Bottom Line Blog Office of Economic Development

Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

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

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

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

Highlights of our May 6 session included:

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

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

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

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Resources Roundup: 5/6/20

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Open for takeout during Stay Home, Stay Healthy | Photo by Casey Rogers

The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) is committed to keeping you updated about new developments in these rapidly changing times. In this weekly blog, we’ll provide you with news and information about new policies and resources available from the City of Seattle, the State of Washington, the federal government, and our private and philanthropic partners. For a full guide to available resources, please visit our online resources hub at: http://www.seattle.gov/office-of-economic-development/covid-19.

City of Seattle News & Resources

Mayor Durkan Extends Moratorium on Residential, Nonprofit, and Small Business Evictions until June 4

Mayor Durkan signed an Executive Order to extend the moratorium on residential, nonprofit, and small business evictions in the City of Seattle until June 4, 2020. The extension follows Proclamation 20-19.1 issued by the Governor, which extends the statewide ban to June 4, 2020.

“The moratorium on evictions is one critical tool we have at the City to keep people in their homes and keep businesses afloat. It was one of the first measures we took to bring relief to our City and why it is critical to maintain during this unprecedented time. These efforts, coupled with our work over the last two months to provide immediate financial relief to working people and small businesses, are critical to helping our communities weather this storm.”

Mayor Jenny Durkan

Read more here.

Office of Economic Development Expands In-Language Assistance for SBA Loan Technical Assistance

  • AJ Cari
  • Danielle Hursh
  • Jennifer Tam
Some of the OED staff who are ready to help

OED is offering in-language SBA disaster loan technical assistance for the PPP and EIDL loans in languages, including Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Tigrinya, Vietnamese, and more

If you are interested in receiving assistance, please e-mail OED@seattle.gov or call 206-684-8090. If you reach the voicemail, please tell us:

  • Your name
  • Your phone number
  • The language you need (in English)
  • What kind of support you need

If you need language assistance, a bilingual staff member will call you back or we will call in a third-party interpreter on the phone to assist with the conversation.  Please note that OED is receiving a high volume of requests for assistance, so you may also experience a wait time while connecting to an interpreter.

City of Seattle Expands Small Business Map, Launches #SupportPugetSoundSmallBiz Map with Partners across the Region

On April 28, the City of Seattle and 20 partner cities and counties launched the #SupportPugetSound SmallBiz map, which currently includes 2,600 restaurants and other businesses across Puget Sound that are open for take-out, delivery, and more. You can learn more and use the map here.

If you would like to add your business to the #SupportPugetSoundSmallBiz map, please e-mail supportsmallbiz@seattle.gov.

Don’t Forget to Register for our OED Small Business Webinar!

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

Register Now for OED Food Business Orientations

Join Jennifer Tam, OED’s Food Business Advocate, on May 13 at 2:00 p.m. to learn how the permitting and licensing process works for residents who want to open or expand a food business. Information about operating during the COVID-19 period also will be covered.

Click here to register.

Federal Aid Update: $135 Billion Remains in Paycheck Protection Program & Economic Injury Disaster Loan Portal Reopens

Paycheck Protection Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Monday, May 4 that there was approximately $135 billion in funding for small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). You can find the information you’ll need to provide to the bank for a PPP loan application on our website, and download an application here.

If you lead a nonprofit with paid staff, the nonprofit organization 501 Commons is seeking your input on their survey to help them advocate to federal and state policymakers for solutions that work for nonprofits. They are also offering support in applying for PPP loans. Click here to take the survey, and click here to learn about their PPP application assistance for nonprofits.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan

The SBA also announced that it had reopened the application portal for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for certain applicants.

Businesses that submitted a COVID-19 EIDL application prior to March 30 and have a “2” as the lead number in their application confirmation number must reapply using the new streamlined online application for their application to be processed. Although the SBA website indicates that the EIDL is currently open for agribusiness only, the SBA has confirmed that applicants with a 200-series EIDL loan number WILL be able to re-apply online and have their new loan number tied to their original loan number so they don’t lose their place in line. Click here to access the EIDL application.

Applicants who received a “3” on their 10-digit EIDL application confirmation number have successfully applied using SBA’s new streamlined application and the SBA is processing the application. Businesses will be notified directly when the loan is approved. SBA information and the latest updates from the SBA can be found at www.sba.gov/coronavirus.

