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Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

Register Yourself and Your Community for a Vaccine Appointment

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Patient entering the line for the Lumen Field vaccination.

Our region and state continue to make incredible progress on vaccinations. As of April 23, an estimated 61.5 percent of Seattle residents have begun the vaccination process, and 34.7 percent are fully vaccinated. This week, the City received 52,000 vaccinations from the county, state, and federal level, which is our largest allocation to-date. If this level of supply and demand continues in Seattle, we could vaccinate 70 percent of our workers and residents by the end of May.

Even with supply breaking loose, the City can’t end this pandemic alone – we need your help. If you haven’t already been vaccinated, sign up for a vaccination appointment today at any of the four City-affiliated sites at Lumen Field, North Seattle, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle.

Details are below:

If you have already been vaccinated, be a good neighbor and help your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers get vaccinated by sharing this link throughout your communities. To end this pandemic – and soon – we need to share registration opportunities far and wide: To our workforce, our neighborhood, and our friends and families. If you have any questions, the City encourages you to review our “What to Expect” website.

And if you know someone 60 or older who hasn’t been vaccinated, take them to our hubs in Rainier Beach and West Seattle, and you’ll both get vaccinated without an appointment. You can find more information on our new Good Neighbor walk-in program here.  

Vaccines save lives. With more variants in our community, you can protect your health and the health of your family by getting vaccinated.

If you’re unable to book an appointment this week, they can sign up for the City’s notification list and get notified via email as soon as appointments are available at any of the four City-affiliated sites.

For more information, including the notification list, visit the City’s vaccination website at www.seattle.gov/vaccine. The site contains vaccination information in seven languages, and in-language assistance is also available over the phone.

Even as more residents get vaccinated, public health measures like social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing your hands remain critical. Please continue to follow all public health guidance, and visit this website from Public Health – Seattle & King County for more information.

Celebrating Earth Week with Hanna McGraw of Joule Case

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Today the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) celebrates Earth Week and the  diverse  voices in our region’s clean technology industry. 

Hanna McGraw is a business Development Manager at Joule Case - a clean technology start up that produces electric batteries that can replace gas generators. Photo courtesy of Hanna McGraw.
Hanna McGraw is a business Development Manager at Joule Case – a clean technology start up that produces electric batteries that can replace gas generators. Photo courtesy of Hanna McGraw.

Hanna McGraw is a Business Development Manager focused on sales and marketing at Joule Case, a clean technology start up that launched in 2015, providing a clean and quiet alternative to gas generators with electric batteries. In any instance someone may use a gas generator, such as camping,  powering up a food truck, or emergency generators – Joule Case provides a green alternative for all energy needs. Joule Cases are portable and stackable  allowing users the ability to attach additional battery units to a model. Joule Cases products create an 80% reduction in carbon emissions and are safe to use indoors. 

 Prior to working at Joule Case, McGraw studied at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. McGraw worked in corporate retail for 15 years at companies such as Gap, REI, and Nordstrom as a product developer where she launched brands from concept to floor. McGraw’s transition from retail fashion to the electric battery start up was influenced by seeing the environmental impact of the fashion industry.  

“It was really difficult for me to work for a company that was not sustainable. The amount of waste – so much water and product waste – it was not environmentally friendly in the clothing business,” said McGraw. “So when I met James Wagoner, the CEO and co-founder of Joule Case, at a networking event for startups he really liked my retail and business background. From there we built a business relationship and I joined the Joule Case team.” 

Grounded in environmental stewardship McGraw brought her experience in collaboration and relationship building from her career in corporate retail to her new opportunity.  

 “In this industry, even though you may be working with competitors or companies unfamiliar in your work – the bottom line is that you’re all striving towards the same goal. And I would say that, continuing to network and to lean on each other, and to learn from each other is really important. Collaboration is so important because we’re on the brink of something really big when it come to batteries and battery technology, and battery being the solution.” 

Joule Case team (Left to Right: Pete Anewalt, James Wagoner, Alex Livingston, Hanna McGraw and Drew Haller). Photo courtesy of Hanna McGraw.
Joule Case team (Left to Right: Pete Anewalt, James Wagoner, Alex Livingston, Hanna McGraw and Drew Haller). Photo courtesy of Hanna McGraw.

In 2019, McGraw became the third employee–and only woman–to   join the startup based in the University District. Currently, the team has grown to a seven staff team, the majority of which are engineers. Data from 2019 shows that in Washington State, the clean energy workforce was 65.8% Whites, 15.3 % Latinx, 9.3% Asian, 7.1 % Black/African American, 1.4% American Indian and 1.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

“I think that for females, it’s just not really an avenue or career path that I ever really knew that much about. It’s becoming much more popular. I wish I knew more about it when I was younger. I think that trying to have more awareness about the clean tech industry, I didn’t really have that at all. I think having that awareness is really big.” 

In joining Joule Case, McGraw educated herself on batteries and battery technology. For people who are interested in the clean tech industry, she advises, 

“It’s really important to stay on top of current events and it’s important to stay on top of current technology. So what you’re doing and what you’re interested in going into you really need to network, make sure you’re completely up-to-date, make sure that your information is up-to-date, and stay present, stay current. Because things are changing so quickly that it really is a full time job to be abreast of what’s going on out there.”      

One of Joule Case’s largest customer base is food trucks and coffee trucks. Food trucks are using Joule Cases to supply power and improve the customer experience by eliminating noise and fumes produced by gas generators. Additionally, food truck small businesses are seeing a return on their investment without having to continually purchase gas for their power needs.  

Drew Haller, warehouse technician, working on a battery in the warehouse. Photo courtesy of Hanna McGraw.
Drew Haller, warehouse technician, working on a battery in the warehouse. Photo courtesy of Hanna McGraw.

Another demand for Joule Case is residential and emergency power. Florida hurricanes and California wildfires have driven demand for some homeowners to seek emergency power sources.  Joule Case has begun to partner with solar companies for homeowners who wish to take advantage of the Solar Investment Tax Credit – a 26% tax credit for solar systems on residential and commercial properties.   

McGraw and the Joule Case team are looking forward to the return of live events post-pandemic, as performers, like Coldplay, and concert goers are beginning to demand live events become carbon neutral. As a result, promoters are looking for an alternative to gas generators for these major events 

“Before COVID happened, we were slatted to do nine events in 2021 – and as you know everything got shut down. So we have small battery solutions, but we also have really large battery trailers. So we built a battery trailer on the Las Vegas Speedway, and we powered an entire music festival stage,” said McGraw. “We did all of the AV, speakers, sound, everything. So based on that, we have a partnership with very large companies in the event space, where we would be the environmental solution to the gas generator alternative. A lot of people don’t know this, but the biggest expense to run an events is power. So for us, we’re most excited about events coming back so we can make a change in that space.” 

