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News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

#SupportSeattleSmallBiz Spotlight: Jackie Christian’s Six17 Salon Serves an Untapped Market in the Seattle Hair Care Industry

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Jackie creates beautiful hair | Photo courtesy of Six17 Instagram

This week’s #SupportSeattleSmallBiz blog celebrates a successful Black-owned business in Seattle: Six17 Salon, which is owned by Jackie Christian. With over 20 years of experience in the hair industry, Jackie moved to Seattle less than two years ago and has successfully built a local clientele of “more than 300 women and a few men” all of whom “want natural hair[care].”  

  • Jackie Christian
  • Salon entrance
Photos courtesy of Jackie Christian

Jackie has been involved with and committed to the natural hair movement for 12 years. Six17 Salon, as she explains in this interview, “specializes specifically in natural hair—hair that has not been chemically treated with any products that will straighten the hair.”

Family upbringing provides a foundation for Six17 

Jackie’s childhood home in Alexandria, Louisiana | Photo courtesy of Jackie Christian

Jackie built her business values on the foundation her parents provided. She grew up in a tight knit family and community in Louisiana, in a house numbered 617—the inspiration for her salon name, and the home where her parents still reside in today.  

“Family was everything growing up,” says Jackie. “I wanted to pay homage to my parents, who raised seven kids and told us all chase your dreams – whatever that means to you. My parents have always supported me and cheered me on.” 

Jackie’s parents, Sally and Joseph Page | Photo courtesy of Jackie Christian

After a stint in the U.S. military, Jackie attended beauty school to pursue her dreams in the hair industry. She credits her upbringing with helping her “determine some of my rules and how I run my business today. My parents ran a tight ship. They set high standards growing up.”

To this day, she is guided by a standard of excellence and professionalism that clients can expect from Six17 Salon. Jackie is reliable and committed to each client. She ensures her appointments run on time and her schedule is not overbooked. She also provides hair education to each client based on their hair type and hair goals.  

Filling a gap in Seattle’s hair care industry  

An example of Jackie’s artistry | Six17 Salon Instagram

In 2018, Jackie came to Seattle for the first time to visit her sister. At the time,  she was running a successful salon in Atlanta. During her visit to Seattle, Jackie and her sister began to discuss the difficulty women in Seattle had finding someone who specialized in natural hair care. Women in this community, she discovered, “were flying to other states to get their hair done.”  

After returning to Atlanta, Jackie conducted soft market research on Seattle hair salons. She decided to hold a “pop up” at a Bellevue salon in January 2019, where for six days she rented a single chair and serviced 48 clients. She knew then there was a strong and untapped demand for a stylist with expertise in natural hair care in the Seattle region. People loved her work and were asking how soon she could come back. 

Jackie’s joy permeates her work and commitment to clients | Photo courtesy of Jackie Christian

“I just couldn’t stop thinking about those sisters in Seattle who had been left behind. I knew we had a community of black women who were struggling,” she says. “We’ve been in this movement for 12 years down South.”  

After repeated requests, Jackie decided to return to Seattle in February 2019. She took a leap of faith when she returned and rented a one-chair space in the Mosaic Salon and Spa in Downtown Seattle. For four frenetic months she maintained salon spaces in Seattle and Atlanta, flying back and forth a total of nine times to respond to the demand for her services in both locations.  

Finally, Jackie’s dad told her, “you’re going to kill yourself.” Though she was exhausted, she also was exhilarated by the growing enthusiasm for her work in Seattle. In May 2019 she decided to permanently relocate to the Pacific Northwest and commit to her new salon.  

Establishing and growing Six17 

Jackie comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Her great grandfather owned a store, her niece has started a business, and her brother-in-law owns a businesses in Atlanta. His business acumen helped her establish a strong foundation for Six17 Salon. According to Jackie, “entrepreneurship can be taught.” Jackie began building her business in Seattle through word-of-mouth connections. 

Within two months she hired one employee to manage her social media platforms to reach a broader audience.  Within two weeks of making that hire, she booked 25 new clients. According to Jackie, hiring someone to manage her social media presence was  the “best investment I’ve made concerning my business.” 

Jackie’s Instagram helped her build clientele and keep in touch during the pandemic

Growing Six17 Salon’s presence on Facebook and Instagram has increased  her clientele, and created space to share photos of client’s styles and hair care tips. It has also been key in maintaining contact with customers throughout the current pandemic.  

Staying resilient throughout COVID-19 

On March 16, Jackie let her clients know what was up and that she’d be reaching out | Six 17 Instagram

When Governor Inslee issued the ”Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, Jackie shut her salon’s doors and wondered what was next. Her worries were eased significantly when her landlord announced that he would not collect any rent “until this blows over.” With rent and potential debt worries off her shoulders, Jackie focused her energy on securing emergency funding and communicating with her clients.  

“Reaching out to my clients was my first priority. I knew that I needed to communicate with them quickly and we did just that. I think I had an email out within one hour of the Governor’s press conference announcing salon closures. The hardest part as it relates to my business was not knowing how long the quarantine would last, and the impact it would have on a brand-new business. I didn’t worry about not reopening because I know the resolve I have, but financially it was scary!” 

The savings from the rent relief allowed Jackie to keep her social media employee on payroll, and on Facebook and Instagram, she frequently shared live videos and self-care tutorials to keep Six17 Salon relevant. 

