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Neighborhood Business Districts Webinar – Street Closure Permits

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Gracia’s outdoor cafe expanded operations on the curbside and sidewalk in Ballard | SDOT Twitter

On Thursday, July 30, the Only in Seattle (OIS) team hosted a webinar with neighborhood business districts and partners to provide relevant and timely information for small businesses. This webinar focused on Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) Street Closure Permits. Street Closure Permits are free and are an expansion of SDOT’s Temporary Outdoor Café, Merchandise Display, and Vending Permits.

Casey Rogers and Alyse Nelson provided an overview of SDOT’s Street Closure Permits, the application process, and answer questions from neighborhood business district partners. SDOT encourages businesses and neighborhood business district partners to schedule a pre-application coaching session to understand proposals. To schedule a session, email publicspace@seattle.gov.

In response to COVID-19, the OIS team continues to work with business districts and community partners to provide resources and improve language access for small businesses. The OIS team coordinates with Seattle’s neighborhood business districts to provide resources for community stakeholders, businesses, property owners, and local organizations to achieve economic development outcomes determined by the community.

OIS conducts business district webinars every 2-3 weeks, answering questions and concerns businesses may have. Previous webinars include public safety, connecting businesses to resources, and King County Phase 2 reopening. If there’s a topic or a question that neighborhood business districts would like to cover in a future webinar, please email Heidi Hall, Heidi.Hall@seattle.gov.

Neighborhood Business Districts Webinar – Street Closure Permits Slide Deck

Small Business COVID-19 Weekly Webinar: July 1, 2020

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OED is committed to supporting our small businesses as we work together to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Our weekly webinars have transitioned to every other week. In these webinars, we will hear about the impacts you are experiencing and answer your questions. Please join us for our next webinar on July 15, 2020 from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Register for the webinars here.

A recording of each webinar will automatically be sent to those who registered.

Highlights of our July 1 session included:

  • Updates from Public Health – Seattle & King County
  • Public Health: Phase 2 Business Reopening Requirements
  • OED: Support for Small Businesses Reopening, including Reopening Toolkits
  • SDOT: Temporary Outdoor Cafe, Merchandise Display, and Vending Permits

Below are links from our July 1 webinar (please note: you must register for the webinar in order to listen to the recording).

Please continue to monitor this blog for updated information from the Office of Economic Development. We’re all in this together! #SeattleTogether.

Neighborhood Business Districts Webinar – King County Phase 2 Reopening

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Jackson Building in Chinatown-International District with mural honoring victims of police brutality | Photo by Jacqueline Wu, OED.

On Thursday, June 18, the Only in Seattle (OIS) team hosted a webinar with neighborhood business districts and partners to provide relevant and timely information for small businesses. The OIS team coordinates with Seattle’s neighborhood business districts to provide resources for community stakeholders, businesses, property owners, and local organizations to achieve economic development outcomes determined by the community.

In response to COVID-19, the OIS team continues to work with business districts and community partners to provide resources and improve language access for small businesses. This webinar focused on Safe Start Washington’s Phase 2 guidance and support from King County and OED. Neighborhoods shared strategies they are implementing to support businesses through reopening.

Hugo Garcia, King County Local Services’ Economic Development Program Manager, provided an overview of Phase 2 reopening guidance and the business assistance program for businesses located in unincorporated King County. Garcia is also part of the Public Health Business Task Force.

Jennifer Tam, OED Restaurant Advocate, and Sarah Domondon, OED Small Business Advocate, provided an overview of current options for outdoor seating and temporary café permits to operate in the sidewalk or curb space in front of their business. Mike Stewart, Executive Director of Ballard Alliance, shared public space strategies Ballard is exploring and stressed the importance of getting options in place quickly to take advantage of good weather in Seattle and help many businesses decide if they can reopen at reduced capacity.

OIS conducts business district webinars every 2-3 weeks, answering questions and concerns businesses may have. Previous webinars include public safety and connecting businesses to resources. If there’s a topic or a question that neighborhood business districts would like to cover in a future webinar, please email Heidi Hall, Heidi.Hall@seattle.gov.  

6.18 Neighborhood Business District Webinar Powerpoint Slides

Small Business COVID-19 Weekly Webinar: June 17, 2020

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Title PowerPoint slide from Webinar

OED is committed to supporting our small businesses as we work together to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Our weekly webinars have transitioned to every other week. In these webinars, we will hear about the impacts you are experiencing and answer your questions. Please join us for our next webinar on July 1, 2020 from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Register for the webinars here.

A recording of each webinar will automatically be sent to those who registered.