In addition, agribusinesses, which were excluded in the first round of EIDL funding, can now apply. Eligible businesses can apply here.

OED continues to provide technical assistance to businesses applying for SBA loans and understanding the CARES Act. This includes helping businesses navigate the application process and documentation. For inquiries, please email OED@seattle.gov or call 206-684-8090.

State of Washington News & Resources

Governor Inslee’s “Safe Start Washington”

Governor Inslee, in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health, has developed a phased approach to opening our state economy called “Safe Start Washington,” and the state has begun issuing guidelines for reopening businesses. You can find more information about this phased recovery plan here.

Businesses listed in each phase of the plan will have industry-specific guidance and safety criteria developed to ensure workplace safety and public health are maintained. Those business activities are not authorized to open until the industry-specific guidance and safety criteria are issued.

Beginning May 5, Phase 1 of the Safe Start plan will include drive-in spiritual services with one household per vehicle, auto/RV/boat/ORV sales, retail open for curb-side pick-up orders, car washes, landscaping, and pet walking. Businesses may only re-open when they are able to fully comply with the industry-specific requirements that will be issued no later than May 15, 2020.Find more information about how the state is supporting businesses and workers through this transition here.  

Business Signage Toolkits

The State Department of Health also has compiled a Business Signage Toolkit that includes printable posters and other resources to support businesses and customers through the  recovery.

State Business Tax Filing Extension

The Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) is offering extensions and waived penalties on tax fillings for businesses affected by COVID-19. The DOR will work with businesses that request an extension on tax filing. Businesses can request such an extension prior to the due date of the tax return, and, if granted, a business would be allowed to delay reporting and paying taxes. DOR may also waive penalties under limited circumstances if a business is late in paying its tax obligation. For more information, please contact DOR at 360.705.6705.

Unemployment Benefit Charge Relief

Employers may be eligible for relief of benefit charges if the employer needs to shut down operations temporarily because a worker becomes sick and other workers need to be isolated or quarantined as a result of COVID-19. For more information, click here.

SharedWork Program

The SharedWork program allows employers to reduce the hours of permanent and hourly-paid employees by as much as 50 percent, and employees can collect partial unemployment benefits to replace a portion of their lost wages. While on the SharedWork program, employees are not required to make an active search for work. To apply, click here. 

Nonprofit, Philanthropic, and Private Resources

Career Connect WA Hosts Daily Q&A Online Discussions With Industry Leaders

Join industry leaders for a series of online discussions with a live Q & A every weekday in May beginning at 3:30 p.m.. Watch upcoming sessions with Zillow, Uber, and MOD Pizza. Learn more here: https://www.careerconnectathome.org/

Free Webinar on COVID-19 and Unemployment Benefits

Please join the Unemployment Law Project’s weekly Monday webinars as presenters answer questions live from the public about how COVID-19 is affecting unemployment benefits. This webinar is open to the general public. Register here for Unemployment Law Project’s webinar.

Polish Your Resume and Job Finding Skills

Jobscan, a founded tech company based in SODO, is launching a free webinar series throughout May to help individuals polish their resumes and job finding skills in these challenging times.

Register and view the webinar schedule here.

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Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for Self Employed & Small Business Owners

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If you are a self-employed worker or do not have a long enough work history to qualify for regular state unemployment insurance, you may now be eligible for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance under the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Examples of Eligible Workers

Examples of workers eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance include:

  • Independent contractors
  • Gig economy or freelance workers
  • Small business owners
  • Temporary or seasonal workers
  • Workers who have just started or were about to start a job


Qualifying Events for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

  • Reason you cannot work is related to COVID19
  • Not receiving full paid leave
  • Cannot telework for full pay
  • Applied for and been denied regular unemployment benefits

Applying for benefits:

First step under federal law is to apply for regular unemployment and then get denied at the ESD website.  This sounds odd but It’s a federal requirement under CARES, denial is a requirement to access the expanded unemployment program.   

Next apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.  You apply at the same place.  ESD will prompt you to apply after the denial.

Both the federally funded unemployment assistance and state unemployment insurance benefits will be administered by the Washington State Employment Security Department. It is important to carefully follow the application instructions in the Expanded Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Guide.

