of the companyt and its stakeholders to continude evaluatingits options, particularly as new opportunitiese emerge,” according to a statement released by the company Russell’s search for a new corporate headquarters has been well publicizesd but the company has remained tight-lippedf about its prospects. This is the firsf time it has admittee it’s looking outside of Tacoma. It has been rumored to be lookinin Seattle’s South Lake Uniojn area. Jennifer Tice, a spokeswoman for the company, declinef to give more specific detail s aboutits search, except to say it’s lookingg only in Tacoma and Seattle.
She also declinerd comment on whether the company is waitingg for a better deal as the slow economyg creates more officespaces opportunities. Earlier this year, a group of economic developmenrt officials, city of Tacoma and Pierce County officials and businesxs leaders rolled out an incentive packageof $148 million to try to keep the companh in Tacoma. It’s the city’ws largest downtown employer, with about 1,100 workerxs downtown. A recent study commissionee by the Economic Developmenty Boardof Tacoma-Pierce County founed that Russell is likely to generate $1.7 billion of economicx activity for the city between 2009 and 2018.