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Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

Get Vaccinated in Your Neighborhood and Shop Your Block

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The City of Seattle will be hosting pop-up vaccinations in multiple neighborhoods to ensure that small businesses, workers, and community members can easily receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Seattle Fire Department (SFD) will host the vaccination pop-ups and partner with the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) and neighborhood partners to connect residents and workers in the surrounding neighborhoods to the thousands of available COVID-19 vaccines for individuals that are 12 years of age and older. A parent or guardian must be present in order for a minor to receive the Pfizer vaccine. These vaccination pop-ups are low barrier, and do not require advanced registration to participate. Walks ups are encouraged and welcomed!    

Upcoming Vaccination Pop-Up 

Saturday, July 10

Central District Vaccine Pop-up Saturday, July 10, 23rd and Jackson Parking Lot

Central District Vaccine Pop-up
Date and Time: Saturday, July 10, 12:00PM – 3:00PM
Location: 23rd and Jackson Parking Lot
2300 S Jackson St
Vaccines: All three vaccines offered, second doses provided with proof of first vaccination
Special: First 20 vaccinated at the pop-up will receive a $10 gift card to Seattle Fish Guys!

For the health and safety of yourself and others, please do not attend the pop-up site if: 

  • You are experiencing any COVID-19-like symptoms, including fever, sore throat or coughing; or 
  • You have come into close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual in the last 14 days.  

What to bring to your appointment 

  • Photo ID, if you have it. This is not required, but recommended. 
  • Face mask or covering. 
  • Wear short sleeves or a garment with a sleeve that can be rolled up or easily moved in order to administer the vaccine in your upper arm.  

OED encourages participants to visit and support local small businesses while in the neighborhood before and after receiving vaccines. Looking for businesses to support in your neighborhood, check out Shop Your Block!

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines and services offered by the City of Seattle, visit our COVID-19 Vaccination site.  

Getting Money Smart with devon de Leña and Ebo Barton!

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As we celebrate the Creative Industries’ contributions to Seattle’s identity and economy, we share this virtual interview between local creatives and business owners devon de Leña (she/her) and Ebo Barton (they/he). 

Ebo discusses with devon the journey to becoming the poet they are today, what it is like to be an artist who is values-aligned, connecting with the LGBTQ+ community and using poetry for advocacy, how to make a financially sustainable career in a creative field, and more.  

devon: How do you stay creatively ambitious and rigorous and stay aligned with your values as a working artist? 

Ebo: I have this battle a lot because how do I put a price on this thing that I do? Finding your definition of freedom for yourself and having that sense of freedom for yourself unlocks your whole path for me. Giving yourself a price is probably the hardest thing to do, especially when you’re talking about your identities and all of this heavy stuff. But I think that what I found is the line of: What part of this is my passion and what part of this has business, right? And so, when I’m writing a poem for some corporation and they’re going to put on a commercial for 30 seconds, I know that there is a bank load of stuff happening there that I can give my real friends. But if I am doing a poem on the steps of City Hall, that’s totally different, that’s part of my passion. That also helps me be part of the world, and be heard, and be seen and all of that. So those two things are different.  

When talking about Ebo’s journey to becoming who they are today, Ebo said, “I was able to connect to LGBTQ communities; I’m part of that alphabet of people in so many different ways and so I was able to use my poetry to then advocate for [LGBTQ] folks, or young folks or whatever it is. What I’m learning now is that it’s not really the power of poetry, but the power to articulate what it is that you want people to know that is really the tool and the resource that poets and writers have. Or the ability to tell a story in a way that many people will understand versus the one singular person.” 

For more on this conversation, watch the full interview here.   

devon de Leña is an award-winning filmmaker, embodied leadership coach and somatic healer born and raised on Duwamish Territory (Seattle). Her vision is to help produce authentic media that illuminates the voices and stories of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+, young folx, artists and creators to cultivate their own narratives and celebrate culture. Listen to her podcast, Finding Our Way, and find out more about her work here or on Instagram. The film screening of the iMPACT LENS: Hilltopia Narrative Justice Film Fellowship is on Saturday, June 26. 

A leader in arts and activism, Ebo Barton is committed to creating opportunities for others to organize, heal and rejoice. From their bio, “Ebo Barton comes from salt — from the moment before worlds converge. In this world, we are still trying to articulate that mixed Black and Filipino, Transgender and Non-Binary, Queer, Artists and Educators not only matter but are precious. In another world, Barton is loved, safe, and valued.” You can buy their new book, Insubordinate, and find their poetry here as well as on social media (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook).  