Tip is to report your actual quarterly net earnings, as ESD will take the 2 highest quarters from the year to determine benefits. Even if you don’t have an income, you might still be able to receive the minimum amount which for a full time worker is $835/weekly (minimum benefit amount of $235 for full time workers + $600/weekly enhancement until July 25, 2020 under Cares Act).  

In many instances, a sole proprietor may get more benefit applying for unemployment benefits, particularly if the PPP loan amount is very low, given the administrative burden. Expanded benefits include additional $600 weekly benefit. This is available through end of July but may be retroactive to mid-April depending on the individual circumstance.

For businesses still operating in a very limited capacity (e.g. take out/delivery)–Expanded UI does not require a self-employed person lose ALL income.  So there is definitely a grey area. If someone is eligible for any amount of UI, they get the $600 weekly benefit. The income documents are similar to the PPP application so they should already be in hand.

Increase in unemployment benefit amounts:

If you are receiving state unemployment insurance or federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, you are eligible to receive an additional $600 in weekly benefits up until July 31, 2020.   You may even be able to receive benefits retroactively, if you lost pay due to Coronavirus after it was declared a public health emergency on January 27, 2020.

Extension of unemployment benefits:

State unemployment insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance will be available for an additional 13 weeks, if you have exhausted your claim and continue to be unable to work due to the Coronavirus.

Contact info for the Washington State Employment Security Department

While the Employment Security Department is encouraging people to apply on-line, a claims number is available where you can request interpreter services at 800-318-6022

#SupportSmallBiz Spotlight: An Unexpected Partnership Blossoms to Build Human Connections & Small Business Opportunities

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Two women with bunches of flowers in crates.
Tara Clark (left) and Vikki Cha have formed an innovative partnership selling flowers

“We really did not even think it would get this big. It just happened and it’s like a huge jigsaw puzzle. Every day and every week things shift, fit together, click, and everybody is coming together beautifully as it’s gotten bigger. It’s been wonderful.”

Vikki Cha, Hmong farmer

When the COVID-19 pandemic required temporarily closing local farmers markets in March, Seattle resident Tara Clark realized that the livelihood of Hmong flower farmers she knew would be in jeopardy. So Tara — a Seattle photographer, community activist, and creator of the BelieveLoveUnite movement — called her friend Xee Yang-Schell, daughter of Hmong farmers, to ask how she could help.

Two women holding flowers at the Pike Place Market
Sua Yang with her daughter, Xee Yang-Schell at the Pike Place Market| Photo by Tara Clark

Tara wondered if just maybe, she could buy up and sell a few of the flowers that otherwise would go to waste. She asked Xee if she could get 50 dozen early season tulips — a number that seemed ambitious to both women — from any Hmong farmers she knew. Xee was skeptical but promised to find out.

Xee quickly called back: the first farmer she contacted, Vikki Cha, had tulips to sell. Since that morning, Tara says, “the two of us have been on an unimaginable, inconceivable roller coaster ride filled with love, hard work, and the opportunity to witness humanity rising every single day.”

Woman in pink jacket holding many bouquets of daffodils.
Vikki Cha with some of the flowers she delivered

Tara and Vikki’s partnership to distribute and sell flowers has grown exponentially. Today, it involves 46 Hmong family farms, 15 dispersed Seattle distributors, and numerous local restaurants. Working together, to date they’ve sold 12,000 dozen flowers and brought in $265,000 to support the farmers. How they scaled up this two-person operation in less than six weeks is an inspiring testament of the #SeattleTogether spirit in the COVID-19 era.

Early days

Tara gave Chris (L) and Darcy flowers when they picked up recycling in her neighborhood | Photos by Tara Clark

After Vikki delivered 50 bunches of tulips on March 25, Tara began selling the flowers on the parking strip in front of her house on north Capitol Hill. She made sure people observed social distancing protocols and facilitated drive-by pickups, and her neighborhood was supportive. She sold out the first day and told Vikki “I think I can do 100 tomorrow.” After sleeping on that calculation, she called Vikki back in the morning and told her “bring 200.” Business was so brisk that by the fourth day, she told Vikki “bring 300!”

“I was speechless. It’s unheard of that one person will buy like that. I asked, ‘are you sure you can do that?’” recounts Vikki.

Tara assured her she was serious. From the outset, Tara had fronted the money each day, which Vikki explains was key: “It’s been very safe: prepay, preorder.” This helped build trust with the Hmong farmers Vikki worked with to procure more flowers.

