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 ]
When it came to building his business, Alex Dorros found his biggest challenge was finding affordable kitchen space. He even had to put his business Siembra, which sells Peruvian and Colombian food, on hold at one point because he couldn’t find a space that met his needs. Now, through our… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle, WA – In a press announcement on Friday, January 9, 2026, Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced Alicia Teel as Interim Director for the Office of Economic Development. “I’m honored to serve in this interim capacity to lead the Office of Economic Development. Our talented team is dedicated to leading projects and making investments that open up access… [ Keep reading ]
Small businesses are the heartbeat of Seattle. They define our city’s unique character, shape our diverse neighborhoods, and power our local economy. They’re more than storefronts – they represent the entrepreneurial and creativity that makes our community truly special. We know running a business is as challenging as it is… [ Keep reading ]
Hi all, I’m incredibly proud of what our office accomplished in 2025. Despite the headwinds of tough economic times, uncertainty in trade, and a host of other challenges, we’ve made meaningful progress toward building a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient economy. We did it through deep collaboration with our state… [ Keep reading ]