Jackie posted messages, images, and how-to instructions on Instagram and Facebook throughout the salon closure | Six17 Salon Instagram

Throughout the closure, Jackie remained in close contact with clients, sharing product recommendations and at-home hair care regimens. In addition to keeping in touch with her clientele, Jackie applied for loans and grants to keep her business afloat. She applied for and received a grant from the City of Seattle through the Small Business Stabilization Fund.

She also applied for a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan—a process that was more complicated and disheartening than the City grant process. Initially, Jackie applied through a national bank that holds her business accounts but became frustrated after five weeks of “unproductive discussions, waiting, and blatant racial discrimination.”

She watched in dismay as a “white friend and counterpart, who opened her salon around the same time and has the same credentials on paper” received a loan from the same bank, while Jackie’s application was inexplicably stalled.  

Jackie’s time in the military helped shape her disciplined approach to work and her sense of fairness

“I did everything right, everything white business owners do,” she says. Jackie’s sense of outrage was exacerbated, she says, because “I’ve served my country [in the military]; my brother, sister and father also served. I’ve done everything right and I was still treated so poorly.” 

At the apex of Jackie’s frustration, a friend told her that Key Bank was making a point of helping Black-owned business owners. “Key Bank heard that Black-owned businesses weren’t getting a fair shake. They put together a team of people so they could help.”After contacting Key Bank, she received her PPP loan within seven days.  

Reopening under Phase 2 of Safe Start 

Jackie’s services are by appointments only during the phased Safe Start reopening and she sanitizes everything between clients | Photo by Jackie Christian

The PPP loan helped Jackie pay her landlord and prepare for Washington state’s phased reopening. She purchased personal protective equipment including masks, face shields, aprons, and a thermometer.

She’s also changed how she operates her salon to adhere to public health guidelines outlined by the State and Public Health – Seattle & King County. Jackie no longer takes walk-in-clients, changes aprons between each client, and does not let the next client enter the space until she has fully sanitized. These changes have required her to add time between appointments, making it hard to meet the current demand for her services.   

Jackie let clients know she was open through Instagram and personal contact | Six17 Instagram

Since reopening, new and old clients have rushed to secure appointments with Jackie. In the first week back she serviced 50 clients, 10 of whom were new, and several of whom found her while browsing social media during the stay at home order. 

Exhausted by the unprecedented demands, Jackie has temporarily cut back her hours to re-adjust to the rigors of standing on her feet all day and working under the salon’s fluorescent lights, and to reduce her risks of exposure to the virus. The funding she received from the City, “makes it easier to make these decisions, to be able to cut down on hours and take care of myself.” 

Future aspirations

Jackie’s services have been in great demand following reopening | Six17 Salon Instragram

Jackie’s experience trying to get a loan has invigorated her commitment to teaching and mentoring others. She has decided to start another business alongside Six17 Salon. In 2021, she plans to launch a consulting career to share her knowledge with other Black-owned salons. 

“Many of them don’t have business coaches. I want to make that available to encourage other Black-owned businesses to establish themselves correctly from day one.”  

Jackie is grateful for the business coaching her brother-in-law (L) provided, and for the support of her sister (R) | Photo courtesy of Jackie Christian

Jackie plans to educate business owners about topics like getting business licenses, opening bank accounts,  long-term planning, investments, and growth. She explains, “I want to share what’s made me successful with other Black business owners.”  

And, of course, Jackie will continue styling hair and supporting community members who want to confidently wear their natural hair. 

Some of the many styles Jackie has created | Six17 Salon Instagram

“Six17 Salon was born out of a love for healthy natural hair and those who choose to wear their natural hair. We are all about empowering and educating our clients as it relates to their hair and almost always, the information we provide trickles into their daily lives and yields the most amazing results,” says Jackie. 

“I will be celebrating my twentieth year in the beauty industry in November and I have never been so proud and humbled to be a part of this industry at such a time as this.” 

#SupportSmallBiz Spotlight: Tony’s Bakery Owner Takes COVID-19 Challenges in Stride

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Truong Le, proprietor of Tony’s Bakery | Photo by Jacqueline Wu

June is Immigrant and Refugee Awareness Month. The Office of Economic Development recognizes and celebrates all the immigrant business owners who make tremendous contributions to our City.  

Truong Le is the successful owner of Tony’s Bakery in South Seattle. This local community landmark is more than your average bakery. Its extensive deli counter sells authentic Vietnamese food and beverages, while also selling groceries, sundries, and baked goods to diverse and loyal customers.

A sampling of the provisions available at Tony’s Bakery | Photos by Jacqueline Wu

Like its owner, Tony’s Bakery is a “jack-of-all-trades” establishment that has expanded beyond traditional bakery services to include catering and wholesale floral services for PCC, Thriftway, Metropolitan Market, and other local grocery stores.

Wholesale flowers ready for delivery | Photo courtesy of Truong Le

His business has expanded over the years; he initially focused on the bakery and through that, developed a reputation for service and excellence that enabled him to grow.

“I can do everything myself; I can cook, do flowers, do cakes. I work hard, I work long hours, and I’m gifted by God.”

Truong Le
A couple of of Mr. Le’s creative designs | Photos courtesy of Truong Le

Mr. Le feels fortunate to have experienced such success. Thirty years ago, he resettled in the United States as a refugee from Vietnam. He had fled  Vietnam in 1987, during a period of “very bad luck,” and ended up living for a year and a half in a refugee camp on a small island in Malaysia.