Highlights of our June 17 session included:

  • Federal loan funding updates: Economic Injury Disaster Loan/Loan Advance (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Loan (PPP)
  • Outdoor permit options for businesses, including Sidewalk Cafes, Streateries, and Parklets
  • COVID-19 Public Health updates
  • COVID-19 Business Taskforce news, including information about Safe Start Washington and Safe Start King County

Below are links from our June 17 webinar (please note: you must register for the webinar in order to listen to the recording).

Please continue to monitor this blog for updated information from the Office of Economic Development. We’re all in this together! #SeattleTogether.

Small Business COVID-19 Weekly Webinar: June 3, 2020

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OED is committed to supporting our small businesses as we work together to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Our weekly webinars have transitioned to every other week. In these webinars, we will hear about the impacts you are experiencing and answer your questions. Please join us for our next webinar on June 17, 2020 from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Register for the webinars here.

A recording of each webinar will automatically be sent to those who registered.

Highlights of our June 3 session included:

  • OED Technology Access Program
  • Seattle-King County Public Health: COVID-19 Public Health Updates​
  • Employee Security Department: ​Reopening and Bringing Employees Back to Work
  • Labor and Industries: Protecting the Safety and Health of Workers during COVID-19​
  • Update from Bobby Lee, Director of OED

Below are links from our June 3 webinar (please note: you must register for the webinar in order to listen to the recording).

Please continue to monitor this blog for updated information from the Office of Economic Development. We’re all in this together! #SeattleTogether.

Neighborhood Business Districts Webinar on Supporting Businesses

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SDOT Flickr | Photo by Jeanne Clark

On Thursday, May 21, the Only in Seattle (OIS) team hosted a webinar with neighborhood business districts and partners to provide relevant and timely information for small businesses. The OIS team coordinates with Seattle’s neighborhood business districts to provide resources for community stakeholders, businesses, property owners, and local organizations to achieve economic development outcomes determined by the community.

In response to COVID-19, the OIS team continues to work with business districts and community partners to provide resources and improve language access for small businesses. In this webinar, Michael Wells and Jennifer Tam from the Small Business Development Team provided an update on Governor Inslee’s “Safe Start” phased reopening plan and resources for small businesses.

Neighborhood peer sharing focused on feedback business districts are hearing from businesses, top questions or concerns businesses have, and strategies businesses have adopted during the pandemic. Participants voiced the need for clear, simplified information and guidelines for re-opening that is both visual and translated. Other key topics discussed include customer education, new social behaviors due to the pandemic, technology barriers for businesses, and public safety.

Strategies that were shared by neighborhood business district partners include: 

  • Visuals and photos showing examples of compliance and guidance 
  • Continued assistance for businesses (in language) from OED into recovery phases 
  • Creative use of public spaces to allow businesses to engage in public realm  
  • E Commerce platforms and web-based strategies to help businesses 
  • Continued focus on takeout and delivery during Phase 2 
  • Buying gift cards and using them creatively, e.g. membership, giveaways, community building 
  • Extend commercial eviction moratorium and support businesses with lease/ space issues. 

Partnerships and tools to support business district recovery projects were also discussed during the webinar. Design Elements Inc. (DEI) Principal + Creative Director Sarah Greene shared their Support Local platform to create an online neighborhood marketplace. Support Local currently works with Ballard, Pioneer Square, and Capitol Hill on local online marketplaces to help businesses provide convenient online shopping experiences.  Zeacon Chief of Staff Rich Kim shared a model for experiential commerce. This includes partnerships with small businesses to create virtual experiences, as well as larger virtual community and fundraising events. 

OIS will conduct business district webinars every 2-3 weeks answering questions and concerns businesses may have. Previous webinars include public safety and connecting businesses to resources. If there’s a topic or a question that neighborhood business districts would like to cover in a future webinar, please email Heidi Hall, Heidi.Hall@seattle.gov.

5.21 Webinar Powerpoint Slides
5.21 Neighborhood Business District Webinar Notes
DEI Support Local Presentation
Zeacon Presentation

Small Business COVID-19 Weekly Webinar: 5/20/20

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OED is committed to supporting our small businesses as we work together to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Our weekly webinars are transitioning to every other week. In these webinars, we will hear about the impacts you are experiencing and answer your questions. Please join us for our next webinar on June 3, 2020 from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Register for the webinars here.

A recording of each webinar will automatically be sent to those who registered.