When live events like Bumbershoot, Upstream Music Festival, or your neighborhood block parties are up and running and you see the disappearance of heavy cables with the plastic covers or the rumblings of a gas generators – there may be a Joule Case behind the curtain bringing you a Earth friendly alternative.   

OED’s Key Industry and Workforce Development Team focuses on economic development and growth in key industry sectors including maritime, manufacturing, technology, clean technology, healthcare, and creative sectors. 

If you are interested in a career in clean technology or looking to grow your clean technology business, contact OED’s Green Business Advocate Stephanie Gowing at Stephanie.Gowing@seattle.gov or 206-473-9122. 

Mayor Jenny Durkan Announces 2021 Mayor’s Award for Achievement in Film

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Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Vivian Hua and Northwest Film Forum as the recipient of the 15th Annual Mayor’s Award for Achievement in Film. The Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film recognizes an individual or entity for exceptional work that has significantly contributed to the growth, advancement and reputation of Seattle as a filmmaking city. The award was presented by Mayor Durkan at the Seattle International Film Festival Virtual Opening Night Gala on April 8. 

“I am proud to present the 2021 Mayor’s Award for Achievement in Film to Vivian Hua, for her extraordinary leadership with the Northwest Film Forum,” said Mayor Durkan. “As executive director of Northwest Film Forum, Vivian brings to her role a passion for preserving cultural space, centering work in equity and inclusivity, and finding ways to disrupt oppressive structures. COVID has significantly disrupted our film industry, however, despite an extremely difficult year, the drive, creativity and innovation of the industry has not been stopped.” 

“We are grateful for Vivian’s creativity and investment in the community through her work with the Northwest Film Festival. Our film industry contributes to our culture as a city, creates space for storytelling on an individual and community level, and provides economic opportunity for workers within our creative sectors,” said Pamela Banks, Interim Director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development. 

“The Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film has been given to many folks I respect in the local Seattle filmmaking community, and I am pleased for Northwest Film Forum to be represented among them yet again,” said Hua. “Here’s to a future where the City of Seattle will continue to show their strong support for our film industry, especially with regards to creating a more equitable space, so that filmmakers of all kinds can feel supported in sharing their authentic tales.” 

Vivian Hua (華婷婷) is a writer, filmmaker, organizer, and Executive Director of Northwest Film Forum since October 2018.  She has been the editor-in-chief of the socially conscious arts publication REDEFINE since 2004, and much of her work unifies her interest in the metaphysical with her belief that art can positively transform the self and society. NWFF has been Seattle’s film center since 1995, known previously as Wiggly World Studios. NWFF envisions a world where all people have the power to express themselves and connect with each other through visual storytelling and culture. As a nonprofit film and arts center located on Capitol Hill, NWFF presents hundreds of films, festivals, community events, multidisciplinary performance and public discussions each year.     

NWFF has provided a “clubhouse” of collaborative, funding and resource opportunities and has worked with Seattle directors such as Lynn Shelton, Meghan Griffiths, David Russo, and more. NWFF celebrates and offers a platform to Seattle’s emerging filmmakers with the annual Local Sightings Film Festival. NWFF is a comprehensive member-based visual media organization, offering educational workshops and services for film and media makers at all stages of their development, including access to space, gear, fiscal sponsorship and an edit lab.  

Through Vivian’s leadership, NWFF has developed critical online programs and webinars to expand the organization’s mission of supporting filmmaking and filmmakers this past year. Vivian also led the development of a series of recovery and reopening online panels, webinars and affinity groups prioritizing Black, Indigenous, people of color and LGBTQ filmmakers. Some examples include the BIPOC Filmmaker Happy Hour series, the Collective Power Fund grantmaking through the Warhol Foundation, Remove the Gap productions and the Lynn Shelton Of a Certain Age grant. NWFF supports local film festivals including Seattle Asian American Film Festival, Children’s Film Festival, Seattle Turkish Film Festival, among others, by providing resources and online screening platforms. This January, NWFF brought Seattle’s independent filmmaking to the national level through a partnership with the Sundance Film Festival. 

For over 75 years, Seattle has made its mark on the film scene as the production center for landmark films, compelling television series and successful commercial campaigns. OED offers a low cost, one-stop shop, streamlined service for permitting City of Seattle property for film productions. The office also acts as advocates for the film industry and the positive impacts production has on the local economy. 

Learn more about the award and previous winners.   

Vivian Hua wearing a purple top outdoors.
Vivian Hua. Credit: Leo Carmona.

Neighborhood Business Districts Webinar – Reopening Updates from City Departments

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On April 7, 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 reopening programs from various City departments such as: 

In response to COVID-19, the OIS team works to improve language access for small businesses, and 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 Small Business Resource Updates, applying for a Street Closure Permit, and public safety. 

If there’s a topic or a question that neighborhood business districts would like to cover in the future webinar, please contact Heidi Hall at Heidi.Hall@seattle.gov.  

04.07 Neighborhood Business District Slide Deck – Reopening Updates from City Departments (PDF) 

Seattle Office of Economic Development Will Provide Technical Assistance to Businesses Applying for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant

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The Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) will provide technical assistance to eligible businesses applying for the highly anticipated Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). The long-awaited $16 billion fund will provide economic relief to live venue operators, promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, motion picture theatre operators, talent agencies, relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. SVOG is a first come, first served grant, and all submitted applications will be processed in the order they are received. OED will be available to provide technical assistance starting April 8 and is encouraging all eligible applicants be prepared to submit their application when the grant is open.

“Seattle’s many small venues are part of what make our City one of the best places in the world to enjoy art, music, film, and theatre — but this past year has devastated our artists, creative industry, and entertainment venues. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have impacted so many Seattle businesses, and too many neighborhood favorites have had to close their doors for good,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “While our City has responded quickly over the past year to help support our small businesses, many of our small venue owners and operators are still facing an uncertain future and a long road to recovery as our city opens up and live performances become possible again. This federal program will finally be available this week to help support such an important sector of our city’s economy.”

All applicants interested in applying for SVOG should register with the U.S. Small Business Administration via their application portal to receive an email when the electronic application process is available. To be eligible for SVOG, applicants must:

  • Have been in operation as of February 29, 2020;
  • Provide a DUNS number and a System for Award Management Account (SAM) number and,
  • Submit a plan for how they will spend the grant they receive.

The Office of Management and Budgets has published a document that shows what the SVOG application might look like.

Applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross 2019 earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. Additionally, grants must be used for expenses such as payroll costs, rent, utilities and/or personal protective equipment. Venues or promoters who received a Paycheck Protection Program loan after December 27, will have their SVOG award reduced by the PPP loan amount they previously received. All eligible applicants can apply for all SBA disaster relief products including SVOG, PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

“COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on our businesses that rely on large groups of people gathering such as nightclubs, movie theaters, and live music venues. Some businesses have pivoted their operations to respond to the public health crisis, however certain businesses — like those that would be eligible for SVOG — have not had that same opportunity given the nature of their work,” said Pamela Banks, Interim Director of OED. “Despite these challenges, I have been amazed at the resiliency these businesses have had, the ways in which the community has supported each other, and am so glad these resources designed for these type of businesses are finally available. As Seattle begins to recover, we must continue to push for additional assistance to ensure equitable economic opportunities for those individuals, businesses, and sectors that have suffered the greatest economic loss.”

“SVOG is the single most important instrument that could have happened for music venues, promoters, talent buyers, etc. after this brutal year and change. Without it 1000’s of venues would have closed across the country effecting millions and millions of people. There simply are not words to express how important this piece of legislation was for us,” says Steven Severin, member of the Washington Nightlife Music Association (WANMA) and co-owner of Neumos, a live music venue in Seattle. “99.9% of businesses can’t survive over a year with no income. This gives us a step into a new light and day to do what we do, and that’s playing a role in making live music happen. We’ve (WANMA) scoured every inch of our state to make sure that folks know it’s something that’s available to them so everybody that can get help does. We don’t want to leave anyone out.”

For more information on SVOG, visit SBA’s website where video tutorials and FAQs are available, or OED’s COVID-19 Small Business Grants page. OED is providing assistance for grant opportunities such as SVOG, PPP, and EIDL, continues to assist business owners understand what other resources may be available to them, and provides in-language supports to access city, state and federal resources. Businesses can access this assistance by calling 206-684-8090 or emailing oed@seattle.gov. Bilingual assistance is available in Amharic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Tigrinya and Vietnamese. To request in-language assistance, businesses can call 206-684-8090 and note the following information: your name, phone number, preferred language and the type of support you need.

The Seattle Office of Economic Development is committed to building an equitable and inclusive economy that benefits the whole city by promoting access to economic opportunities for all of Seattle’s diverse communities. For more information, visit seattle.gov/economicdevelopment.

Graphic with four photographs: dancers, museum, movie theater and DJ. Text reads "Apply for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant!" and gives contact details for OED.

Worker Wednesday – Marine Chemist Trailblazer Amy Liu

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In honor of Women’s History Month, the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) is celebrating Amy Liu for this week’s Worker Wednesday feature! Liu is a marine chemist at Sound Testing, with 18 years of experience. Liu also serves on the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH) – a U.S. Department of Labor committee that advises the Secretary of Labor on matters relating to the safety and health of workers in the maritime industry.

For those wondering what a marine chemist is – a marine chemist is crucial to the safety of the maritime industry, as they conduct safety inspections on vessels before workers can begin repairs . As a marine chemist, Liu is responsible for conducting inspections that can require climbing through tight spaces to conduct atmospheric tests to see if a vessel has airborne toxic chemicals, or confirm if it’s safe to do welding in order to prevent a fire or explosion. Chemists assess all types of vessels, from tugboats and fishing vessels in the Fishermen’s Terminal to large industrial ships at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. After completing the inspection, the chemist creates a report to inform workers and the shipyard on the condition of the vessel to safely conduct repairs.

“At the end of the day, I feel that I help people make their job to run smoothly and more safely. I feel very privileged to be able to do this job, go out and meet people, and support them and the hard work that they’re doing.” said Liu. “It’s pretty amazing work that’s happening out there, and I’m just a small little minute piece of it. I get to share in the pride with everybody when vessels leave the shipyard and go sail.”

Liu with her father, Don Sly, at a job site.
Liu with her father, Don Sly, at a job site. Photo is pre-pandemic. Photo from the Marine Chemist Association.

Liu hails from West Seattle. Her father, Don Sly, was also a marine chemist. Although Liu didn’t plan on becoming a chemist, when she was finishing up college her father suggested she consider the career and invited her to shadow him.

“It was 180 degrees from what I thought of the science world, and the maritime industry really grew on me. I was very lucky that my dad introduced me to it, otherwise I would never had known about what a huge industry it is,” Liu reflects.

Liu studied chemistry at a community college and transferred to Seattle University, where she attained a Bachelor of Science. For graduate school, she attended the University of Washington (UW) and earned a Master of Science in Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene. While at UW, Liu began training to become certified by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). In order to receive certification, all applicants must also pass the Marine Chemist Qualification Board and be re-certified every five years.

Liu is also the first woman marine chemist in the country to receive a NFPA certificate. Of the 100 certified Marine Chemists in the nation, she is the only woman chemist.

Liu adjusted her work with COVID-19 safety guidance by wearing a mask. Photo is taken from West Seattle, with the city skyline in the background.
During the pandemic, Liu has adjusted her work with COVID-19 safety guidance. Photo by Amy Liu.

“I am very lucky to be the first woman to do this… I was very surprised because people really welcomed me with open arms,” said Liu. “I didn’t know what the shipyards were going to be like when I first started working there, but there were so many people who took me under their wing and showed me something here and there; old tricks of the trade. It has been more welcoming than I imagined. I’ve had a really wonderful experience.”

In addition to her professional career as a marine chemist, Liu balances her work life with her home life as a wife and a mother to two small children.

“I believe the hardest thing is trying to give everything that I have in everything that I do. Balancing all of that – trying to be the best mom I can be, trying to be the best parent I can be, trying to be the best co-worker I can be – that is the biggest struggle for me. I constantly feel like I should be giving more to whatever is I should be doing.”

The maritime industry is not a typical 9-5 office job, instead it is a 24/7 demand. Some days Liu may work a full day shift, go home to spend some time with her family, then have a job at 9:30pm on a Friday night.

“It does take a village. I couldn’t do it without my husband, my parents who help out, and I had to hire a nanny during COVID because my child’s daycare shut down,” said Liu.

During the pandemic, women have been disproportionately impacted by the additional care work required – such as having children home full time, supporting virtual schooling, or taking care of love ones who become sick. Some women have had to decrease their work hours or leave the workforce entirely to accommodate these additional care responsibilities. According to National Women’s Law Center, the majority of pandemic-related job losses since February 2020 were jobs that women were over-represented in, such as leisure and hospitality, education, and retail. A year into the pandemic, women are still short 5.1 million jobs since this time last year.