While in Malaysia Mr. Le was determined to learn English. He asked the volunteer teachers  if he could “stay outside the classroom and learn while they were teaching others.” Mr. Le  attended his own lessons, listened in on other students’ lessons, studied at the library, and copied words from the dictionary in order to learn English. In addition to language skills, his time in Malaysia also taught him  the importance of being resourceful and determined in meeting his goals.

He resettled to Seattle in 1989 — arriving “empty handed” at the age of 26 — and began working at a department store. He also  attended English classes at several community colleges on different days of the week. He explains, “I listened wherever I went. I took the bus to work, wrote out words I saw on the bus, and taught myself, too.”

He transitioned from ESL classes to the culinary arts program at Seattle Central College, where, he says, “I just loved baking.” He began volunteering at a bakery and was later hired.

Mr. Le still enjoys baking and decorating cakes | Photo courtesy of Truong Le

Mr. Le maintained a rigorous schedule attending culinary school from 6 a.m. – 12 p.m. daily, working in the bakery from 1 – 5 p.m., then washing dishes in a Vietnamese restaurant from 6 – 10 p.m.

By 1997, he finally saved enough money to open his own 300 square-foot bakery on Beacon Hill. Four years ago, he bought his current business, Tony’s Bakery, from friends who were retiring. The bakery had been in business for 18 years and was named after the former owners’ son. Coincidentally, Tony is also the name of Mr. Le’s son.

Storefront photo by Jacqueline Wu

Over the decades, Mr. Le has overcome various challenges to establish a successful business and life. COVID-19, he notes, has created a unique set of difficulties that have been “totally different” and “more hectic and worrying” than other circumstances he has faced. Nevertheless, throughout the public health crisis, stay-at-home directives, and changes in the economy and consumer habits, Mr. Le has kept Tony’s Bakery open.

The first few weeks after Governor Inslee’s  ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ order was issued, Mr. Le and his employees thought the stay at home directives meant no one was allowed to leave home at all.

The bakery has been open for business during the Stay Home order| Photo by Jacqueline Wu

After talking with trusted members of his community, he learned that as long as social distancing protocols were observed, the bakery could stay open as an essential business. In the beginning, Mr. Le worked essentially alone, maintaining all aspects of the business because there was “so much uncertainty.”

Many of his employees felt uncomfortable traveling back and forth from work because they feared getting detained, so he gave all of them his business card and instructions about what to say, “in case they got stopped by police.” In addition to staffing challenges, Mr. Le also had difficulty procuring necessary items to adhere to public health guidance, like hand sanitizer and face coverings.

Mr. Le and his staff have adapted to new health guidelines during COVID-19 | Photo courtesy of Truong Le

“I couldn’t buy hand sanitizer anywhere!” he says, “I made my own with bleach for more than two months.” He has recently been purchasing masks from people sewing them at home.

Early on, Mr. Le didn’t apply for any of the federal loans designed to provide COVID-19-related relief because he was concerned about getting scammed. Scammers have targeted immigrant business owners in Seattle, spreading false information and demanding upfront payment with the false promise of assisting in the application process for COVID-19 disaster relief loans.

The Office of Economic Development helped warn the public about scammers

Through connections with a friend who works at the City, Mr. Le learned he could get reliable and trustworthy information from Linh Huynh at the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA).

“Linh helped me realize I had to be careful,” Mr. Le said. “I trust people easily—and there are a lot of scammers out there. I’ve been in business more than 25 years; they pretend to be asking for donations. I had one lady offering to help me apply for loans. It was a scam.”

In response to an increase in scamming within the business community, the Office of Economic Development has offered in-language technical services to help Seattle businesses with the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Small Business Assistance (SBA) loans. Business owners can call 206-684-8090 to request trustworthy assistance in-language, or email OED@seattle.gov for help.

Mr Le’s business is returning to a more normal cadence | Photo by Jacqueline Wu

Mr. Le’s strong connections with community  have helped him weather the pandemic storm. He says simply, “People in the community know me and love me.” He’s grateful that his “very diverse clientele” has been supportive. He’s taken extra steps to explain that it’s safe to shop at the bakery and the establishment is clean and sanitary. He also makes “extra desserts to make the customers happy” and gives back to the community in a variety of ways.

Mr. Le connects with customers on the phone and in the store | Photo courtesy of Truong Le

As the economy slowly begins to open up Mr. Le continues working long days and remains hopeful that our region is turning the corner toward recovery.

City Awards an Additional 143 Grants from Small Business Stabilization Fund

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The Office of Economic Development (OED) awarded an additional 143 businesses $10,000 grants from the second round of the Stabilization Fund. In March of 2020, OED quickly launched the Stabilization Fund to allocate $2.5 million in emergency funding to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. OED received over 9,000 applications and. because the need is significantly greater than the available resources, OED did not re-open the application process for round two.—Instead, businesses were selected from the original pool of eligible applicants.  

“In the face of this unprecedented crisis, our office with the support of our City partners was able to provide emergency funding to nearly 400 small businesses throughout our City.” said Pedro Gomez, Director of Small Business Development at OED. “These grants have helped our small businesses to stay afloat over the past several months, however, there are so many businesses that are still in need of support.”  