Creating equity and growing a collective spirit among farmers

Yia Yang collecting flowers, and with her husband Song Ger Cha on their farm | Photo by Tara Clark

In addition to making daily deliveries from her farm in Carnation to Tara’s Seattle home, Vikki thought about how to best meet the demand for flowers. She was determined to help other Hmong farmers who also were worried about making ends meet.

Figuring out how to include other farmers required both leadership and relationship building, which Vikki launched into immediately. The Hmong farmers who sell at Pike Place Market are spread out on parcels of land from the Snoqualmie Valley to Monroe. As a group, the Hmong got started farming in the 1980s as part of the Indochinese Farm Project to help resettled refugees from the Vietnam War.

Two people standing in a field of red dahlias.
Tong and Maika Xiong on their farm | Photo by Tara Clark

They work long hours, seven days a week. Vikki explains that after she gets home at 6 or 7 p.m. from a day at Pike Place, she’s got a full evening ahead of her cutting flowers, alone “with a headlamp,” to be ready for the next day’s market. She often eats dinner at midnight and starts all over at 6 a.m. the following morning. A mutual Hmong friend predicted at the outset that as competitors, “Hmong farmers wouldn’t collaborate.”

Vikki Cha often works past sundown cutting flowers | Photo by Melodie Cha

Nevertheless, both Vikki and Tara wanted to make sure as many farmers as possible could sell their tulips and daffodils as the orders grew. Vikki says that although it varies somewhat depending on availability, she has set a general guideline of 100 bunches per day, per farmer, thereby “making sure everybody gets a little bit of something.” She continues her outreach to build trust. Now, over half of all Hmong family farmers in the region benefit from their project.

Spreading the word and expanding their reach

Jen Marquardt, a key volunteer in the operation, picks up flowers to distribute | Photo by Tara Clark

When she wasn’t selling flowers, Tara was posting photos and information about the project on her Facebook and Instagram accounts. Soon, friends and acquaintances were volunteering to sell flowers in their own neighborhoods. She now has distributors in 15 locations, including Leschi, Queen Anne, and Mercer Island.

Ashleigh (L) and Hanna Dickenson are learning marketing together | Photo by Tara Clark

Ashleigh Dickenson was Tara’s first distributor, and she’s partnered with her daughter to sell flowers as an educational project while schools are closed. There’s been so much interest that Tara has been working 14-16 hours daily to keep up with the demand. She launched an online order form and created spreadsheets to keep track of everything – including information about all the monies she and her distributors have collected and what she’s paid out to each individual farmer.

  • Ashleigh is also an ER nurse
  • Mary Merriweather receives flowers
Photos by Tara Clark

Within the first few days, it became apparent that people weren’t just buying flowers for themselves, but also to give away to health care and other essential workers. Additionally, they have donated dozens of bunches to residents in senior living facilities and nursing homes. Tara notes “the flowers have made a tremendous impact on elderly people” by reminding them that they aren’t alone. One recipient burst into tears when she received a bouquet.

Looking toward the future and expanding market strategies

Chef Tamara Murphy has received food and flowers | Photo by Tara Clark

Several weeks ago, Tara began purchasing vegetables from the farmers. She donates them to restaurants that are helping to feed Seattle residents experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. So far, they’ve provided 500 pounds of potatoes and 200 bundles of kale to Tamara Murphy’s Terra Plata, Uyen Nguyen’s Nue, and Kristi Brown’s That Brown Girl Cooks. She’s also talking with other restaurants about becoming flower distributors.

Uyen Nguyen and Tara haul potatoes that will be donated | Photo by Nate Clark

“I would love to connect with other shops throughout the city to have them be pick up locations,” Tara said. Continuing to expand and ensuring that the collaboration grows, Tara explains, will be — in part — contingent on expanding volunteer resources in areas like communications and accounting.

Both women agree their success has been grounded in equity and transparency and fueled by the willingness to take risks and connect with others. Tara and Vikki have adopted flexible strategies to further their shared goal of supporting the farmers through makeshift marketplaces.

Moreover, the Hmong farmers’ experiences with new distribution pathways has, Vikki observed, opened their eyes to future marketing possibilities.

Enhancing Human Connections

Marlena Jordan-Childress picks up flowers outside Cupcake Royale in Ballard | Photo by Tara Clark

They emphasize that the project has deepened understanding across cultural and socioeconomic boundaries within both of their communities. They love seeing how diverse people have become “intertwined” and the effect that their work is having on all those involved – from the flower farmers to the distributors, vendors, and recipients.