“It would be wonderful if we had more infrastructure for childcare. It is very hard for women to be in the workforce and to give it all – to give the time that any job requires and to take care of family. Without the support of childcare, whether it’s daycare, nannies, things like that – there’s no way to be able to solve it without having that support system in place,” Liu commented.

Liu sticking her head out of a tank during a vessel inspection.
As a marine chemist, Liu is responsible for conducting testing in vessels, which may require climbing through tight spaces and being familiar with different types of ships. Photo prior to the pandemic. Photo by Amy Liu.

Maritime is an essential industry, and has been critical during the pandemic. In King County, the maritime industry employs over 16,000 individuals, with 30% of the workforce being women. At 65%, the majority of the maritime workforce identify as White. Asians represent 12% of the workforce, whereas Black and Latinos comprise of 7% and 10% of the workforce. 45% of the workforce is between the ages of 45-64 and will soon begin retiring. In recruiting for the next wave of maritime employees, the industry is looking to recruit younger employees who are more diverse in gender and ethnicity to hold these middle and high earning wage jobs. The maritime industry has diverse career opportunities, from captain of a vessel, naval architect, shipping broker, and more.

After nearly two decades in the industry, Liu has some advice for young women entering maritime.

“Be everything you can be. Ask the questions. Be noisy, don’t worry about asking the wrong question – because that’s how you learn things.”

The Seattle Office of Economic Development’s (OED) Key Industry and Workforce Development Team focuses on economic development and growth in key industry sectors including maritime, manufacturing, technology, clean technology, healthcare, creative sectors and clean technology.

If you are interested in a career in maritime or looking to grow your maritime business, contact OED’s Maritime and Manufacturing Advocate Sarah Scherer at Sarah.Scherer@seattle.gov or 206-256-6986.

Clean City Initiative provides added support to Business Districts throughout the City

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Seattle (March 19, 2021) – Starting in February, Clean City funds have enabled business associations and business districts to increase their efforts to clean up trash, address graffiti, and clean streets and sidewalks. The Clean City Initiative will provide additional funding for Broadway BIA, Chinatown/International District BIA, Columbia City BIA, University District BIA, Pioneer Square, West Seattle Junction Association, and Ballard Business Association to enhance their regular cleaning efforts within their business districts. Additionally, funds have paid to support enhanced cleaning services in business districts in Beacon Hill, Central Area, Aurora Licton, Mt Baker, Rainier Valley, Georgetown, South Park, Hillman City, Rainier Beach, Othello, Lake City, First Hill, and Capitol Hill. 

Before Photo: A building in Chinatown with graffiti.
After Photo: Uplift Northwest employee cleaning up graffiti.

For the month of February, business districts saw substantial impact from these additional Clean City funds with an additional 509 hours of cleaning hours, which included graffiti removed from 717 structures and more trash and needles collected.   

“It isn’t just our parks and neighborhoods that could benefit from a surge of cleaning, our business districts can too! We are supporting our businesses’ recovery by ensuring that the streets and sidewalks surrounding them are clean and inviting. The hard work of Clean City crews and community partners is staring to pay off, and we will keep it up to get our city and our parks clean, safe, and ready for recovery,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. 

“Our city has a history of business innovation and vision, and our revitalization strategy depends on the success of our business districts throughout Seattle. The Clean City Initiative will continue to keep storefronts clean, open, and welcoming as we reopen our economy. The success of the Clean City Initiative cannot be understated, and we must continue this investment in the businesses that make Seattle such a special place to live,” said Councilmember Debora Juarez.   

“Uplift Northwest is grateful to partner with the City of Seattle on the Clean City Initiative in not only beautifying our communities, but also providing life-changing employment readiness training and job opportunities to men and women experiencing poverty and homelessness. Homelessness and the pandemic have disproportionately affected families in our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community, and by providing stable jobs through the Clean City Initiative, Uplift Northwest is creating a pathway to stable housing and self-sufficiency to our most vulnerable citizens,” Gina Hall, Executive Director of Uplift Northwest. 

This portion of the Clean City work started in February, and compliments  the additional litter routes, neighborhood and park focus cleaning, increased trash pick-up from encampments and RVs, and additional needle collection efforts performed by City crews.  

In the month of February (crews were pulled away for snow response 2/12-2/16), Clean City work from City crews included: 

  • 5 park clean ups 
  • 423 bags of trash collected 
  • 83 sidewalk blocks swept 
  • 33,696 needles collected 
  • 837,754lbs of trash collected 

“Columbia City is a small business district, and the Clean City Initiative (CCI) is making a big impact. With CCI supplemental funds, we’ve been able to expand the scope of work of our BIA cleaning contractor to include cleaning and painting of our landmark district “street furniture”. To say the least, this work is long overdue. In this “springtime of hope”, these neighborhood improvements are making a noticeable difference. Thanks to the Mayor for the initiative, and thanks to OED for the hassle-free program implementation,” said Rob Mohn, Columbia City Business Association.  

“The Clean City Initiative funding has allowed us to double our planned cleaning service that we provide for the Ballard community.  Our sidewalks and alleys are looking better than they have in a long time and the CCI Team has been responsive in addressing large-scale garbage cleanups in the community.  And as we look to  welcome even more people back to Ballard as the pandemic subsides, having a clean and safe neighborhood is more important than ever,” said Mike Stewart, Executive Director, Ballard Alliance. 

The Clean City Initiative combines a suite of enhanced and expanded cleaning efforts, including: 

  • Intensive Park Maintenance. SPR chooses two parks each week that undergo intensive cleaning efforts (trash pick up, needle pick up, pressure washing, shrub bed maintenance). 
  • Encampment trash clean up. SPR and SPU visit encampments and RVs throughout the city to collect trash and litter.  
  • Additional litter routes. SPU works with contractors to cover weekly routes picking up  trash and illegally dumped items.  
  • Clean City Teams bring together staff from SDOT and SPR to do litter pick up, street cleaning, graffiti removal, and enhanced maintenance from streets and parks throughout the city.  
  • Business District Cleaning efforts. Funding is being provided towards cleaning efforts in business districts throughout the city.  
  • Needle Drop Boxes. With Clean City funds, SPU will add 10 new needle boxes in parks and neighborhoods.  

If there is litter, trash, needles, or illegal dumped materials near you, you can always report via the City’s Find It, Fix It app, or call (206) 684-CITY (2489). 

The Clean City Initiative provides a surge of litter pick-up and maintenance that will continue through April 2021. To learn more and follow along with these efforts, please visit www.seattle.gov/clean-city 

Small business webinars on PPP updates: March 4-8

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Small business owner pouring drinks.