OED prioritized businesses located in areas of the city that are at risk of high-displacement and by applied a weighted lottery system that ensured 80 percent of the recipients were from those areas of the city. As a result, nearly 75 percent of the recipients from this second round identified as people of color.  

The City is working closely with our philanthropic partners to secure funding for future grants. Those interested in donating to the Stabilization Fund can do so by  emailing covidpledge@seattle.gov.  Businesses throughout Seattle are encouraged to monitor the OED website for updated information and any future announcements.  

The full list of grantees for the second round of the Small Business Stabilization Fund is below: 

Grantees of the second round of the Stabilization Fund.

Federal Paycheck Protection Program Loan Helps Small Business Momo Transition to Online Retail

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Momo before COVID-19 | Photo courtesy of momoseattle.com

Lei Ann Shiramizu and her husband Tom Kleifgen are the owners of Momo ,  a small business located in the historic Jackson Building on the corner of 6th and Jackson. Momo sells clothing and accessories, home accents, and “omiyage” – a Japanese term meaning  “perfectly presented gift.” Lei Ann and Tom often refer to Momo as “Scandinasian,” honoring her culture as a Japanese-American who grew up in Hawaii, and Tom’s Swedish culture.  

Momo’s stationery collection | Photo courtesy of momoseattle.com

Like many other retail establishments in Seattle, Momo closed following Governor Inslee’s ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ order issued in February to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the region’s COIVD-19 response continued, Lei Ann and Tom decided to pivot their business operations to an online model to avoid permanently shutting down. That would require additional resources. 

They heard about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—a relief resource for businesses impacted by COVID-19 — and as soon as funding became available in April, decided to apply for one of the PPP loans. Their application was successful, and they received money on May 8. 

The process of applying for the loan involved several steps. First, Lei Ann and Tom filled out an application through the bank where they have their business account. She explains, “we went online and applied; it was simple, but we were not sure exactly what we were supposed to provide.”

They didn’t hear back from that bank, so after consulting with a private Facebook group of other business owners they applied again through a different bank, and received an email telling them to wait for a more detailed response. By that time, however, the funding for the first round of the PPP had been exhausted. 

Soon thereafter, Congress funded a second round of PPP loans, and through another network of small businesses owners, Lei Ann and Tom learned of a different strategy: the nonprofit NDC was working with local small businesses and helping them navigate the PPP loan application process. Her multifaceted network of small businesses “really pulled together and shared information” because “so many of us were frustrated.” 

Visit the NDC website to learn more

Local NDC staff work with businesses in low-income census tracts in Seattle and King County. As of earlier this month, they had helped 55 businesses in the City of Seattle secure PPP loans worth $4.1 million. On average, businesses who received loans through NDA had seven employees and received loans of $71,728. 

Lei Ann says Melissa Lafayette at NDC helped them complete the paperwork and NDC funded the loan. The process “wasn’t intuitive” and she appreciated Melissa’s support tremendously. The time between applying  through NDC and receiving money in their bank account took less than a week. 

The PPP loan Momo received  has helped the store stay afloat through the pandemic-related closure. Tom says, “it helped stop us from bleeding money.” They upgraded their website, and Lei Ann has changed the focus of her retail strategy from in-store, customer-intensive interactions to an online platform.  

Some of Lei Ann’s “Momo to Go” gifts wrapped | Photos courtesy of Lei Ann Shiramizu

“I took the kernel of Omiyage and made it the bulk of our business… I looked at what we had and put together gift sets that related thematically  — for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays,” and other occasions, says Lei Ann. Read more about this creative effort on her blog, “Momo to Go.” 

As Lei Ann looks toward reopening, she acknowledges that this, too, will entail new challenges and require nimble adjustment. She wonders how she’ll combine the demands of Momo’s online and delivery model with in-store, customer-intensive interactions. She’s not sure, but she’s nevertheless “energized” and confident in her ability to adapt yet again. 

Lei Ann Shiramizu and a Chai tea gift set she assembled | Photos courtesy of Lei Ann Shiramizu

If you’re a small business owner who is eligible for a PPP loan, but you haven’t yet applied, now is the time. There’s still over $100 billion available to fund these forgivable loans to small businesses, and we want to encourage everyone to pursue this option if you qualify to do so. Please, don’t delay! The deadline to apply is June 30, but the program may run out of funds before then. These funds can help sustain, and even improve, your business during these uncertain times.  

If you’d like to apply for a PPP loan, we recommend you start by contacting the bank that handles your business account. You can apply through any institution that is participating in the program, and each bank has its own application process.  

An application for the Paycheck Protection Program with a reminder note stuck to it.

Our OED team has worked with approximately 440 business owners who have received Small Business Administration (SBA) and PPP loans. Though the federal government has not yet released precise numbers for our region, we know there are many small businesses in our community that have successfully applied for – and are benefiting from – PPP funds. 

  • AJ Cari
  • Danielle Hursh
  • Michael Wells
  • Jennifer Tam
Some of the members of our OED team

OED has focused particularly on providing in-language resources for immigrant business owners. The OED phone line enables callers to leave voice mail messages in eight different languages; callers then receive a response from a staff person or translator who speaks their language and can help. 

If you need translation services or other support, or need a referral to a lender, OED is here to help. Call us at (206) 684-8090 or email oed@seattle.gov. 

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.