Mayor Durkan and Downtown Leaders Announce New Efforts to Bring Workers, Small Businesses, and Visitors Back Downtown

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Using Seattle Rescue Plan Investments, City of Seattle to Invest More Than $9 Million in Downtown Recovery Projects

City of Seattle and Downtown Partners to Host “Welcome Back Weeks” in July and September to Increase Downtown Visitor

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and downtown Seattle community leaders announced the Road to Downtown Recovery plan, which includes new efforts and investments to bring workers, small businesses, and visitors back downtown. Using Seattle Rescue Plan investments and other federal funds, the City will invest more than $9 million in downtown recovery projects, including efforts to address empty storefronts, direct cash assistance to downtown small businesses, and workforce development programs for un- or under-employed downtown hospitality workers. Private partners – including the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) and Visit Seattle – are committing $7.4 million this year for other efforts including marketing, events, and cleaning. For the purposes of this recovery effort, the City’s definition of downtown spans from Seattle Center to the Stadium District and I-5 to the Waterfront.

Downtown Seattle has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn. According to data from DSA, more than 450 street-level business locations have permanently closed downtown since the pandemic began. In addition, average daily foot traffic downtown has decreased from nearly 450,000 visitors per day in January 2020 to 300,000 visitors per day in June 2021. During initial COVID-19 safety restrictions, average daily visitors downtown dropped as low as 130,000 per day. According to the Puget Sound Regional Council, at pre-pandemic levels, an estimated 48.9 percent of the covered employment in Seattle – workers who are covered by State of Washington insurance programs – was based downtown.

To boost reopening and long-term recovery, Mayor Durkan and the City of Seattle invested resources in vaccination efforts to make Seattle one of the safest cities in the country to visit, live, or work as we emerge from the significant impacts of the pandemic. At the same time, in February 2021, Mayor Durkan convened the Downtown Revitalization Working Group (DRWG) – a coalition of business, labor, arts, and community-based organizations to advise the City on efforts to help downtown Seattle recover. After meeting biweekly since February, the City and DRWG have established four central strategies to bring workers, small businesses, and visitors back downtown with key actions beginning in June and July:

  • Increase events and programming
  • Reopen small businesses and cultural organizations
  • Support a summer and fall return for workers who are currently remote by focusing on return to transit, addressing homelessness, and advancing public safety 
  • Increase graffiti and trash cleanup and beautification efforts

“Seattle was the first city in the country to feel the effects of COVID-19, and at the time, we had no national leadership or playbook to combat this virus and keep our communities safe. Still, we worked quickly to protect the health and safety of our communities, and to-date, Seattle has the lowest COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths of any major American city, and working together with public and private partners, Seattle was the first major city in the country to vaccinate 70 percent of its eligible residents,” said Mayor Durkan. “Our success was thanks to our Seattle residents who prioritized community-wide health and acted in their neighbors’ interests, alongside their own. Our work together on COVID-19 and vaccinations showed our city can do big things together, and one of our biggest challenges ahead is recovery. Now, I call on Seattleites to bring that same sense of civic and city pride to our recovery efforts. Our downtown small businesses, cultural institutions, and workers need our support – they can’t fully reopen or recover without us. If you’re able, take transit or bike downtown to enjoy our beautiful Seattle summers on the waterfront, get dinner at a downtown restaurant, explore Pioneer Square’s art galleries, or visit our winning Mariners or our first place Sounders. Downtown is Seattle’s economic engine and heartbeat, and it’s up to us to help it come back better than ever for all those who live, work, or visit.”

“As our region transitions from response to recovery, we are focused on bringing back jobs and breaking down barriers so our community is stronger and more inclusive than before. The vitality of the center city – downtown Seattle – is mission critical, and my administration is dedicated to doing all we can to build economic health. Metro currently carries more than 160,000 riders each weekday throughout our system, an increase of 40,000 riders since the beginning of the year. Our Metro crews are out pressure washing and removing litter, weeds, and graffiti along key rider corridors in Seattle, which serve people throughout the county,” said Executive Constantine. “As a longtime advocate for arts, music, and culture, I am thrilled to be able to invest $34.4 million in the coming months to help the creative economy recover. This will help us restore and revive the entire region.”

As part of the City’s effort to increase events and programming downtown, the City and DSA are partnering to host two sets of “Welcome Back Weeks” from July 12 – 25 and September 4 – 19. Welcome Back Weeks will include events that vary from large-scale concerts and retail promotions to different specials that encourage support for small downtown restaurants and bars. Businesses or organizations who would like to offer programming during Welcome Back Weeks should complete this form to submit their activities to the DSA for promotion. The City is also investing in all downtown neighborhood business districts to support further summer programming. Beginning in June, the City will also gradually reopening downtown City facilities including City Hall, the Central Library, and the Seattle Center campus including its resident arts organizations and Climate Pledge Arena in October.

In addition, to ensure a safe, welcoming experience for downtown workers, visitors and residents, the Metropolitan Improvement District, which is managed by DSA, is investing $3.2 million in additional equipment, cleaning, events and activations, including live music and other amenities.

