Business Improvement Areas are critical placemaking partners to our office: as a community-driven means of allocating resources and services for business districts, they are created and managed by the local businesses and property owners who fund them. Everyone in the district contributes their fair share, and the collected funds are… [ Keep reading ]
Muhammad Ali once said, “The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” Those are the words guiding how Tricia Arcaro Turton manages her gym, Arcaro Boxing. “If it wasn’t for other people that were beacons of hope showing me the way,… [ Keep reading ]
SEATTLE – Mayor Katie B. Wilson appointed Beto Yarce as the next director for the Seattle Office of Economic Development. Yarce began his new post Wednesday, March 4, 2026. OED leads projects and invests in initiatives that expand access to economic opportunities, reduce the racial wealth gap, and encourage innovation… [ Keep reading ]
Small businesses looking for financial support to upgrade their spaces can now apply for the Tenant Improvement Program. We have two packages available in 2026: the sign package award of up to $15,000 and the equipment package award of up to $50,000. These packages help cover the cost of replacing… [ Keep reading ]
Jamila Conley opened WeRise Wines with a vision: highlight wines from diverse and underrepresented winemakers. The idea was inspired by a dinner party featuring Black women winemakers, which came at a pivotal time for Conley. Previously working in tech, she was considering a career change motivated by a desire to… [ Keep reading ]
Appointed by former Mayor Bruce Harrell, Markham McIntyre became the Director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development in 2022. Over four years, he and the department helped shape Seattle’s economy through pandemic recovery, with a focus on creating an economy that is better for everyone. McIntyre brought with him a perpetually positive attitude and a deeply-held belief that economic development is a team sport – engaging with countless… [ Keep reading ]
When designing the space for her first yoga studio, Jasmine RaShae’ was intentional with every detail. Ancient African artifacts line the studio walls and there’s an inviting lounge area at the front, complete with a record player open for anyone to use. RaShae’ jokes that people walking by may question… [ Keep reading ]
Valentine’s Day is a busy time for Rosa María Cisneros Andrade. As the owner of RMC Floral Designs, she’s preparing for lots of orders. “Oh my gosh! I’m busy here with lots of red roses, white roses, plant, orchids, balloons, cards, chocolates,” she said. Helping Cisneros Andrade handle the rush… [ Keep reading ]
Our office coordinates and issues Master Film Permits for productions working on public City of Seattle property. This coordination leadership is across all City departments, and with multiple county and state agencies. Film production is big business in Seattle. We offer a $25 a day, one-stop-shop concierge film permit coordination… [ Keep reading ]
Running a business is challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the struggle and many business owners had to get creative with how they reached their customers. For Kathmandu MoMoCha, it was making a switch to selling frozen dumplings that kept them afloat. Our Small Business Capital Access Program, which owner Suroj… [ Keep reading ]