Before, Tara explains, selling and buying flowers at the market was essentially an exchange of goods, but now Seattleites are seeing that there’s a “human being on the other side of the transaction”. The endeavor has “help[ed] create connections” between people who otherwise wouldn’t have thought twice about each other.

Electrical workers who bought flowers for their mothers | Photo by Tara Clark

“It’s been so wonderful to see who the flowers go to; I love the connection. It drives me to do this. I get to see the recipients, hear the stories. . . people are so happy to get flowers. . . it brings joy. It’s full of love and joy in a time when there is so much sadness, death, separation. To be able to witness the silver linings, pieces of light and happiness. . . I just feel so lucky and blessed.”

Vikki Cha

As the local media continues drawing  attention to their endeavor, both women note that the partnership and opportunity to expand while building upon shared values has imparted hope in uncertain times.

Vikki hopes that “after this pandemic, this can carry on.” She says she’ll continue doing it as long as there is “demand and supply.”

Front and back image of the card Tara designed

This week, Tara designed cards to give away with the flowers, to remind buyers of the Hmong farmers who grew them. Both women expect the business to continue expanding as peonies come into season next week and as Mother’s Day approaches. They have no idea exactly what the future holds, but both are confident that the impact of their unanticipated endeavor –- personally, economically, and in the broader community — will continue to be “mind blowing.”

If you’d like to order flowers, you can find a form here and if you’d like to support this effort, contact Tara Clark at tara@believeloveunite.com.

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Small Business COVID-19 Weekly Webinar: April 29

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

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

Highlights of our April 29 session included:

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

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

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

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Neighborhood Business District Webinar – Clean and Safe

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

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

Speakers included:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Powerpoint Slide

Seattle Police Department – Securing Your Business

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

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

Resources Roundup: 4/27/20

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City of Seattle skyline under blue sky and clouds.
City of Seattle April 14, 2020 | Photo by Casey Rogers

The last week brought more news about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on businesses and workers. The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) is committed to keeping you updated about new developments in these unprecedented times. In this weekly blog, we’ll provide you with news and information about new policies and resources available from the City of Seattle, the State of Washington, the federal government, and our philanthropic partners.

City Resources

Mayor Durkan transmits legislation to deploy $14 million in federal resources in fight against COVID-19

On April 24,Mayor Durkan transmitted legislation to accept and appropriate funds from the recently passed federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to directly support the City’s response to COVID-19. Approximately $14 million in new federal funds will be directed toward food assistance, rent relief, investments in shelter and services for those experiencing homelessness, and additional funding for the Small Business Stabilization Fund.  

Mayor Durkan is proposing to use approximately $14 million in new federal funds towards these COVID-19 priorities: 

  • $1.5 million for the Small Business Stabilization Fund 
  • $5 million for the expansion of food delivery programs for older adults
  • $2.1 million for meals at shelters
  • $5.3 million for rental assistance programs for households at risk of eviction or homelessness and programs that serve low-income persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS 
  • $150,000 to assist hospital patients’ transition to long term care 

You can read more here.

New Emergency Order to cap third-party delivery commissions and support local restaurants

Load zone / Food pick-up priority sign at edge of curb
More restaurants are relying on delivery services now

On Friday April 24, Mayor Durkan, Council President González, and Councilmember Herbold announced a new Emergency Order to impose a 15 percent commission cap on third-party delivery services. The necessary statewide ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ order has caused restaurants to rely solely on delivery and takeout services for revenue, and many restaurants use third-party delivery services to meet the needs of their customers and keep their staff safe.

The 15 percent commission cap will remain in place until restaurants are allowed to offer unrestricted dine-in service in the City of Seattle. Click here to read more.

Protecting small businesses from scammers

This week, OED and the Mayor’s Office warned the community about scammers who have been preying on small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We received numerous reports of scammers posing as either lenders or third-party providers offering to assist businesses with their federal Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications.

To raise awareness of this urgent concern, we issued a press release on April 23 that generated important media coverage, posted a Bottomline Blog story, and have updated our website with messaging in five languages.

State Resources

Two workers in hard hats and safety vests

Federal and state governments have moved rapidly to respond COVID-19, and a lot has changed for workers and employers. More workers can qualify for more benefits over an extended period.