Resources Roundup June 17, 2020

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The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) is committed to keeping you updated about new developments in these quickly changing and challenging times. In this weekly blog, we’ll provide you with news and information about new policies and resources available from the City of Seattle, King County, the State of Washington, the federal government, and our private and philanthropic partners. 

City of Seattle and King County News and Resources 

Seattle skyline seen from the water
Seattle skyline, June 2020 | Photo by Ken Ewalt

King County moves into Modified Phase 1 under Governor Inslee’s “Safe Start Washington” Plan

On Friday, June 5 the Washington State Department of Health accepted King County’s plan to allow for limited openings of recreational, social and businesses activities in a modified Phase 1 of Governor Inslee’s Safe Start reopening plan. You can read more about what activities are allowed under the modified Phase 1 application here. 

More changes are in the works. On June 15, King County submitted an application to the state Department of Health to move King County to Phase 2 of the Safe Start recovery plan following approval of the plan by the King County Board of Health. We will keep you posted about the status of that application and what it will mean for our city’s small businesses.  

For additional resources, please see:  

Nonprofit, small business, & residential eviction moratoriums extended through August 1 

Consistent with the State of Washington’s recently expanded eviction moratorium, the City of Seattle has extended its moratoriums on evictions of nonprofits, small businesses, and residents through August 1, 2020. To get help if you are having difficulty paying rent, please see our Lease Amendment Toolkit.  

Tips for Staying Healthy and Safe from Public Health – Seattle & King County

Screenshot of the home page of Public Health -- Seattle & King County
The Public Health — Seattle & King County website provides updated information

Public Health – Seattle & King County reminds all of us to continue physical distancing and infection control practices. They have encouraged everyone to follow these tips to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19:

Adhering to these guidelines will help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases across King County and will move the county closer to further reductions in business and activities restrictions as part of the State of Washington’s Safe Start plan.

You can find more information and additional resources here.

Find Your Next Job through the Seattle Public Library

The Central branch of the Seattle Public Library | Photo credit spl.org

Your Next Job is a new service at The Seattle Public Library (SPL) that can help job seekers to:

  • Get started with unemployment
  • Search for jobs
  • Apply for jobs
  • Learn new job skills

Through one-on-one appointments via phone, text or online conferencing, staff will help job seekers be successful on career and educational pathways, including job seekers with little or no digital literacy skills and those who have limited English proficiency. Find support for computers basics, such as using email, creating a SAW (Secure Access Washington) account to start an unemployment claim, and navigating online resources.

Staff can answer questions by phone in Amharic, Arabic, Cantonese, English, French, Hindi, Hmong, Italian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Oromo, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tagalog, Thai, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese. One-on-one appointments are available in English, Mandarin, and Russian, with more language options coming in early July.

For access to job resources, visit SPL’s website. 

No Special Events permits this summer

Fireworks over South Lake Union | Photo by Wei Zeng on Unsplash

On June 11, the Seattle Special Events Committee voted to not issue Special Event permits through September 7, 2020. At this time, Seattle and King County are in Phase 1.5, and large gatherings are prohibited. Gatherings of over 50 people are not considered until Phase Four. 

The Special Events Committee is currently accepting and will review applications for events after Labor Day, and the Committee is developing processes that event organizers can use to incorporate State and public health requirements in their events.  

The City of Seattle continues to monitor developments from the Governor’s office, and guidance from Public Health—Seattle & King County, the Washington Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention regarding COVID-19. 

State of Washington News and Resources 

Older and high-risk workers are protected under Gov. Inslee’s recent proclamation | Photo by Mathias Konrath on Unsplash

Protecting high-risk workers

On June 9, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extension of a proclamation giving high-risk workers the right to protect themselves from COVID-19 without jeopardizing their employment status or loss of income.

The proclamation provides older workers and those with underlying health conditions a series of rights and protections, including:

  • The choice of an alternative work assignment, including telework, alternative or remote work locations if feasible, and social distancing measures.
  • The ability to use any accrued leave or unemployment benefits if an alternative work assignment is not feasible and the employee is unable to safely work. Employers must maintain health insurance benefits while high risk employees are off the job.
  • Employers are prohibited from permanently replacing high-risk employees.

High-risk individuals are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and specifically include:

  • 65 years of age or older; and
  • People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled.

Federal Resources

Hand holding fanned out $100 bills
Money from PPP and EIDL loans is deposited directly to business bank accounts | Photo by 金 运 on Unsplash

Paycheck Protection Program Loans

PPP funds are still available for small businesses, independent contractors, nonprofits and tribal businesses whose operations were impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak.

Recently, Congress approved the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. This legislation provides more flexibility for small businesses who receive these loans. Additionally, new and revised PPP guidance was recently issued that expands eligibility for businesses with owners who have past felony convictions.

The loan forgiveness terms have changed to:

  • A decreased threshold required to spend on payroll from 75% to 60%;
  • Allow for 24 weeks, instead of eight  weeks, to meet the threshold; and
  • Extend pre-COVID staffing levels from 6/30/20 to 12/31/20.

Interested borrowers can apply for a PPP loan through one of 5,500 participating lenders including banks, credit unions, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), Minority Depository Institutions (MDI), Farm Credit Lenders, and Microlenders. Plus, information and forms are translated into 17 languages.

Last week, new and revised PPP guidance was issued that expands eligibility for businesses with owners who have past felony convictions.