Following the February 22 updates to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) is hosting a series of webinars to help small business owners with fewer than 20 employees or who are self-employed understand key information. The SBA established a two-week PPP loan application period exclusively for the smallest businesses, which closes on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 2 p.m. PST.

Join the SBA, Public Private Strategies Institute and other stakeholders to hear about the steps you can take to take advantage of this opportunity, learn about additional changes made by the Biden-Harris Administration and ask SBA leadership questions.

Below is the list of webinars and links to register (all times PST): ·

Need help for applying for PPP or understanding what federal resources are available to you and your small business? Contact the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) at 206-684-8090 or OED@seattle.gov for support. Bilingual assistance is available in Amharic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Tgrinya and Vietnamese. For more information, click here. OED is committed to building an inclusive economy which benefits the whole city by promoting access to economic opportunities for all of Seattle’s diverse communities.

Neighborhood Business Districts Webinar – Public Safety and City Update on Homelessness Response

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On March 3, the Only in Seattle (OIS) team hosted a webinar with neighborhood business districts and community partners to provide relevant and timely information for small businesses. This webinar focused on public safety and the City’s  homelessness response. Speakers included:  

In response to COVID-19, the OIS team works to improve language access for small businesses, and 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, to answer questions and concerns businesses may have. Previous webinars include Small Business Resource Updates, applying for a Street Closure Permit, and public safety. 

If there’s a topic or a question that neighborhood business districts would like to cover in a future webinar, please contact Heidi Hall at Heidi.Hall@seattle.gov.  

03.03 Neighborhood Business District Webinar: Public Safety and City Update on Homelessness Response Slide Deck (PDF) 

Paycheck Protection Program Updates Aim to Remove Barriers to Financial Support for Small Businesses

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Black woman using computer happily in a café.

On Monday, February 22, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the following changes to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) COVID-19 relief program to ensure equity:

  • From February 24-March 10, SBA will establish a 14-day Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application period exclusively for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees.
  • Sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals will receive more financial support.
  • Immigrant and refugee small business owners who have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) are eligible to apply for PPP.
  • Small business owners who were formerly incarcerated with prior non-fraud felony convictions are eligible to apply for PPP.
  • Small business owners who are impacted by federal student loan debt delinquency are eligible to apply for PPP.

PPP provides forgivable loans to help small businesses pay their employees and other expenses during the COVID-19 crisis. Applications are open for new and returning borrowers. Some highlights of the improved PPP program include:

  • First time borrowers can borrow up to 2.5 times the business’ average monthly payroll costs, up to a $10 million loan maximum.
  • Returning borrowers can borrow spent their previous PPP loan. The second loan can be up to 2.5 times the business’ average monthly payroll costs, up to a $2 million loan amount.
  • Hospitality and Food Businesses can borrow up to 3.5 times the business’ average monthly payroll costs, up to a $2 million loan maximum.
  • 100% of the loan will be forgiven based on a 60%/40% split.
    • At least 60% of loan is utilized for payroll, or paying yourself if you are sole proprietor or contractor.
    • Up to 40% is used for rent, mortgage, interest and/or utilities.
    • Expanded uses of the loan include operations expenses, property damage, supplier costs and worker health/protection expenditures.

The 14-day exclusive application period began on Wednesday, February 24, 2021; the other four changes will be implemented by the first week of March. All applications for PPP are due March 31, 2021.

Need help for applying for PPP or understanding what federal resources are available to you and your small business? Contact the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) at 206-684-8090 or OED@seattle.gov for support. Bilingual assistance is available in Amharic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Tgrinya, and Vietnamese. For more information, click here. OED is committed to building an inclusive economy which benefits the whole city by promoting access to economic opportunities for all of Seattle’s diverse communities.

ኞ ፌብሩዌሪ 22 የባይድንና ሄሪስ አስተዳደር ፍትሃዊነትን ለማረጋገጥ በአሜሪካ አነስተኛ ንግድ አስተዳደር (SBA) COVID-19 የእርዳታ ፕሮግራም ላይ የሚከተሉትን ለውጦች አስታውቋል: 

  • ፌብሩዌሪ 24 እስከ ማርች 10 ቀን (SBA) ከ 20 ያነሱ ሠራተኞች ላላቸዉ የንግድ ድርጅቶች እና ለትርፍ ያልተቋቋሙ የ 14 ቀናት ደሞዝ ጥበቃ ፕሮግራም (PPP) የብድር ማመልከቻ ጊዜን ያቋቁማል። 
  • ብቸኛ ባለቤቶች ፣ ገለልተኛ ተቋራጮች እና በግል ሥራ ላይ የተሰማሩ ግለሰቦች የበለጠ የገንዘብ ድጋፍ ያገኛሉ። 
  • የግለሰብ ግብር ከፋይ መለያ ቁጥር (ITIN) ያላቸው የስደተኞች እና ሬፍዩጂዎች አነስተኛ ንግድ ባለቤቶች ለ PPP ማመልከት ብቁ ናቸው። 
  • ቀደም ሲል በእስር ላይ በማጭበርበር ያልሆነ የወንጀል ፍርዶች (non-fraud felony convictions) የነበሩ አነስተኛ የንግድ ባለቤቶች ለ PPP ማመልከት ይችላሉ። 
  • በፌዴራል የትምህርት ብድር ዕዳ ወንጀል ተጽዕኖ የተደረገባቸው አነስተኛ የንግድ ሥራ ባለቤቶች ለ PPP ማመልከት ይችላሉ። 

የ 14 ቀናት የማመልከቻ ጊዜ ረቡዕ ፌብሩዌሪ 24 ቀን 2021 ይጀምራል። ሌሎቹ አራት ለውጦች በማርች የመጀመሪያ ሳምንት ይጀምራሉ። ለ PPP ሁሉም ማመልከቻዎች እስከ ማርች 31 ቀን 2021 እንድገቡ ይጠየቃሉ። 

ለ PPP ለማመልከት ወይም ለእርስዎ እና ለአነስተኛ ንግድዎ ምን የፌደራል ድጋፍ ምንጮች  (ሪሶርስ) እንደሆኑ ለመረዳት እገዛ ይፈልጋሉ? ድጋፍ ለማግኘት የሲያትል የኢኮኖሚ ልማት ጽሕፈት ቤት (OED) በ 206-684-8090 ወይም OED@seattle.gov ያነጋግሩ።  የቋንቋ ትርጉም ድጋፍ አለ። ለበለጠ መረጃ እዚህ ጠቅ ያድርጉ። OED ለሁሉም የሲያትል የተለያዩ ማህበረሰቦች ኢኮኖሚያዊ ዕድሎችን ተደራሽነት በማስተዋወቅ መላውን ከተማ የሚጠቅም ኢኮኖሚ ለመገንባት ቁርጠኛ ነው ፡፡ 