“The pandemic’s economic impact in downtown Seattle was immediate, cut across sectors and so many of our small businesses and institutions have suffered. This series of actions is critical to getting downtown back on its feet,” said Downtown Seattle Association President & CEO Jon Scholes. “We’re taking action together to reopen downtown and welcome everyone back.  When we’ve made meaningful progress in this city it’s been through public-private partnerships and we’re taking that same approach to accelerate downtown recovery. Seattle can build on our successful vaccination milestones and be the first city in the country to fully recover its downtown. We have an opportunity to renew and reimagine downtown Seattle so it is more resilient, dynamic and inclusive.”

“The Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena, at our core, believe we live and operate in the best city in the world. We pride ourselves on being representative of our community that has endured so much and still embraced this arena project and hockey club so deeply. This October, we look forward to celebrating the return of live events with thousands of our guests and fans all experiencing the incredible new developments at Seattle Center, our brand-new arena, and puck drop for Seattle’s newest franchise,” said Seattle Kraken Vice President of Government Relations and Outreach Eric Pettigrew.

As part of the downtown recovery effort, the City will provide direct cash assistance to downtown small businesses and arts and cultural organizations, and will also invest in a program to activate empty storefronts with temporary art installations, work, or pop-up retail spaces. The City is increasing resources to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to offer more free permits to activate streets and sidewalks in support of downtown businesses, with the goal of doubling the number of permits to 120 by the end of September.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we knew that our artists and cultural organizations would be some of the most impacted. That’s why we launched the COVID-19 Arts Emergency Relief Fund to offer immediate and direct financial support to the local artists who make our city so unique,” said Michael Greer, Executive Director of ArtsFund. “As we begin to reopen, ArtsFund will continue to collect data and monitor the long term effects on our sector. I look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor and our other downtown partners to make sure that our arts and culture community is positioned for a strong recovery, as it’s undeniable that arts and culture play a significant role in strengthening our communities.”

“Amid a pandemic, you may expect the Market to have shut its doors and closed down, it did not. This resilient community has endured with the help of our local Seattle community. Pike Place Market is comprised of hundreds of small businesses that rely on people physically visiting the Market and we are thrilled to be welcoming back many residents and visitors as we launch into a new era of downtown Seattle. We are the Soul of Seattle. The Pike Place Market emanates a special energy that radiates through the downtown corridor. We are happy to be working with Mayor Durkan, the City of Seattle and all our downtown partners in this effort to re-open this remarkable city,” said Mary Bacarella, Executive Director of Pike Place Market.

To facilitate the return of workers and small businesses, by the fall, the City will launch new workforce development and job placement supports for un- or underemployed downtown hospitality workers, and will coordinate with regional partners for a technology summit to develop community-based solutions to furthering racial equity in the technology sector. To further encourage workers to come back downtown and incentivize transit use, SDOT recently launched a program to provide 2,000 free ORCA cards to Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square restaurant and grocery workers. The City will prioritize the health and safety of downtown workers and small businesses by increasing – to the extent possible within the Seattle Police Department’s current staffing constraints – the presence of visible sworn and Community Service Officers in areas with increased crime, alongside ongoing efforts like the expansion of Health One, to best serve highly vulnerable individuals without a sworn officer response.

The City and county are also implementing new resources to address vulnerable people living unhoused with a strong focus in downtown Seattle. The Seattle Rescue Plan will help 750 individuals experiencing homelessness, including helping move 450 individuals into safer spaces and creating 300 new homes. King County’s new investments in homelessness will move an additional 500 individuals downtown and unincorporated King County into safer spaces.

“Uplift Northwest – formerly the Millionair Club Charity – has been serving the downtown corridor for over 100 years and the pandemic did not deter us. Although we were forced to revise and pause some of our services, we continued to provide the employment readiness training and jobs to our most vulnerable citizens,” said Gina Hall, Executive Director of Uplift Northwest. “One hundred percent of those we serve are living in poverty and over 60 percent are experiencing homelessness. It is imperative that housing security, job training and income generation are all addressed as we create innovative pathways to move individuals to a healthier way of life. At Uplift Northwest, our goal is to ensure that our neighbors who were most severely impacted this past year will receive the additional resources, job training and good jobs so that we as a community experience an equitable recovery for all. We look forward to continued work with the City and our partners to advance new workforce development proposals that center our most vulnerable communities.

“As we reopen our economy and return to offices, the thing I hear most from our members is that we need downtown to be welcoming, clean, safe, and refreshed,” said Rachel Smith, President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “Employees and businesses have choices of where to spend time and money, and downtown needs to be a competitive choice, especially as we are starting to venture out from the pandemic. Our city and our leaders must continue to be intentional in driving toward our goal of an inclusive and equitable recovery, and build and activate a coalition of partners from all corners of our city, to achieve it. We must be unstoppable – there is too much at stake.”