Highlights of our May 20 session included:

  • COVID-19 Public Health update​s
  • ​Resources for Commercial Tenants: Commercial Lease Toolkit
  • “Seattle Protects” Marketplace launch
  • SBA Funding Updates

Below are links from our May 20 webinar (please note: you must register for the webinar in order to listen to the recording).

Please continue to monitor this blog for updated information from the Office of Economic Development. We’re all in this together! #SeattleTogether

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Small Business COVID-19 Weekly Webinar: 5/6/20

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OED is committed to supporting our small businesses as we work together to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19. We are holding weekly webinars to share new developments, hear about the impacts you are experiencing, and answer your questions. Please join us every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Register for the webinars here.

A recording of each weekly webinar will automatically be sent to those who registered.

Highlights of our May 6 session included:

  • Public health updates from Public Health — Seattle & King County
  • New Information about Governor Inslee’s Safe Start Plan. Find the detailed plan here.
  • An update from King County Public Health COVID-19 Business Taskforce
  • Information on the Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance from the Office of Labor Standards

Below are links from our May 6 webinar (please note: you must register for the webinar in order to listen to the recording).

Please continue to monitor this blog for updated information from the Office of Economic Development. We’re all in this together! #SeattleTogether

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Small Business COVID-19 Weekly Webinar: April 29

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OED is committed to supporting our small businesses as we work together to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19. We are holding weekly webinars to share new developments, hear about the impacts you are experiencing, and answer your questions. Please join us every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Register for the webinars here.

A recording of each weekly webinar will automatically be sent to those who registered.

Highlights of our April 29 session included:

  • Public health updates from Public Health — Seattle & King County
  • Updates from OED on PPP loan, technical loan assistance, and the Unemployment Benefits Under the CARES Act
  • Paid Sick and Safe Time from the Office of Labor and Standards

Below are links from our April 29 webinar. (Please note: you must register for the webinar in order to listen to the recording.)

Please continue to monitor this blog for updated information from the Office of Economic Development. We’re all in this together!

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Neighborhood Business District Webinar – Clean and Safe

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On Tuesday, April 21, the Only in Seattle (OIS) team hosted a webinar with neighborhood business districts and partners to provide relevant and timely information for small businesses. The OIS team coordinates with Seattle’s neighborhood business districts to provide resources for community stakeholders, businesses and property owners, and local organizations to achieve economic development outcomes determined by the community.

In response to COVID-19, the OIS team continues to work with business districts and community partners to provide resources and language access to small business. In this webinar, participants heard about Seattle Police Department programs that can help them reduce and manage crime and its impacts to businesses in their districts. They also learned about the City’s Navigation Team and how it is working to help people experiencing homelessness during COVID-19.

Speakers included:

  • Mark Solomon – Crime Prevention Coordinator (SPD)
    Business District Block Watch & Community Police Team

    Mark Solomon is a Crime Prevention Coordinator for the Seattle Police Department. A Seattle native, Mark has been with the department for over 29 years, working with community groups, individuals and businesses on public safety issues, and quality of life issues that impact public safety. Crime Prevention Coordinators are experts in crime prevention techniques. Businesses can talk to Crime Prevention Coordinators about ongoing crime problems in their neighborhood, getting involved in Block Watch and setting up a neighborhood crime prevention training.

  • Detective Travis Testerman – Seattle Police Criminal Intelligence Unit (SPD)
    Graffiti in Business Districts

    Detective Travis Testerman have been with SPD for 28 year, he served on patrol in the East and North Precincts (including five years as a member of the North Community Police Team prior to assuming this position with the Crime Intelligence Unit in November of 2019.

  • Dr. Christopher Fisher – Executive Director of Strategy (SPD)
    General Crime Trends and Best Practices

    Dr. Christopher Fisher is the Executive Director of Strategy to the Chief of Police. Most recently he was Senior Policy Advisor at the Council of State Governments Justice Center with a focus on law enforcement issues. Prior to the Justice Center, Chris worked throughout the New York City justice system. As Director of Analysis and Integrated Solutions in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice he coordinated interagency efforts to solve criminal justice challenges.

  • Tara Beck – Navigation Team (HSD)
    Update from the City’s Navigation Team

    The City of Seattle has launched the Navigation Team–a specially trained team comprised of outreach workers paired with Seattle Police Department (SPD) personnel, to connect unsheltered people to housing and critical resources, while helping address pervasive challenges around the issue of homelessness in Seattle.

Powerpoint Slide

Seattle Police Department – Securing Your Business

Seattle Department of Construction & Inspection – Maintaining Vacant Business Properties Tips

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods – Historic Preservation Securing Buildings from Vandals and Theft