更新的“工資保障計劃”( Paycheck Protection Program)旨在消除對小企業財務支持的障礙 

在2月22日星期一，拜登-哈里斯政府（Biden-Harris Administration）宣布了美國小企業管理局（SBA）有關COVID-19救濟計劃的以下變更，以確保公平性：  

  • 在2月24日至3月10日期間，SBA專為僱員少於20人的企業和非營利組織提供14天的“工資保障計劃”（PPP）貸款申請期。    
  • 獨資經營者、獨立承包商和自僱人士將獲得更多的財務支持。  
  • 持有個人納稅人識別碼（ITIN）的移民和難民小企業業主有資格申請PPP。  
  • 以前曾因非欺詐性重罪被定罪並監禁的小企業業主有資格申請PPP。  
  • 受拖欠聯邦學生貸款債務影響的小企業主有資格申請PPP。   

PPP提供貸款豁免政策，以幫助小型企業在COVID-19危機期間支付其僱員和其他費用。申請向首次和再次借款人開放。改進了的PPP計劃的一些重點包括：

  • 首次借款人可貸款相當於其企業平均每月工資成本的2.5倍，最高貸款額為1000萬美元。 
  • 已使用完上次PPP貸款的再次借款人可以貸款。第二筆貸款最高可達其企業平均月工資成本的2.5倍，最高貸款額為200萬美元。 
  • 住宿接待服務業和食品企業最多可貸款相當於其企業平均月工資成本的3.5倍，最高貸款額為200萬美元。 
  • 貸款需按照60％/ 40％的分配比例獲得全數豁免。   
    • 至少60％的貸款用於支付員工工資，或者支付您自己，如果您是獨資經營者或承包商。 
    • 最多40％用於租金、按揭、利息和/或水電費。 
    • 貸款的擴大用途包括運營支出、財產損失、供應商成本和維持員工健康/保護員工方面的支出。 

為期14天的專用申請期從2021年2月24日星期三開始；其他的四項變更將在三月份的第一周實行。 所有PPP申請將截止於2021年3月31日。  

您需要幫助申請PPP或想了解您和您的小型企業可以使用哪些聯邦資源嗎？請致電206-684-8090或發送電子郵件至OED@seattle.gov與西雅圖市政府經濟發展辦公室（OED）聯繫。會提供包括阿姆哈拉語、廣東話、普通話、韓語、索馬里語、西班牙語、泰語、特林尼亞語和越南語等雙語幫助。欲了解更多信息，請點擊這裡。OED致力於通過促進西雅圖所有多元化社區獲得經濟機會來建設全城都受益的包容性經濟。

更新的 “工资保障计划”( Paycheck Protection Program)旨在消除对小企业财务支持的障碍 

在2月22日星期一，拜登-哈里斯政府（Biden-Harris Administration）宣布了美国小企业管理局（SBA）有关COVID-19救济计划的以下变更，以确保公平性：   

  • 在2月24日至3月10日期间，SBA专为雇员少于20人的企业和非营利组织提供14天的“工资保障计划”（PPP）贷款申请期。    
  • 独资经营者、独立承包商和自雇人士将获得更多的财务支持。  
  • 持有个人纳税人识别码（ITIN）的移民和难民小企业业主有资格申请PPP。  
  • 以前曾因非欺诈性重罪被定罪并监禁的小企业业主有资格申请PPP。  
  • 受拖欠联邦学生贷款债务影响的小企业主有资格申请PPP。   

PPP提供贷款豁免政策，以帮助小型企业在COVID-19危机期间支付其雇员和其他费用。申请向首次和再次借款人开放。改进了的PPP计划的一些重点包括：   

  • 首次借款人可贷款相当于其企业平均每月工资成本的2.5倍，最高贷款额为1000万美元。 
  • 已使用完上次PPP贷款的再次借款人可以贷款。第二笔贷款最高可达其企业平均月工资成本的2.5倍，最高贷款额为200万美元。 
  • 住宿接待服务业和食品企业最多可贷款相当于其企业平均月工资成本的3.5倍，最高贷款额为200万美元。 
  • 贷款需按照60％/ 40％的分配比例获得全数豁免。   
    • 至少60％的贷款用于支付员工工资，或者支付您自己，如果您是独资经营者或承包商。 
    • 最多40％用于租金、按揭、利息和/或水电费。 
    • 贷款的扩大用途包括运营支出、财产损失、供应商成本和维持员工健康/保护员工方面的支出。 

为期14天的专用申请期从2021年2月24日星期三开始；其他的四项变更将在三月份的第一周实行。 所有PPP申请将截止于2021年3月31日。  

您需要帮助申请PPP或想了解您和您的小型企业可以使用哪些联邦资源吗？请致电206-684-8090或发送电子邮件至OED@seattle.gov与西雅图市政府经济发展办公室（OED）联系。会提供包括阿姆哈拉语、广东话、普通话、韩语、索马里语、西班牙语、泰语、特林尼亚语和越南语等双语帮助。欲了解更多信息，请点击这里。OED致力于通过促进西雅图所有多元化社区获得经济机会来建设全城都受益的包容性经济。

급여 보호 프로그램 업데이트는 중소기업체를 위해 재정적 지원의 장벽을 제거하는 것을 목표로 합니다 

 2월 22일 월요일, 바이든-해리스 행정부는 형평성을 보장하기 위해 U.S. Small Business Administration(SBA, 미 중소기업청)의 COVID-19 구제 프로그램에 관한 다음과 같은 변화를 발표했습니다: 

  • 2월 24일부터 3월 10일까지 SBA는 오로지 직원수가 20명 미만인 사업체 및 비영리단체만을 대상으로14일간 급여 보호 프로그램(PPP) 대출 신청 기간을 설정할 것입니다. 
  • 개인영업 소유주, 독립 계약업자 및 자영업자는 더 많은 재정 지원을 받게 될 것입니다. 
  • 개인 납세자 식별 번호(ITIN)를 소지한 이민자 및 난민 중소기업주들은 PPP를 신청할 수 있습니다 
  • 이전에 사기죄가 아닌 중범죄 유죄판결을 받아 수감되었던 중소기업주들은 PPP를 신청할 수 있습니다.   
  • 연방 학자금 대출 연체 영향을 받은 중소기업주들은 PPP를 신청할 수 있습니다. 