As part of the beautification effort, the City will coordinate trash clean-up activities among downtown entities and City departments to ensure that areas with scheduled events are prioritized. These efforts include the continuation of the Clean City program and graffiti abatement, as well as new efforts to refresh planter boxes, and increase murals, art installations, and lighting fixtures. The Washington State Department of Transportation will address the downtown I-5 corridor with trash removal and graffiti abatement.

In the coming days, the City will announce further details on the above strategies, including a full roster of programming for the July Welcome Back Weeks.

Mayor Durkan Announces September 30 Extension of Eviction Moratoria and Continuation of Additional COVID-Related Protections

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As State and County Distribute Hundreds of Millions in Rental and Housing Assistance, City of Seattle Will Receive $28 Million in Additional Federal Funds for Seattle Residents  

Seattle (June 18, 2021) – As state and county funds for rental assistance are distributed in the coming weeks, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced today that she is extending the residential and commercial eviction moratoria through September 30, 2021, through Executive Order 2021-06. The order will also modify additional COVID-related relief measures related to utility assistance. This marks the fifth extension of the eviction moratoria as part of the COVID-19 civil emergency since March 14, 2020.  

The City is in the process of delivering $23 million in rent relief to Seattle’s residential tenants and landlords. In the coming weeks, the City Council will consider an additional $28 million in rental assistance directly allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act to the City of Seattle. In sum, throughout the pandemic, city-funded rental and housing assistance total approximately $75 million for tenants, landlords, and city-funded affordable housing providers, in addition to State and County resources.  

“As the first major US city to be impacted by COVID-19, Seattle created an exemplary COVID response template for the rest of the country, which led with establishing one of the first in the nation moratoria on evictions to keep families safe. This swift and early action saved countless lives as we’ve maintained the lowest infection rate, hospitalizations, and COVID-related deaths of the top American cities while also reaching key vaccine milestones. We must also recognize that the economic impact of the pandemic forced many businesses to close, left far too many without jobs, and we are still responding to the fallout. While we continue to be in a state of emergency, this three-month extension will ensure we can provide the cash rental assistance and housing support that is critical to stabilizing the community as we reopen.” 

Mayor Jenny Durkan

The executive order continues tenant protections prohibiting landlords from issuing notices of termination or otherwise initiating eviction actions with the courts unless there is an imminent threat to the health and safety of the community. Late fees, interest, or other charges due to late payment of rent during the moratorium are not allowed. However, tenants are still legally obligated to pay rent during the moratorium, and landlords are encouraged to offer flexible payment plans. Residential tenants who receive an eviction notice during the moratorium should contact the Renting in Seattle hotline at 206‐684‐5700 or go online to submit a complaint. 

The moratorium on eviction of nonprofit and small business commercial tenants applies to independently-owned businesses with 50 employees or fewer per establishment, state nonprofits, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. The extension also prevents eligible small businesses and nonprofits from incurring late fees, interest, or other charges due to late payment during the moratorium. For additional questions please see the Office of Economic Development’s COVID-19 Lease Amendment Tool Kit.  

Extending the residential eviction moratoria to September 30 will allow urgently-needed rental assistance and additional housing resources to reach further into the tenant and landlord community. Currently upon expiration, according to a previously existing ordinance, additional tenant protections are set in motion including a six-month period in which a renter may claim a defense against eviction for non-payment of rent if they can demonstrate financial hardship due to COVID-19. This timeline protects tenants from evictions for non/late payments through March 31, 2022, keeping Seattle residents housed through the winter months.  

In addition to the moratoria extension, the executive order sets end dates for rent abatement and deferral policies for tenants of City facilities:  

  • Seattle Center: June 30 for businesses and August 31 for nonprofits 
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation: August 31 for both businesses and nonprofits 
  • Finance and Administrative Services: September 30 for both businesses and nonprofits  

The executive order also extends certain suspensions put in place to limit the economic impact of the pandemic on Seattle residents and small businesses. These extensions include the Utility Discount Program’s Self-Certification Pilot Program, temporary loading zones for restaurants and small businesses, and non-booting of vehicles for unpaid parking tickets. The City continues to assess when to lift these individual suspensions as it relates to the COVID-19 emergency.  

Mayor Durkan has also directed utilities to refrain from shutting off service to customers through December 31, 2021.  

Seattle Office of Economic Development Partners With Comcast to Launch New Digital Point-of-Sales Program

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Public and private partnerships are providing critical solutions to address the digital divide for small businesses.

The City of Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) and Comcast are partnering to launch and expand critical digital resources to support Seattle’s small businesses most impacted by COVID-19 and the digital divide. Comcast contributed nearly $40,000 in addition to OED’s $50,000 investment to Kay Tita, a social impact nonprofit, who will implement the new Digital Sales Access Program (DSAP). DSAP will support 50 small businesses by equipping them with a point-of-sales (POS) system and connecting participating businesses with tools and training needed to pivot their operations to a new digital system. This new system will allow small business owners to grow their business by switching from cash-only to accepting debit, credit and other digital forms of payment. This program will increase businesses e‑commerce capacity and improve businesses digital literacy, financial awareness and overall business health.