The deadline to apply for PPP is June 30, 2020. Please call the Seattle Office of Economic Development at 206-684-8090 from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or email OED at oed@seattle.gov anytime to receive free assistance.

You can ask for language assistance and receive interpretation over the phone.For additional information and links to great resources, SBA Pacific Northwest Region has compiled a helpful document, “5 Things to Know about PPP.” Read about businesses that have received PPP loans and more about how to apply here.

PPP webinar

If you’ve received a PPP loan and need more information about how the  money must be spent in order to be forgiven, OneRedmond is sponsoring a webinar that will cover this information on Thursday, June 18 from 10-11:30 a.m. Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will  review and break down the recent significant changes and what they may mean to your business.

Click here to register.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Loan Advance now available

A screenshot of the first page of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan application
First page of the online EIDL application

The Small Business Administration (SBA)’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for small businesses and non-profits affected by COVID-19.  On June 15, SBA began accepting new EIDL and EIDL Advance applications from qualified small businesses. 

EIDL loan assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt, or fund other expenses.  Small business owners are able to apply for an EIDL Advance of $1,000 per employee up to $10,000. The loan advance, which will not have to be repaid, is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue.  

Find out more at this link, and fill out an application here.  

Nonprofit & Philanthropic News and Resources

Food banks and other nonprofits have seen increased demand recently | Photo by Kathie Tupper

Support for nonprofits

The COVID-19 crisis has hit the nonprofit sector — which supports the most vulnerable among us — especially hard. To help, the Puget Sound Business Journal (PBSJ) has partnered with The Seattle Foundation and All In Washington to help the business community partner with nonprofits needing support.

On Friday, June 26, 2020, PSBJ will publish a special COVID-19 Giving Guide.

A portion of PSBJ’s proceeds from this endeavor will be donated to The Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund.

To learn how your business can participate, contact Marijane Milton at mmilton@bizjournals.com

City of Seattle Engages with Capitol Hill Organized Protest to make Safety Changes

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The Capitol Hill Organized Protest has emerged as a gathering place where community members can demand change of their local, state, and federal government. Capitol Hill and Cal Anderson Park have long been a gathering place for justice. While there have been inaccurate and misleading depictions of the CHOP from the President and some national media, the City believes first amendment activities can continue while also maintaining public safety and allowing access for residents and businesses who operate in the area.  Mayor Durkan believes these changes can help ensure any focus of the CHOP and Cal Anderson will allow for peaceful demonstrations to continue.       

Beginning last Tuesday, City officials have been on site on Capitol Hill to work meeting community needs including hygiene, sanitation and safety. Utilities including Puget Sound Energy and SPU have been able to respond to the area for service. Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best has visited the site multiple times. Over the past week, conversations continued between City officials, organizers onsite for the CHOP, residents and businesses. The City is committed to maintaining space for community to come together, protest and exercise their first amendment rights. Minor changes to the protest zone will implement safer and sturdier barriers to protect individuals in this area, allow traffic to move throughout the Capitol Hill neighborhood, ease access for residents of apartment building in the surrounding areas, and help local businesses manage deliveries and logistics. Additionally all plans have been crafted with the goal of allowing access for emergency personnel including fire trucks.  

Every day, Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, Seattle Department of Transportation Director Sam Zimbabwe, and Seattle Public Utilities General Manager Mami Hara have been on site. On Sunday, they  held a meeting with onsite organizers, small businesses, and residents to discuss proposed changes to the protest zone. In coordination with protesters onsite, work began at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday to remove a tent barrier at 10th and Pine and replace it with a sturdier concrete barrier to improve public safety. The City has successfully worked with protesters onsite to reconfigure the CHOP to allow for public safety and better access for the local community. That has involved rerouting traffic, freeing up alley access, opened streets, and replacing makeshift barriers with heavy concrete barriers that can be painted.    

The area adjacent to Cal Anderson park on Pine between 10th and 11th will remain closed. This street is now home to the Black Lives Matter street art.  

A top priority for community access is opening 12th Avenue, a City arterial road, which typically carries more traffic. Under these changes, 12th Ave will become one way on the south side of Pine St in order to accommodate a protest zone in the west lanes and allow access and movement of vehicles in the east lanes. An alley access zone was also set up on the South side of Pine between 11th and 12th to allow for apartment building access.  

The Seattle Police Department will dispatch to respond to significant life-safety issues in the area. The Seattle Police Department’s definition of life-safety issues may include an active shooter incident, an assault, a structure fire, significant medical emergency (i.e. heart attack, stroke, trauma) and other incidents that threaten a person’s life safety.  

Over the weekend the City also reached out to community groups including Black Lives Matter, Urban League, Choose 180, Not This Time, Africatown and others to share the plan for traffic and safety mitigation in this area.   

Preserving a space for demonstrators to come together is one of several actions the City has taken to respond to the community’s call for change. Over the last two weeks, Mayor Durkan has prioritized meeting with community leaders and demonstration organizers, heard their concerns, and is committed to enduring systemic changes to reimagine what policing looks like in Seattle and to addressing systemic racism. Thus far, community voices have led to new Seattle Police Department (SPD) protocol on mourning badges and body cameras, has led the state to move towards creating a Statewide Independent Investigation for officers who use deadly force, and much more. Prior to the CHOP forming, the Mayor also committed to investing $100 million directly into community and creating a community-driven Black Commission. The City recognizes that more must be done, and the Mayor and department leaders are committed to that work. 