PPP는 중소기업들이 COVID-19 위기 동안 직원들의 급여와 기타 운영비용을 지불할 수 있도록 탕감을 받을 수 있는 대출을 제공합니다. 신규 및 재 대출자들 모두 신청이 가능합니다. 개선된 PPP 프로그램의 주요 내용은 다음과 같습니다: 

  • 1차 대출자는 사업체 월평균 급여 비용의 최대 2.5 배, 최대 천만 달러까지 대출이 가능합니다.  
  • 이전에 PPP 대출을 받아 사용한, 추가 PPP를 신청하길 원하는 재 대출자도 대출이 가능합니다. 2차 대출은 사업체 월평균 급여 비용의 최대 2.5 배, 최대 이백만 달러까지 대출이 가능합니다 
  • 숙박 및 식품 사업체들은 사업체의 월평균 급여 비용의 최대 3.5 배까지, 최대 이백만 달러까지 대출 가능합니다. 
  • 60% 대 40%의 분할에 따라 대출금의 100%가 탕감될 것입니다. 
    • 대출금의 60% 이상이 급여 또는 귀하가 개인영업 소유주 또는 독립 계약업자인 경우, 자신에게 지불하는 급여에 사용됨. 
    • 임대료, 담보 대출, 이자 및/혹은 공과금에 최대 40%가 사용됨. 
    • 대출금의 확장된 사용처에는 운영 비용, 재산 피해, 공급 업체 비용 및 근로자 건강/보호 지출이 포함됨. 

14일간의 단독 신청기간은 2021년 2월 24일 수요일에 시작되며; 나머지 네 개의 변경사항은 3월 첫째 주부터 시행될 예정입니다. 모든 PPP 신청은 2021년 3월 31일까지입니다. 

PPT를 신청하거나 귀하와 귀하의 중소기업체가 이용할 수 있는 어떤 연방 자원들이 있는지 이해하기 위해 도움이 필요하십니까? 지원을 받으려면 시애틀 Office of Economic Development(OED, 경제개발국), 206-684-8090 또는 OED@seattle.gov로 문의하십시오. 이중 언어 지원은 암하라어, 광둥어, 만다린어, 한국어, 소말리아어, 스페인어, 태국어, 티그리냐어 및 베트남어로 제공됩니다. 자세한 내용은, 여기를 클릭하십시오. OED는 시애틀의 다양한 지역사회 모두에게 경제적 기회에의 접근을 촉진함으로써 도시 전체에 혜택을 주는 포괄적 경제를 구축하기 위해 최선을 다하고 있습니다. 

Isniintii, Febraayo 22, Maamulka Biden-Harris wuxuu ku dhawaaqay isbeddelada soo socda ee barnaamijka ganacsiga yar yar ee Mareykanka (SBA) COVID-19 si loo hubiyo sinnaanta: 

  • Laga bilaabo Febraayo 24-Maarso 10, SBA waxay bilaabi doontaa 14 maalmood oo ah Barnaamijka DifaacaLacag-bixinta (PPP) muddada amaahda oo keliya oo loogu talagalay ganacsiyada iyo kuwa aan macaash doonka ahayn oo ay ka yaryihiin 20 shaqaalahe. 
  • Milkiileyaasha kaligaa, qandaraaslayaal madaxbanaan iyo shaqsiyaad iskood u shaqeysta ayaa heli doona taageero maaliyadeed oo dheeri ah. 
  • Soogalootiga iyo milkiileyaasha ganacsi ee yaryar ee haysta Lambarka Aqoonsiga Canshuur Bixiye Shakhsiyeed (ITIN) waxay xaq u leeyihiin inay codsadaan PPP. 
  • Milkiileyaasha ganacsiyada yar-yar oo horey loo xiray iyagoo aan dambiyo culus oo khiyaano ah lagu xukumin ayaa xaq u leh inay codsadaan PPP. 
  • Milkiileyaasha ganacsiyada yar-yar ee ay saamaysay deyn-bixinta amaahda ardayga ee federaalka waxay xaq u leeyihiin inay codsadaan PPP. 

Muddada codsiga gaarka ah ee 14-ka maalmood waxay bilaabmaysaa Arbacada, Febraayo 24, 2021; afarta isbedel ee kale waxaa la hirgelin doonaa usbuuca ugu horeeya ee bisha Maarso. Dhammaan codsiyada loogu talagalay PPP waxay dhacayaan 31-ka Maarso, 2021. 

Ma u baahan tahay caawimaad xagga codsashada PPP ama fahamka ilaha federaalka ee aad heli karto adiga iyo meheraddaada yaryar? La xiriir Xafiiska Seattle ee Horumarinta Dhaqaalaha (OED) 206-684-8090 ama OED@seattle.gov wixii taageero ah. Waxaad heli kata turjubaan kaa caawina luuqada. Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, guji halkan. Xafiiska Seattle ee Horumarinta Dhaqaalaha (OED) waxaa ka go’an inay sameyso dhaqaale loo wada dhan yahay kaasoo ay ka faa’iideysanayso magaalada oo dhan iyadoo horumarinaysa helitaanka fursadaha dhaqaale ee dhammaan bulshooyinka kala duwan ee Seattle. 

Las actualizaciones del Programa de protección de cheques de pago tienen como objetivo eliminar las barreras al apoyo financiero para las pequeñas empresas 

El lunes 22 de febrero, la administración Biden-Harris anunció los siguientes cambios en el programa de asistencia COVID-19 de la Administración de pequeñas empresas de EE. UU. (SBA) para asegurar la equidad: 

  • Del 24 de febrero al 10 de marzo, la SBA establecerá un período de 14 días para la solicitud de préstamos del Programa de protección de cheques de pago (PPP), exclusivamente para empresas y organizaciones sin fines de lucro con menos de 20 empleados. 
  • Los negocios de propietarios únicos, los contratistas independientes y los trabajadores autónomos recibirán más apoyo financiero. 
  • Inmigrantes y refugiados que son propietarios de negocios pequeños que tienen un Número de identificación personal del contribuyente (ITIN), cumplen con los requisitos para solicitar PPP. 
  • Los propietarios de negocios pequeños que estuvieron previamente encarcelados con condenas por delitos graves no fraudulentos tienen derecho a solicitar PPP. 
  • Los propietarios de pequeñas empresas que se ven afectados por la morosidad de la deuda de préstamos estudiantiles federales tienen derecho a solicitar PPP.  