Additionally, OED and Comcast partnered with community-based organization HomeSight and neighborhood business districts to expand the Essential Southeast Seattle Initiative (ESES) online marketplace for small businesses. ESES is part of a digital access initiative for local businesses in Southeast Seattle to adapt to an increasingly digital economy, with targeted support for small Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) businesses. This program includes an e-commerce platform for Southeast Seattle small businesses; digital access support to get their business online; and technology equipment to meet business needs. This initiative was developed in response to COVID-19 with a $50,000 investment from Comcast to encourage and support the community’s ability to shop local and support small businesses through online platforms.

“This past year has been truly devastating for so many of our small businesses. We saw early on that businesses that could quickly pivot to online delivery and e-commerce solutions were able to adapt more readily to the challenges of this pandemic. As we look towards recovery and reopening, it will take all of us working together to develop creative and innovative solutions to address the issues that impact our most vulnerable businesses. I am proud of the intentional collaborative approach our Office of Economic Development has been taking, by working with organizations such as Comcast, HomeSight and Kay Tita, among others, to connect small businesses to technology and the digital and financial literacy resources that will help them not only stabilize but thrive after this truly unprecedented year.”

Mayor Jenny Durkan.

“Seattle is a technology hub; however, some small businesses do not have the same level of technological infrastructure that other businesses have. Comcast and other local organizations have been critical partners for OED, as we have worked together to respond to the digital divide that is impacting our small businesses owned by people of color, immigrants and refugees. Public-private partnerships will support our ability to more quickly and holistically respond to the great needs our small businesses have.”

Pamela Banks, Director of the Office of Economic Development and Director of Recovery and Equitable Investments.

“Strong public-private partnerships are uniquely positioned to have a positive impact and support important causes in our local community. Our collaboration with the Office of Economic Development over the last year is a direct example of that. We are proud to work with Kay Tita, HomeSight, and OED to support the recovery of Seattle’s vibrant BIPOC small business community and help it grow through more equitable access to technology, funding and other resources.”

Rodrigo Lopez, Region Senior Vice President, Comcast Washington.

To be eligible for the new Digital Sales Access Program, small businesses must have a maximum of five employees; be interested in learning how to leverage digital resources to grow their business; and be cash-only or in need of a POS upgrade. Each eligible business owner will receive POS equipment, a Square stand, an iPad Air and one-on-one POS training. Businesses that meet the eligibility requirements can apply by Tuesday, June 15, and find more information at kaytita.org/dsap.

“To have digital access is only part of the journey. We’ve created a program where a personal connection with the business owners is integral in every step of sharing, learning, and growing.”

David Pierre-Louis, Founder and Executive Director of Kay Tita.

Addressing the digital divide by removing digital access barriers that exacerbated the negative economic impact of COVID-19 on small businesses, particularly BIPOC small and medium-size businesses, is a key strategy of OED. Ongoing public health restrictions have increased businesses and customers’ dependence on e-commerce and technology capabilities to keep businesses functioning and connect customers to the goods and services they need. Small businesses with the equipment, capital and digital skillset were able to pivot more quickly than those that lacked access to POS systems, capital to purchase technology and specialized digital literacy skills.

For small businesses without capital or with language barriers, it can be dauting to adopt and implement new technologies without support. New or up to date equipment can revolutionize the way a business functions and ensure they can remain competitive. For this reason, OED and private partners developed programs to provide necessary technical support to business owners so they can develop digital skills to maintain this new technology.

ESES — the collaboration between OED, HomeSight, Comcast and local business districts, including Beacon Hill, Columbia City/Hillman City, Mt. Baker, Othello/MLK and Rainier Beach —recently re-launched essentialseseattle.com featuring more small businesses in the Southeast Seattle neighborhoods. OED encourages residents to support these businesses as some have been the most disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Southeast Seattle businesses interested in being featured in this digital marketplace can contact commdev@homesightwa.org.

“Essential Southeast Seattle was a SE Seattle business district collaboration originally created in April of 2020 to help combat the loss of business due to the impact of COVID-19, and while it still serves that very purpose, the partnership with the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development and Comcast will help launch our vital small businesses into the digital era. This initiative will provide digital access support and technology equipment to our small businesses — the majority owned by people of color, immigrants and refugees, to help fill the digital void felt in Southeast Seattle. We are incredibly grateful and excited to be a part of this partnership.”

Sarah Valenta, Director of Community and Business Development at HomeSight.

As the City moves toward implementing equitable recovery efforts, investments in resources and programs that support small businesses’ ability to have equal access to digital equipment and digital skills will be required for them to equitably participate in the economy of the future. Additionally, public and private partnerships can strengthen economic recovery and community resilience for Seattle by leveraging each other’s strengths and investments to extend the impact of the resources available.