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.

Mayor Durkan Terminates Citywide Curfew

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After meeting with community leaders yesterday, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and Chief Carmen Best announced that the citywide curfew would end effective immediately. The curfew was originally recommended by the Seattle Police Department as a way to aid in crowd control and preserve public safety after violence on Saturday. However, the Mayor and Chief chose to rescind the curfew following feedback from community leaders and protesters who wanted to ensure no peaceful individuals who were demonstrating were arrested. The Seattle Police Department did not make a single arrest for violation of the curfew.

“These last few days have been deeply trying, and have caused a level of sadness, anger, and frustration from the community that makes crystal clear: At the City, we can work together to make changes. On Saturday, we first implemented the curfew as a tool to help the Seattle Police Department disperse peaceful crowds, keep vulnerable people in their homes, and preserve public health and safety.

“However, community leaders made it clear that wanted to ensure peaceful demonstrations could still occur and ensure there was no disruption for our workers, and small business owners. Throughout the day, we have seen peaceful demonstrations, and Chief Best believes we can balance public safety and ensure peaceful protests can continue without a curfew. Effective immediately, the curfew is no longer in effect in the City of Seattle. For those who are demonstrating, please keep making your voices heard peacefully.”

Mayor Jenny Durkan

The City of Seattle sent a notice of the terminated curfew last night via Alert Seattle, which sends notifications directly to residents’ mobile phones. The City encourages all residents to sign up for Alert Seattle to receive notifications directly to their mobile device. The City also continues to notify residents via social media, outreach to stakeholders, and the press. 

All residents should keep in mind impacts to roads and transit service could make it more difficult to get home. The City encourages residents to follow @kcmetrobus, @SoundTransit, @SDOTtraffic, and @wsdot_traffic on Twitter for updates on transit service and road closures. King County Metro and Sound Transit are both operating at reduced services because of COVID-19, so residents should check updated schedules regularly. 

Resources Roundup June 3, 2020

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The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) is committed to keeping you updated about new developments in these quickly changing and challenging times. In this weekly blog, we’ll provide you with news and information about new policies and resources available from the City of Seattle, King County, the State of Washington, the federal government, and our private and philanthropic partners. 

City of Seattle News and Resources 

Protest on 5th and James Street June 3 | Photo via @seattledot

Seattle’s Commitment to Justice and Equity

The Office of Economic Development and the City of Seattle are committed to working for justice and equity and dismantling systemic racism and addressing police violence. At OED, we will continue to work toward building an inclusive economy for our City—where all people, especially communities historically excluded from the economic prosperity of our City and region, can thrive.  

The escalating tensions in cities across our country are the result of the murder of George Floyd’s by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, the unjust killing of countless other Black people, and years of institutionalized racism, police violence, and other racialized injustices that put Black and Brown communities in harm’s way.

The outcry of this weekend has elevated the need for change, and Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best have addressed this traumatic reality and called for ongoing efforts to dismantle institutional and cultural racism — here in Seattle and throughout our county. You can read Mayor Durkan’s statement here.  

Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best discusses recent events as Fire Chief Harold Scoggins listens | Seattle Channel on You Tube

Like many other cities across the country, Seattle has witnessed a public outcry for justice. Protests and demonstrations have occurred downtown, in the Chinatown-International District (CID), on Capitol Hill, and in other neighboring cities. They have been organized to mourn the loss of George Floyd and others who have died unjustly, and to call for ending police violence against people of color. The escalating tensions evident in these protests have illustrated our stark need for deep institutional and cultural changes.  

Unfortunately, some  individuals co-opted peaceful demonstrations to engage in chaotic and destructive behavior. This behaviors put the safety of protesters, law enforcement personnel, and other community members at risk. They have also added insult to injury for our small business community which was already struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Collaborative Work to Restore our City 

City staff, community members, and business owners worked together last weekend

Volunteers continue to join forces with City staff to clean up and restore our city. These efforts are evidence of the overwhelming good nature and spirit of community we have in Seattle. Many staff from OED and other City departments have been working since last weekend to respond to the emerging needs of local businesses. We collaborated with our business district partners and businesses that donated lumber and other supplies to help board up and protect small businesses in the Chinatown-International District, downtown, and Capitol Hill. To date, we have responded to more than 160 requests for help. 

City staff work to secure businesses in the Chinatown-International District last weekend | Photo by Ross Aitken

We will continue these restorative initiatives. Now more than ever, we must join together to strengthen Seattle and lift up common goals of inclusiveness, justice, and prosperity for all. 

If your business needs help or support during this challenging time, please reach out to the Office of Economic Development by emailing oed@Seattle.gov or calling (206) 684-8090. 

Tips for Securing Your Business 

OED’s Only in Seattle (OIS) team coordinates with Seattle’s neighborhood business districts to provide resources for community stakeholders, businesses and property owners, and local organizations. They are working actively to help businesses during this challenging time. Among other resources, they hosted a recent webinar focused on business safety and security. Find a recording from that webinar and related resources here.   

The City also has provided several resources that can help you secure your business from vandalism and theft: 

King County Applies for A Modified Phase One under Governor Inslee’s Safe Start Washington Phased Approach to Reopening 

Late last month, Governor Inslee announced updated Safe Start Washington plan for resuming recreational, social, and business activities. The updated plan establishes a modified Phase One, which allows certain businesses, construction and manufacturing, and outdoor recreation activities to resume under strict public health and safety guidance. You can find the full breakdown of modified Phase One guidance here, and the Governor’s business, worker, and personal activity guidance here. 

