Corporate and public investments spur interest in Pacific Northwest startups, Seattle area has undergone record growth and now voters may reshape its politics, and more in this week’s Seattle in the Spotlight.

Corporate, Public Investments Spur Interest in Pacific Northwest Startups

TechCrunch | Dan Burgar and Kate Wilson | November 7

“The Cascadia Innovation Corridor — the strip of land down the West Coast from Vancouver, Canada to Portland, Oregon — is perhaps the best example. Home to powerhouses like Microsoft, Amazon, Nike, Lululemon, Boeing and Intel, the area has seen large investments from companies hoping to encourage further cooperation. Over the past five years, state and provincial governments have signed formal agreements for collaboration, and executive-filled conferences are being held to encourage new partnerships.”

Sea-Tac Airport North Satellite Construction Hits Milestone

KING 5 | Glenn Farley | November 6

“Ironworkers topped out the arched roof structure for Sea-Tac International Airport’s newly expanded North Satellite on Wednesday. A 260-foot crane placed the highest steel beam on the building. Originally built in 1973, Sea-Tac Airport was designed to handle about 5.2 million passengers a year. Soon it will be 50 million.”

Seattle Area Has Undergone Record Growth. Now Voters May Reshape its Politics

Seattle Times | Daniel Beekman and David Gutman | November 3

“The Seattle region has more of almost everything than it did just six years ago, when voters chose to elect City Council members by districts…In the run-up to Tuesday’s elections — the most expensive in Seattle history, thanks to record sums spent in the City Council’s district races — voters are wondering: Now that a historic boom has reshaped the region, to what extent should its politics be reshaped, too? “Growth is on people’s minds, and that’s natural,” said Josh Brown, executive director at the Puget Sound Regional Council, a planning body.”