“We will continue to support our small businesses’ ability not only to survive, but to thrive in our city as we plan for long-term recovery. We will have to be creative in our solutions and intentional in how we implement recovery strategies, especially for our BIPOC businesses who have suffered disproportionately not just from COVID-19, but from institutional racism and disinvestment for generations.”

Pamela Banks, Director of the Office of Economic Development and Director of Recovery and Equitable Investments.

Recently, OED, Comcast and Jacqueline Christian, small business owner of Six17 Salon and recipient of the Small Business Stabilization Fund, participated in a conversation about how we can work together to advance digital equity. To learn more about the importance and impact of public-private partnerships, watch the recording of The Digital Divide for BIPOC Small Businesses panel here.

Comcast’s longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion accelerated in June 2020 with a $100 million commitment to help drive lasting reform and champion a more connected and equitable world. This commitment included investing in local communities across Washington state and the small businesses that shape them through the Comcast RISE program, a multi-year, multi-faceted initiative designed to help strengthen BIPOC-owned, small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic, by providing marketing and technology upgrades. To date, Comcast has offered grants to approximately 100 businesses statewide, including more than 30 in Seattle, and is accepting applications for the program at comcastrise.com/apply.

OED’s investments in digital access strategies also include the Digital Bridge Program and Youth Web Design Program created in partnership with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) that provides an opportunity for BIPOC students to learn web design and create professional-level websites for Black-owned small businesses that are without or have limited web presence. This year, OED and ULMS will host two new cohorts that will serve 30 additional BIPOC students and up to 60 interested Black-owned businesses. Students will also earn Seattle Public School Career and Technical Education (CTE) credits toward their graduation requirements in addition to learning web design and marketing, earning an industry accredited website design certification and receiving a paid stipend. Black-owned businesses interested in this program must be based in Seattle and have an up-to-date Seattle Business License Number. Applications are open and eligible businesses can apply here by Tuesday, June 15.

OED continues to support business owners by connecting them to resources from the federal government such as the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, as well as other resources that are available from the state and philanthropic partners. OED also provides in-language technical assistance to access city, state and federal resources. Businesses can access this service 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. 

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

Woman using point-of-sales system to pay small business owner. Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund application portal opens on May 3

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Registration for the grant begins April 30. The Seattle Office of Economic Development will offer technical assistance for businesses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration will open the application portal for the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) on Monday, May 3, 2021, at 9 a.m. PDT. Eligible applicants should register for an account in advance at restaurants.sba.gov starting this Friday, April 30, 2021. Once businesses register for an account, they will be able to complete their application by uploading the required documents to the application portal on May 3. Eligible businesses are eligible for up to $5 million in funding per location, not to exceed $10 million total for the applicant and affiliated businesses. The Office of Economic Development (OED) encourages all eligible applicants to submit applications as soon as the portal opens and will be providing technical assistance for business owners, including bilingual assistance in multiple languages. Additionally, the SBA Seattle District Office will host an information session on Friday, April 30 at 2 p.m. PDT. You can register for this information session here or watch a previously recorded session here.

SBA will accept applications from all eligible applicants once the portal opens. However, for the first 21 days that RRF is open, the SBA will prioritize processing applications from businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Following the 21 days, all eligible applications will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.

“The Restaurant Revitalization Fund will provide much needed support to our local businesses that have done everything in their power to just hold on. Our office is proud to be a part of a network that is committed to connecting as many eligible businesses as possible — especially our businesses owned by people of color, immigrants, refugees and those whose first language is not English — to the necessary information and support that will help them be successful in applying for these grants.”

Pamela Banks, Interim Director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development

To prepare for the application, businesses should:

  • Register for an account in advance at restaurants.sba.gov starting this Friday, April 30, 2021.
  • Review the RRF overview, RRF program guide and RRF application sample (all available in multiple languages). For additional details, visit sba.gov/restaurants or sba.gov/restaurantes in Spanish.
  • Prepare the required documentation including:
    • Verification for Tax Information: IRS Form 4506-T, completed and signed by Applicant. Completion of this form digitally on the SBA platform will satisfy this requirement.
    • Gross Receipts Documentation.
    • Valid unexpired Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers are acceptable.
    • Note: Applicants do not need to register with SAM.gov, and SBA will not require a DUNS or CAGE identifier.
  • Work with a point-of-sale (POS) vendor.
    • SBA partnered with POS vendors Clover, NCR Corporation, Square and Toast to make the application process easier.
    • For businesses that utilize Square or Toast as their POS vendor, they can register and apply directly through their POS vendor and not the SBA. For businesses working with Clover and NCR, they will need to apply through the SBA portal, but may use their POS reports as part of the application process.
  • Attend live virtual webinars and trainings:
    • Information session hosted by SBA Seattle District Office on Friday, April 30 at 2 p.m. PDT; staff available to answer questions throughout the presentation and with dedicated Q&A time at the end | Register here by selecting date.
    • Note: If bilingual assistance is needed for the webinar, please notify the SBA in advance as they will do their best to accommodate a translator line for the language requested.
    • OED will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, May 4 from 12-1 p.m. PDT. Desiree Albrecht with SBA Seattle District Office will be joining OED to share an overview of the fund, discuss program details and answer any questions district partners or businesses may have. Click this link to join the meeting on May 4.