Free webinars on unemployment

OED held a special webinar session on April 24, with Scott Michael, Legal Services Coordination Manager with the Washington Employment Security Department. To view the webinar, register here.

The Seattle King County NAACP and the Unemployment Law Project are sponsoring free webinars that describe how COVID-19 has affected unemployment benefits. The program includes an update on new unemployment rules, followed by a live Q&A with the audience hosted by Carolyn Riley-Payne, President of Seattle King County NAACP. Sponsored by Seattle King County NAACP and the Unemployment Law Project. Register here.

Federal Resources

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

We reported in last Monday’s Resources Roundup blog that funding for the federal Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) had been exhausted. An additional $484 billion relief package was approved Friday, April 24 to replenish these loans. We anticipate that these funds will not last long, so we are urging businesses to review the PPP and EIDL resources below and apply as soon as possible. 

Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans

$320 billion was dedicated to replenish the PPP loan program. Organizations apply for PPP loans through a bank, not through the SBA.

If you already applied for a PPP loan

If you already applied for a PPP loan, please reach out to your lender about the status of your PPP application and make sure you have submitted all the necessary information.

If you haven’t yet applied for a PPP loan

If you haven’t yet applied for a PPP loan, we recommend that you move quickly to contact the bank that handles your business account. Find out whether your bank is participating in the program and taking new applications. 

Some lenders are still working through the backlog of existing applications and may not be taking new applications. If your bank is not participating in the PPP loan program, some other banks are taking contact information and will reach out based on availability of funds. A list of eligible PPP lenders may be found through this link.

You can find the information you’ll need to provide to the bank for a PPP loan application on our website, and download an application here.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)

$60 billion was dedicated to replenishing the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Loan Advance programs (EIDL). The EIDL program is currently not open for new applications but is focused on processing applications already submitted earlier in April. The SBA has not announced a date when it will resume taking EIDL loan applications or IF it will take them. The SBA will provide further information on the availability of the EIDL portal to receive new applications as soon as possible.

In the event the SBA does take new applications, please plan to be ready to apply as soon as funding becomes available. Find a checklist of what you’ll need to apply on our website. SBA information and the latest updates from the SBA can be found here.

Contact OED for federal loan help

OED provides technical assistance to businesses applying for SBA loans and understanding the CARES Act. This includes helping businesses navigate the application process and documentation. For inquiries, please email OED@seattle.gov or call 206-684-8090.

Philanthropic Resources

New! Business For All by Hello Alice is providing $10,000 emergency COVID-19 grants: https://businessforall.helloalice.com

See last week’s Resources Roundup blog for more information about grants available from philanthropic sources.

Small Business COVID-19 Weekly Webinar: April 22

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Image of City Hall with Covid-19 Impacts to Small Business Weekly Webinar title

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

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

Highlights of our April 22 session included:

  • Public health updates from Public Health — Seattle & King County
  • Updates from OED on loans and loan assistance
  • Communities Rise presentation on resources for federal loan applications
  • Perkins Coie presentation on legal issues pertaining to commercial leases during COVID-19
  • Seattle Police Department – Crime Prevention Services for Businesses
  • Washington State update on unemployment benefits (deferred to next week, but slides included in the presentation link, below)

Below are links from our April 22 webinar. (Please note: you must register for the webinar in order to listen to the recording.)

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

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Warning: Scammers Targeting Small Business Owners Applying for Loans

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Young cafe owner standing in front of counter with arms crossed.

The City of Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) is warning small businesses about scammers seeking to prey on the small business community that has already been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. OED has received numerous reports of scammers posing as either lenders or third-party providers offering to assist businesses with their federal Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications.

It is maddening that someone would prey on small businesses during this difficult time. Anyone can be victimized by a COVID-19 scam. OED is willing and ready to support businesses through this pandemic and on the road to recovery. We urge small businesses to be vigilant in who they disclose information to and ask them to report potential scammers to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

Bobby Lee, Director of the Office of Economic Development

If you are contacted by someone promising to get approval of your SBA loan in exchange for payment up front or by someone offering a high interest rate on a small business loan, you should suspect fraud. There is no fee or charge in applying for SBA loans, including Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), SBA Express Bridge Loans, and SBA Debt Relief. Any small business has an opportunity to apply for these federal loans, free of charge.

