While the West Seattle Junction Association has become a well-established business district, emerging are other business groups around West Seattle determined to attract more shoppers and form lasting ties among the business owners.

The Admiral District Business Group formed in 2004 and have been successful with bringing people into the neighborhood to "eat, shop and live" through collaborative marketing, said Melissa Nickel, a member of the group.

"It' just really escalated," she said. "Our primary goal was to get more people to come to Admiral through advertising and events and really promote the different businesses here."

Now many Admiral businesses have gone from small ads to multiple page spreads that feature several businesses collectively.

"Yes, joint marketing costs less, but what we really want is to express that we are a united business front and show the community all that there is to do in this District," said Nickel. "It took a year of structured participation to get where we are now and we want to make sure our Admiral voice is heard."

The Admiral Group may have looked to the West Seattle Junction Association as an example of successful business collaboration.

Similar to the Junction Association's signature events, such as the West Seattle Street Festival in July, the Admiral Business Group also hosts regular events. Last year the group held its third annual family Halloween and its first "Classic Movie Night."

But the Junction Association may have a benefit over other unofficial business groups like Admiral because it is one of six Business Improvement Area's in Seattle.

Established Business Improvement Areas are created when at least 60 percent of merchants in a certain business area vote to assess themselves a tax, which is then used to hire staff, pay for improvements and joint advertising, said Rob Watt, a Seattle Office of Economic Development senior community development specialist. In return, the Office of Economic Development acts as a liaison for the associations in resolving issues with the city.

In 1987, the Junction Association was formed this way, said Angela Rae, the association's executive director, and encompasses a specific area, which begins at the "walk all ways" crosswalk at the intersection of California Avenue and Alaska Street, and spreads to Fauntleroy on the East, 44th on the West, Genessee on the North, Edmunds at the South.

"The more formal structure gives the city a level of confidence-a way to professionally channel tax dollars for community projects," said Rae. "But we write grants all the time that (the city) says no to."

A number of Seattle groups have been trying to form these districts in the last five years without success, said Watt, partly because it's tough to get enough businesses to agree to the tax.

"People don't want to be taxed anymore than they have to," he said. "They think, 'I'll sleep in front of my own door, I'll take care of my own business.'"

Stan Locke, neighborhood district coordinator for the West Seattle Neighborhood Service Center, said because businesses in the Junction pay an assessment, it "ensures a steady and predictable flow of revenue... and many programs can be sustained over a long haul."

Dave Montoure, owner of West Five and president of the Junction Association Board of Directors, believes the Junction's loose association with the city opens the door a little wider to city programs with money earmarked for community projects.

Montoure said improvements to the area thanks to association funds, such as the installation of flower plants on the Junction lampposts and the removal of flower pots from the street that were starting to collect garbage, have brought in more business and "vastly improved common areas."

The Admiral Group is beginning to look at ways to address these kinds of issues in their own neighborhood, like the impacts of parking shortages, developments in Admiral and beatification needs.

Collaboration with the city could help the group in attaining those goals, said Nickel, which is why they have discussed applying for Business Improvement Area status.

"It's too early to say whether or not it will come to fruition," said Nickel. "We want to continue what we've started. It's about building relationships, but it's taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get to where we are now."

Another emerging group, the Alki Business Group, is working to address some of Alki's business district problems.

"There has been a general lack of leadership in the Alki business district," said Patti Mullen, executive director for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. "The businesses are looking for positive change."

The group is facing tough problems like how to draw in and keep business during the off-season, said Bonnie David, the recently named chairperson of the Alki Business Group.

Alki is most populated during the spring and summer, but during fall and winter, many of the businesses suffer.

"Businesses struggle and many have come and gone," said David, managing partner of Salty's on Alki. "It's not a stable area right now."

Because many Alki business owners are concerned about their visibility to Seattle residents and tourists, they've discussed putting up signs that direct drivers to Alki Beach from State Route 99 or the West Seattle Bridge.

"So many people don't even know that we're here," said David. "If we all get together we can form a strong business community and a stronger neighborhood."

David said the group is shooting for the same kind of marketing collaboration seen with the Junction and Admiral groups, but they also want businesses that promote family.

"The key is to start with small, attainable goals," said Nickel, who has been helping the Alki group get started. "Some people want to start with very grandiose ideas, but to get there, you have to get people to recognize you first."

Rebekah Schilperoort can be reached at wseditor@robinsonnews.com