About the Restaurant Revitalization Fund

The American Rescue Plan Act established the RRF to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. Recipients are not required to repay the funding if funds are spent on eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023, including:

  • Business payroll costs (including sick leave)
  • Payments on any business mortgage obligation
  • Business rent payments (note: this does not include prepayment of rent)
  • Business debt service (both principal and interest; this does not include any prepayment of principal or interest)
  • Business utility payments
  • Business maintenance expenses
  • Construction of outdoor seating
  • Business supplies (including protective equipment and cleaning materials)
  • Business food and beverage expenses (including raw materials)
  • Covered supplier costs
  • Business operating expenses

To be eligible, entities must not be permanently closed and be a business where the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink. Eligible entities include:

  • Restaurants
  • Food stands, food trucks, food carts
  • Caterers
  • Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
  • Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (e.g., coffee shops, ice cream shops)
  • Bakeries*
  • Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms*
  • Breweries and/or microbreweries*
  • Wineries and distilleries*
  • Inns*
  • Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample or purchase products

*If onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts.

Entities are ineligible if any of the following apply:

  • The entity owned or operated more than 20 locations as of March 13, 2020, regardless of whether those locations do business under the same or different names or are in different industries.
  • The business has a pending application for or has received a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.
  • The business is permanently closed.
  • The entity is a state or local government-operated business.
  • The business is a publicly traded company or is a nonprofit organization.

Businesses can apply over the phone at 1-844-279-8898 if they do not have reliable internet, however processing times may be longer.

For assistance preparing the application, business owners can access the following:

RRF applications must be submitted in English or Spanish. For more information, visit sba.gov/restaurants or this SBA announcement.

Para obtener información en español, visite sba.gov/restaurantes.

OED continues to support business owners by connecting them to resources from the federal government such as the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Paycheck Protection Program, RRF and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, as well as other resources that are available from the state and philanthropic partners. OED also provides in-language technical assistance to access city, state and federal resources. Businesses can access this service 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: name, phone number, preferred language and the type of support needed.

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

Small business owner pouring drinks.

City of Seattle Reaches $10 Million Milestone in Small Business Investment

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The Seattle Office of Economic Development awarded over $10 million in Small Business Stabilization Fund grants to small businesses impacted by COVID-19

The Office of Economic Development (OED) recently awarded an additional 356 businesses $10,000 grants from the Small Business Stabilization Fund (SBSF), reaching a significant investment milestone of over $10 million in grants to small businesses throughout Seattle who have been impacted by COVID-19 since March 2020. Furthermore, OED awarded $3,150 grants to 647 restaurants and bars from an expanded COVID-19 relief package that specifically focused on restaurants, bars and hospitality workers announced by Mayor Durkan, Council President González, Councilmember Morales and Councilmember Mosqueda in December 2020. To date, nearly 1,500 small businesses and economic opportunity nonprofits have received over $10 million in funding.

“As more and more Seattle residents are getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19, hope is on the horizon — but many of our local small businesses are still facing a long and uncertain road to recovery. Working together in the early days of this crisis, we quickly created the Seattle Small Business Stabilization Fund, which has become a model for cities across our country. This pandemic and the resulting economic downturn have been devastating for too many of our small businesses. I am proud of the OED team for working tirelessly to get these funds into business owners’ hands as quickly as possible. Our region is on the road to recovery, but we are not out of the woods yet. As Seattle reopens, we all still have a role to play in ending this pandemic. Now is not the time to let up on our efforts. Please continue to wear a mask in public, keep your distance and limit social gatherings, get tested if you feel sick, and sign up to receive the vaccine.”

Mayor Jenny Durkan

“Our small businesses have done everything possible to survive, support their employees and continue to serve our community. The need has been significantly greater than the resources the City has had access to. However, I am incredibly proud of the work our Office of Economic Development has done to provide some relief to as many of our small businesses as our resources allowed. As we move toward long-term recovery, we will continue to support our small businesses’ ability not only to survive, but to thrive in our city. We will have to be creative in our solutions and intentional in how we implement recovery strategies, especially for our Black, Indigenous and other people of color businesses who have suffered disproportionately not just from COVID-19, but from institutional racism and disinvestment for generations.”