El PPP ofrece préstamos condonables para ayudar a las pequeñas empresas a pagar a sus empleados y otros gastos durante la crisis del COVID-19. Las solicitudes están disponibles tanto para los prestatarios nuevos como los recurrentes. Algunos aspectos destacados de las mejoras al programa de PPP incluyen: 

  • Los prestatarios por primera vez pueden pedir prestado hasta 2.5 veces los costos de nómina mensual promedio de su empresa, hasta un préstamo máximo de $10 millones. 
  • Los prestatarios que regresan pueden pedir prestado una vez que hayan gastado su préstamo PPP anterior. El segundo préstamo puede ser hasta 2.5 veces el costo de nómina mensual promedio de su empresa, hasta un monto de préstamo de $2 millones.  
  • Los negocios de hostelería y alimentación pueden pedir prestado hasta 3.5 veces los costos de nómina mensuales promedio de su empresa, hasta un préstamo máximo de $2 millones de dólares. 
  • Se condonará el 100% del préstamo en base a la división 60% / 40%.  
    • Al menos el 60% del préstamo se utiliza para la nómina o para pagarse a usted mismo si es propietario único o contratista. 
    • Hasta el 40% se utiliza para alquiler, hipoteca, intereses y/o servicios públicos. 
    • Los usos ampliados del préstamo incluyen gastos operativos, daños a la propiedad, costos de proveedores y gastos de salud/protección de los trabajadores. 

El período de solicitud exclusiva de 14 días comienza el miércoles 24 de febrero del 2021; los otros cuatro cambios se implementarán en la primera semana de marzo. Todas las solicitudes para PPP vencen el 31 de marzo del 2021 

¿Necesita ayuda para solicitar el PPP o comprender qué recursos federales están disponibles para usted y su negocio pequeño? Comuníquese con la Oficina de desarrollo económico de Seattle (OED) al 206-684-8090 o escriba a OED@seattle.gov  para obtener ayuda. Se cuenta con asistencia bilingüe en amárico, cantonés, mandarín, coreano, somalí, español, tailandés, tigriña y vietnamita. Para obtener más información, haga clic aquí. La OED está comprometida con la construcción de una economía inclusiva que beneficie a toda la ciudad al promover el acceso a oportunidades económicas para todas las diversas comunidades de Seattle. 

Cập nhật mới nhất của Paycheck Protection Program (PPP, Chương Trình Bảo Vệ Tiền lương) nhằm mục đích xóa bỏ các rào cản để có thể hỗ trợ về tài chính cho các doanh nghiệp nhỏ 

Vào thứ Hai, ngày 22 tháng 2, Cơ Quan Quản Lý Biden-Harris đã công bố những thay đổi sau đây đối với chương trình cứu trợ COVID-19 của Small Business Administration (SBA, Cơ Quan Quản Lý Doanh Nghiệp Nhỏ) của Hoa Kỳ để đảm bảo sự công bằng:  

  • Từ ngày 24 tháng 2 đến ngày 10 tháng 3, SBA sẽ thiết lập thời gian đăng ký khoản vay của Chương Trình Bảo Vệ Tiền Lương (PPP) trong 14 ngày dành riêng cho các doanh nghiệp và tổ chức phi lợi nhuận có ít hơn 20 nhân viên.  
  • Các chủ sở hữu độc lập, các nhà thầu độc lập và các cá nhân tự kinh doanh sẽ nhận được nhiều hỗ trợ tài chính hơn. 
  • Các chủ doanh nghiệp nhỏ là người nhập cư và người tị nạn có Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN, Mã Số Nhận Dạng Người Nộp Thuế Cá Nhân) sẽ đủ điều kiện để đăng ký PPP. 
  • Các chủ doanh nghiệp nhỏ trước đây đã từng bị giam giữ với tiền án không gian lận đủ điều kiện để đăng ký PPP. 
  • Các chủ doanh nghiệp nhỏ bị ảnh hưởng bởi khoản nợ quá hạn cho tiền học của sinh viên của liên bang đủ điều kiện để đăng ký PPP.  

PPP cung cấp các khoản vay có thể xóa nợ để giúp các doanh nghiệp nhỏ trả lương cho nhân viên và các chi phí khác trong cuộc khủng hoảng COVID-19. Thời gian đăng ký được mở cho những người vay lần đầu và người vay lần hai. Một số điểm nổi bật của chương trình PPP cải tiến bao gồm:  

  • Người vay lần đầu có thể vay gấp 2,5 lần số tiền lương trung bình hàng tháng của doanh nghiệp, khoản vay tối đa là 10 triệu đô la. 
  • Những người vay lần hai có thể vay khoản vay PPP trước đó của họ. Khoản vay thứ hai có thể lên đến 2,5 lần số tiền lương trung bình hàng tháng của doanh nghiệp, khoản vay tối đa là 2 triệu đô la. 
  • Doanh Nghiệp Khách Sạn và Thực Phẩm có thể vay gấp 3,5 lần số tiền lương trung bình hàng tháng của doanh nghiệp, khoản vay tối đa là 2 triệu đô la.  
  • 100% khoản vay sẽ được xóa dựa trên mức chia 60%/40%.  
    • Ít nhất 60% khoản vay được sử dụng để trả lương cho nhân viên hoặc tự trả lương cho bản thân nếu quý vị là chủ sở hữu hoặc nhà thầu độc lập. 
    • Không quá 40% khoản vay được sử dụng để trả tiền thuê mặt bằng, thế chấp, lãi suất và/hoặc các tiện ích. 
    • Khoản vay được mở rộng để sử dụng cho các chi phí hoạt động, thiệt hại tài sản, chi phí hàng hóa và chi phí để bảo vệ sức khỏe nhân viên. 

Thời gian áp dụng độc quyền 14 ngày bắt đầu từ Thứ Tư, ngày 24 tháng 2 năm 2021; bốn thay đổi khác sẽ được thực hiện vào tuần đầu tiên của tháng Ba. Hạn chót nộp đơn cho tất cả các đơn đăng ký PPP là ngày 31 tháng 3 năm 2021.  

Quý vị có cần sự trợ giúp để đăng ký PPP hoặc để biết thêm những nguồn lực hỗ trợ của liên bang nào có sẵn cho quý vị và doanh nghiệp nhỏ của quý vị không? Hãy liên hệ với Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED, Văn Phòng Phát Triển Kinh Tế Seattle) theo số 206-684-8090 hoặc OED@seattle.gov để được hỗ trợ. Hỗ trợ song ngữ có sẵn bằng tiếng Amharic, tiếng Quảng Đông, tiếng Quan Thoại, tiếng Hàn, tiếng Somali, tiếng Tây Ban Nha, tiếng Thái, tiếng Tgrinya và tiếng Việt. Để biết thêm thông tin, bấm vào đây. OED cam kết xây dựng một nền kinh tế toàn diện mang lại lợi ích cho toàn thành phố bằng cách thúc đẩy khả năng tiếp cận  các cơ hội kinh tế cho tất cả các cộng đồng đa dạng của Seattle.