OED offers free SBA technical assistance to all businesses looking to apply for an SBA loans, including EIDL, PPP, SBA Express Bridge Loan, and SBA Debt relief. Businesses can call OED at (206) 684-8090 from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or email OED at oed@seattle.gov anytime and receive free assistance. When you call, you can ask for an interpreter. This assistance is free.

Predatory scams tend to target immigrant- and refugee-owned businesses, taking advantage of either language barriers or misinformation.

If contacted by a scammer, OED recommends businesses report scams to the Washington State Office of Attorney General, by calling 1-800-551-4636 from Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by completing a claim at https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ComplaintForm.aspx.

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#SupportSeattleSmallBiz Feature: Nirmal’s Owner Oliver Bangera Is Committed to His Team

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Photo of front of Nirmal's restaurant with lights inside in the background.
Nirmal’s brought fine Indian dining to downtown Seattle

Oliver and Gita Bangera opened their restaurant Nirmal’s in Pioneer Square in December 2015, and Oliver explains that he “wasn’t sure at the start whether there would be a market for a fine dining-restaurant serving Indian food.” But people loved it, and the location became a popular and highly regarded lunch and dinner spot for downtown workers and the community. They earned accolades from food critics and the media and were serving, on average, 240 customers each day with the support of their excellent team led by star chef Ashish Bagul.

Chef Ashish Bagul and one of the plates he created

By January and February of 2020, they had nearly doubled their sales relative to a year earlier, and were weeks away from launching their expansion to three more locations with Executive Chef Ashish Bagul in full swing designing and developing the menu concepts.

Photo of prawns with garnish on white plate.
Chef Bagul designs food that’s both delicious and beautiful

They had already signed leases on the new locations—including a commercial kitchen in Factoria and the former California Pizza Kitchen in Bellevue near the Microsoft campus – and expected to employ a total of 200 people. “We thought we were unstoppable,” Oliver said.

Unexpected shift in direction

Photo of Oliver Bangera in yellow shirt
Oliver Bangera at a celebration for his nephew’s wedding | Photo courtesy of Gita Bangera

Their plans to open the new locations in March came to an abrupt halt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only has Nirmal’s suffered serious financial damage, but, Oliver says, “our plans have taken a massive hit. Now we’re just sitting here waiting.”

He explains that as they anticipated the expansion, they created spreadsheets modeling every potential business scenario they could think of, such as experiencing a 15-25 percent loss in business due to economic recession or unforeseen circumstances. “We ran all the numbers, to make sure” future revenue models and projections were viable. However, he says wryly, “you don’t ever expect it to be zero. There’s no way to prepare for the current situation created by COVID-19.” He isn’t sure they will be able to open the new locations by August as originally planned but he intends to keep pushing forward.

For now, Oliver is focused on taking care of their 22 employees and finding ways to help the community during this time of crisis. While they’ve temporarily suspended lunch service, they are doing 25-30 takeout dinners a day. Nirmal’s is open for curbside pick-up daily from 5:30-9:30, and people can order by calling the restaurant (206) 683-9701 or ordering through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Postmates.

In the last two weeks, they’ve also started delivering food to sustain hospital employees who are working long hours in partnership with the nonprofit, Off Their Plate.

Commitment to the team

Oliver and Gita Bangera with some of their staff, all wearing facemasks.
Oliver and Gita with some of the Nirmal’s team, who are now preparing hospital deliveries

No matter what happens, Oliver says, they are maintaining core principles and priorities. First and foremost, they’re totally dedicated to caring for the employees, who are “family.” He says he’ll continue “doing what I can. You have to do that. You can never lose your values. I’m only as good as my team.” He’s planning to stay open as long as possible, share all income, and provide whatever wages he can, along with health insurance for everyone, which is a key commitment.

He’s proud of the fact that from the day they launched their business – long before they became profitable and years before he was paying himself a salary – they were providing health benefits for the team. This must continue, he says, because “lives are at stake.” He explains, “in the middle of a pandemic, there’s no way I can stop. I have to keep paying [health care] premiums.” Whereas he usually pays 80 percent and the employees pay the balance, now, he reports, “I am paying 100 percent. They are victims of this situation due to no fault of their own.”