Pamela Banks, Interim Director of the Office of Economic Development and Director of Recovery and Equitable Investments

“The Small Business Stabilization fund provides a lifeline for hundreds of our local restaurants and bars hardest hit in this economic crisis. Our small businesses are essential to the recovery and revitalization of our neighborhoods across Seattle. Together, we must remain focused on supporting hospitality industry businesses and workers as we continue to wait for federal dollars to meet the deep needs within our city.”

Seattle City Council President Lorena González

“Our economy, workforce and community are only as vibrant as our City’s small businesses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses have struggled while providing aid to so many. I’m proud to have worked with the Mayor, and my council colleagues, on funding to help keep small businesses afloat during our public health crisis. Small business grants are not the end of the conversation, as we must push for stronger and more equitable policies as we re-open and rebuild, including outdoor dining options, greater transit, and increased public spaces.”

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Position 8 (Citywide)

“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve focused on direct assistance to workers and small business owners, to stabilize the economic recovery in our communities and keep working families whole. As Council begins to allocate additional federal dollars to our city’s recovery, I’ll continue to fight for small businesses and workers, as we know a potential ‘fourth wave’ and emerging variants will continue to impact our city’s ability to return to normal.”

Councilmember Tammy J. Morales, Position 2 (South Seattle and Chinatown/International District)

To prioritize funding to businesses that are most likely to have experienced the greatest economic impacts, OED awarded two-thirds of SBSF grants to businesses with five or fewer employees and from areas identified as highly disadvantaged or at high risk of displacement. To date, 66% of all SBSF grantees are from high-displacement or highly disadvantaged neighborhoods, 60% of the recipients identify as people of color and 43% are women-owned businesses. Additionally, OED allocated nearly 14% of grants from rounds four and five to creative industry small businesses to better support this industry and its workers.

In rounds four and five specifically, 54% of grantees are people of color and 46% are women-owned businesses. Of the grantees for restaurants and bars, 58% of business owners are people of color and 37% are women-owned businesses.

“I assumed ownership of the Hummingbird Saloon only six months prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19 forced the closure of my business and the laying off of my entire staff. Funds I have received from the city have assisted greatly in the reopening of my restaurant, and a majority of my employees have returned to work. They have my gratitude.”

Eric Weakland, owner of The Hummingbird Saloon and recipient of the SBSF grant

“We are glad the dark clouds are finally passing with the immunizations happening. We are happy that the city is thinking of small businesses with the Small Business Stabilization Grant, because without it our doors would be closed right now.”

Frank Anduvate, owner of Rumba Notes Lounge and recipient of the SBSF grant

For additional details on the demographics of grantees, please visit the SBSF dashboard. To view the full list of SBSF awardees and recipients of the restaurant and bar grants, please visit the Stabilization Fund Awardees page.

About the Small Business Stabilization Fund

In March 2020, OED quickly launched the Small Business Stabilization Fund to provide emergency capital to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The SBSF provides $10,000 grants to small businesses and economic opportunity nonprofits throughout Seattle. The latest rounds of the SBSF were funded by the joint COVID-19 relief bill that the Mayor and City Council passed in August 2020.

To be eligible for a grant, a small business or nonprofit was required to have 25 or fewer employees, be located within Seattle city limits, and have an annual net revenue at or below $2 million. Nonprofits had to explicitly provide economic opportunity support through education and/or job training programs to be eligible. All businesses and nonprofit organizations that received a grant committed to not reducing their employees’ wages and benefits provided prior to the COVID-19 emergency.

In December 2020, the City committed additional funding for restaurants, bars and hospitality workers. Whereas the Human Services Department administered grants for hospitality workers, OED partnered with Scholarship Junkies to administer grants to eligible restaurants and bars.

Selection process and new awardees

OED reopened the application portal for the SBSF in November 2020, receiving nearly 4,000 new applications. Due to the high volume of new eligible applicants, SBSF grantees for rounds four and five were selected from the same application pool. Grantees for the restaurant and bar grants were also selected from this same application pool.

OED awarded $10,000 SBSF grants to 237 small businesses and economic opportunity nonprofits in round four and an additional 119 businesses in round five, totaling $3,560,000 in funding. Additionally, $2 million in grants to 647 restaurants and bars were awarded. As a result, over $5.5 million additional funding has been released to support Seattle’s smallest and hardest hit businesses these past few months.

“I’m so thrilled to see that most of the small businesses in the Columbia City area seem to have survived the pandemic. I know that some of them have benefited from the city’s support in these difficult times. It’s so important to work to preserve our unique neighborhood character.”

David Egan, owner of Vino Verite and recipient of the SBSF grant

OED continues to support business owners by connecting them to resources from the federal government such as the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, and other resources that are available from the state and philanthropic partners. OED also provides in-language technical assistance to access city, state and federal resources. Businesses can access this service 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: name, phone number, preferred language and the type of support needed.

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.

Portrait of business owners in their store, looking at camera, wearing aprons and showing peace sign with hands.

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.