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From farmers markets to Pike Place Market: Acting Director Beto Yarce shares his journey as a small business owner

Beto Yarce’s journey to becoming the acting director of our office is rooted in small business ownership. Beto started his own business, Cintli, with $250 and a six-foot table. He made jewelry and sold Mexican folk art at famers markets and festivals around Seattle. The idea to grow his… [ Keep reading ]

Celebrating Seattle’s small businesses every day

National Small Business Week is a time to celebrate the important contributions of our small businesses to Seattle’s economy. They bring character to our neighborhoods, drive our economy, and embody what makes Seattle special. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. For every dollar we invest in a small… [ Keep reading ]

Preparing neighborhoods and small businesses for a summer of sports

Together with our partners, we are committed to making the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup an unforgettable moment for Seattle – one that strengthens local businesses, celebrates our neighborhoods, and showcases Seattle on a global stage.

SODO Business Improvement Area supports businesses, neighborhood to create a vibrant community

SODO is a unique neighborhood. Named for its location south of the Kingdome, the district grew from filled-in tidal flats to a vibrant and diverse business district. Supporting the neighborhood’s businesses is the SODO Business Improvement Area. “We focus on a lot of different areas mainly around cleaning, safe transportation,… [ Keep reading ]

Seattle is ready for the clean energy future 

The technologies that will transform our energy systems need a home where innovation, manufacturing, workforce, and global connectivity come together. Seattle is that place.  As clean energy companies look for communities ready to support their growth, they’ll find Seattle is ready and eager to build a cleaner, more sustainable future together.

Chu Minh Tofu uses Tenant Improvement Program to share love and tofu with the community

The tofu at Chu Minh Tofu in Little Sài Gòn is made with a lot of love and a lot of labor. Soybeans are first ground by hand before a small machine finishes the process, resulting in the perfect tofu. That process will soon be much easier, thanks to a… [ Keep reading ]

Back to Business Program helps Quynh’s Pharmacy continue serving Little Saigon community

Quynh’s Pharmacy is a fixture in Little Saigon. The owner, Mary Bui, is also a fixture within the pharmacy, having worked there for three decades. When vandals broke the glass entry door and both security gates, Bui faced a steep bill to repair the damages. “They charged over $6,000,” she… [ Keep reading ]

Seattle Tattoo Emporium uses Tenant Improvement Program to preserve history, create a safe, welcoming space

When Romie de Hillary and her husband James took over Seattle Tattoo Emporium in 2017, they committed to two things: preserving the shop’s historic legacy and ensuring it is a welcoming place for everyone. “Personally, when I went to get my first tattoos, it was pretty scary. It was all… [ Keep reading ]

Building statewide understanding of Business Improvement Areas

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 ]

Building community inside and outside of the ring, Arcaro Boxing uses TI Program to expand services

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 ]