Mayor Durkan believes that Seattle and King County are ready to enter a modified Phase One approach to reopening additional businesses – you can find her full statement here. Even as we apply for a modified Phase One, we all know that we aren’t out of the woods yet. This virus knows no boundaries and resurgence can happen quickly and exponentially if we don’t all do our part. As we begin to reopen our economy, businesses, and cultural institutions, we cannot relax all restrictions simultaneously. 

Under King County’s submitted plan, hair salons would be able to reopen in a limited capacity

Today, King County submitted a plan to the state Department of Health that would allow for limited and modified openings for a wide range of businesses and personal activities. The county’s application includes recommendations from King County local health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin that would: 

  • Allow all outdoor recreation permitted in Phase 2 in Gov. Inslee’s Safe Start plan 
  • Expand opening indoor fitness studios for one-on-one activities 
  • Allow restaurants to begin opening indoor seating at 25% of normal capacity 
  • Allow hair stylists and other personal services at 25% capacity 

Find more more information about the application here: 

We know that many of our business owners and residents have questions about what the King County application and the State’s guidance mean for them. The Mayor’s Office and the City’s Office of Economic Development (OED) will continue to amplify information from the State as soon as we have it, and make sure materials are accessible and available in-language. In the meantime, you can visit the Washington state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) website for additional reopening guidance. We appreciate our residents’ patience, compassion, and collaboration as we navigate this unprecedented moment in real-time, together.  

Upcoming webinar: Protecting the
health and safety of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

King County Public Health is partnering with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide information about preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Labor and Industries will discuss safety protocols that need to be put in place in worksites.

The CDC has been working with businesses that have had positive cases, and will provide case studies and share information about considerations for testing the workforce, contact tracing in the workplace, and criteria for ending isolation and quarantine of positive and exposed workers. Register for this webinar

Wearing and Procuring Face Coverings 

Super Jock & Jill business owner Chet James and City of Seattle employee Jeanne Clark sport face coverings | Photo by Jeanne Clark

In accordance with a Public Health – Seattle & King County directive in effect since May 18, all workers and residents should wear cloth face coverings in all indoor public settings and outdoor public spaces where maintaining social distancing could be difficult, such as farmers markets. Please help minimize the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone safe by adhering to these regulations.  

The City of Seattle created the Seattle Protects online marketplace to help businesses, nonprofit organizations, and residents purchase face coverings from local manufacturers. Seattle Protects is a new economic development and public health effort by the City to encourage local organizations in search of face coverings to purchase from Seattle-region midsize manufacturers and businesses that have pivoted to creating face coverings and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Association of Washington Businesses also has created a hub where businesses can get access to PPE and other resources to assist with reopening. 

If you’d like to make your own face covering, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided tips and information; find their DIY instructions here. 

State of Washington News and Resources 

Washington State Capitol Building | Photo by Benjamin Massello on Unsplash

Quarterly Tax Reports Needed for Unemployment Claims 

An unprecedented number of Washingtonians are applying for unemployment and business reports are crucial to finding out if they can establish a claim. Please do everything you can to provide your report information to the State on time.  

We know that COVID-19 has disrupted operations for many businesses, and the Washington State Employment Security Department has programs to help. They have also made emergency rules to offer employers more leniency for meeting Unemployment Insurance deadlines. If you can’t file taxes on time because of COVID-19, you will need to request a penalty waiver in writing.  

Small business resources and requirements workshops

The State of Washington is providing regular webinars with all the state agencies that interact with small businesses. Sign up on their website. 

University of Washington Support for Business Communications

University of Washington campus | Photo by Howard Wu

The UW Communication Leadership is offering pro-bono communications consulting to small businesses and nonprofits. They’re specifically looking to work with more businesses owned/operated by people who are black, indigenous, and/or people of color in Seattle’s Central District, Southeast Seattle, and South King County. 

Some examples of support they can provide include: 

  • Communicating within your organization (internally) and with your audience (externally) from a distance 
  • Pivoting communications strategies, messaging, and business practices to continue in the face of COVID-19
  • Creating videos and other multimedia assets while practicing social distancing 
  • Hosting online events 

Stay up to date 

Looking for daily COVID-19 statistics? Daily statistics are provided by the Washington Department of Health (DOH) or view statewide statistics on a map. 

Federal News and Resources 

Paycheck Protection Program Loans 

The CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for small businesses are still available. Many Seattle small businesses have been successful in applying , and nearly $150 billion remains available in PPP funds. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2020. 

These loans help small businesses address financial challenges related to COVID-19 by providing salary replacement and funds for certain business operating expenses. If spent in accordance with guidelines, these loans can be fully forgiven.  

All loan terms will be the same for everyone and are provided through financial institutions/ lenders. Find more information on this SBA webpage or in this Treasury Department Information Sheet for Borrowers. 

The Office of Economic Development is here to help answer your questions and navigate the process of applying for PPP loans. OED continues to offer FREE assistance to small businesses and nonprofits with their PPP loan and loan forgiveness applications and has bilingual interpretation. Contact OED directly at 206-684-8090 or oed@seattle.gov to access this technical assistance.