Challenges for our immigrant neighbors

USA permanent resident card (Green Card) with Employment Authorization card next to passports and fingerprints
The COVID-19 pandemic has created particular hardships for some immigrants

Oliver immigrated to the United States from India over 30 years ago. Like most restaurant owners he knows, a high percentage of his staff also are immigrants. He estimates that in restaurant work around the country, 60-70 percent of workers were born outside of the United States. The COVID-19 crisis has created unique dilemmas for those in varying stages of the immigration and naturalization process, which Oliver says, “is something people just don’t talk about” publicly.

Those who have work permits and have paid into unemployment are being told by their immigration lawyers not to apply for the unemployment benefits they are legally entitled to because “it will go against you when your immigration case comes up.” Several of his employees are in this situation.

[NOTE: According to the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA), as an earned benefit, Unemployment Insurance is not a benefit that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services considers when determining green card eligibility under the March 2020 public charge rule. You can learn more at OIRA’s public charge page here.] 

Oliver worries that across the country, people are “slipping through the cracks. They have no voice, and there is no discussion in social media of these people who – through no fault of their own – are in an absolutely desperate situation. It’s not just one or two. It’s many.” These are the kind of employees, the “most vulnerable,” that Oliver is committed to helping. He says simply, “I need enough revenue and cash to take care of them.” He’s continued to explore all options and opportunities, including applying for every available state and federal loan.

Finding a path forward

Instagram image from Off Their Plate
The nonprofit Off Their Plate is helping restaurants and health care workers simultaneously

Oliver was encouraged last week when Nirmal’s was approached to start providing nutritious meals for hospital workers in the King County area through a program called Off Their Plate. This grassroots organization helps connect restaurants and health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. A Nirmal’s customer who is the Seattle coordinator for Off Their Plate contacted Oliver, and he jumped at the opportunity to contribute.

Oliver and Gita Bangera delivering food to one of the hospitals.
Oliver and Gita delivering food at one of the hospitals

Last week, Nirmal’s served 150 meals to the hospitals and they plan to serve 200 more this week. They are serving “proper meals,” Oliver says, that are “protein rich, healthy, and mild – the kind of food you’d eat after fasting.” Served in compostable containers, the hospital staff get a starter, a main course, and a dessert at no cost to them. Off Their Plate helps offset some of the cost through the generous donors who support the participating local restaurants. To help support this effort, donate here.

Oliver and Gita Bangera delivering food to staff at Swedish Hospital's Cherry Hill location.
Medical workers at Swedish Hospital’s Cherry Hill campus receiving nutritious lunches

Oliver explains that in India when there’s a war, natural disaster, or some other kind of community crisis, people get together and cook for the soldiers or whomever is affected by the events. He says, “every school kid who grows up in India” is familiar with this social norm and “knows this is what you do.” He asserts, “this pandemic is akin to that.” Oliver was profoundly touched when each of his employees volunteered to work without pay to help prepare and deliver the large hospital orders. It was inspiring, he says, that even as they were going through difficult times themselves, “everyone on the team said, ‘let’s do this!’”

Sources of hope

Medical staff at Swedish Hospital First Hill celebrate with Oliver and Gita

Reflecting on his team’s attitude, Oliver notes, “it’s one thing to be generous when you have a lot, but another when you are struggling yourself. Our Nirmal’s team members don’t know how long [the pandemic] will go on and yet each one offered to do that cooking for free. These kids are going through very tough times but can think beyond their own misery and think about our community.” Oliver believes there’s a “real silver lining” in all this. “It’s brought out the best in our team, and I’ve learned a lot as it’s gone on.”

He particularly compliments his chef, Ashish Bagul, for keeping in touch with everyone and helping keep their spirits up. When Oliver questioned whether it was feasible to start work at 5 a.m. in order to meet one hospital’s requested delivery time, the chef simply said, “we’ve agreed to support this, so we will do it.”

Chef Ashish Bagul and Oliver Bangera with prepared delivery bags

For the time being, Oliver is drawing from personal savings to help pay for daily supplies, which he picks up personally from Costco and Restaurant Depot. He’s also helping to pay rent and buy groceries, medicine, and other essentials for some of his staff. He explains, “You have to make a decision: ‘yes, we’ll take a beating. Let’s take a beating together. Let’s stand by our team, our family, and let’s go through this together.’” He hopes they’ll all come out the other side, but regardless, he says, “it feels good to know you’re not alone, you have others with you. There’s comfort in that. We will see it through together.”

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