Bottom Line Blog Office of Economic Development

Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

Workshop: Cash Reigns Supreme – Tracking the Financial Results of Your Business

by

A one-half day course designed for small business owners, that teaches the importance of financial statements and how they can be used to make better business decisions. The connection between bookkeeping transactions and financial statements is made using QuickBooks software. Participants learn how third parties, including lenders, evaluate financial statements to make lending decisions. The NDC also partners with the Office of Economic Development’s Grow Seattle Fund.
Specific topics include:

 the importance of maintaining current and accurate financial records
 keeping financial records with QuickBooks
 accounting terminology
 balance sheet
 profit and loss statement
 the importance of cash
 determining your company’s cash needs
 cash flow statements
 cash flow forecasting
 selecting an accountant and accounting system
 preparing for growth

Registration & Tuition Information:
To register, please contact Diana Sasser with the Grow Tacoma Fund, dsasser@nationaldevelopmentcouncil.org or 209-483-9863.

There is no fee for this course so everyone is welcome. Space limit 50 people.

Course Location:

William M Factory
Incubator 1423 E 29th St
Tacoma, WA 98404

October 24, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Only in Seattle Request for Applications (RFA)

by

Only in Seattle Initiative Request for Applications (RFA)

The City of Seattle through the Office of Economic Development (OED) is partnering with Impact Capital, Seattle Investment Fund LLC and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to make approximately $1,600,000 available for the Only in Seattle Initiative. The Initiative provides grant funding and staff support to foster neighborhood business districts that allow small businesses to grow and flourish, making a positive contribution to the city’s economic health, reflect the unique character of the neighborhoods where they are located, contribute to their vitality and empower business owners to organize around a common vision and attract investment.

Applications are due 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1, 2013 to Beth Dufek at Impact Capital: Email: Beth@impactcapital.org. Late applications and paper copies will not be accepted.For the complete Program Description, and Request for Applications (RFA), click here.

Informational Sessions: Two informational sessions will be held to answer questions about the program and the RFA. All are encouraged to attend one of these sessions.

 
Thursday October 3rd at 1pm – 2 p.m.
Room 4070, 40th Floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower
700 5th Ave
 
Tuesday October 15th at 12 noon -1 p.m.
Room 4096, 40th Floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower
700 5th Ave

 

For more information, contact Beth Dufek (206) 658-2610 or beth@impactcaptial.org or Theresa Barreras at 206-684-4505, Theresa.barreras@seattle.gov

Seattle to Hold Symposium For Local Businesses and Business Districts

by

On Friday, September 20, The Seattle City Council will be hosting the first ever Seattle Business Organizations Symposium. This event will provide businesses with a variety of resources and advice on how to help your business grow and be more successful.

Council President Sally J. Clark invites all Seattle businesses to a morning of information, networking and inspiration.  The event will include:

  • A panel discussion with reporters and public relations experts on how to get more and better media coverage
  • A lightening round of keynote presentations on how business organizations can grow while helping their business districts
  • A case study on how Pioneer Square became Seattle’s newest trendy neighborhood
  • A resource fair of services for neighborhood chambers and business organizations

Admission is free and breakfast snacks and coffee will be provided.

This event will be held on Friday, September 20 at the Seattle City Hall, in the Bertha Knight Landes Room and first floor lobby from 8 a.m. to noon. Enter from Fifth Avenue between Cherry and James Street.

To RSVP or for additional information, contact David Yeaworth at (206) 684-5328, email at David.Yeaworth@Seattle.gov or visit the Seattle City Council Page.

OED’S Daily Digest Three for the Week of November 19

by

 

 

 

 

 

13 MISTAKES YOUR BUSINESS IS MAKING ON LINKEDIN

BUSINESS INSIDER

When used the right way, LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for businesses. Businesses that navigate LinkedIn properly engage customers, generate sales leads, and swap internal information among employees. Krista Canfield, LinkedIn’s senior manager of corporate communications, trains companies on nontraditional uses of LinkedIn. She knows the platform like the back of her hand, having joined LinkedIn when it only had 18 million members and 200 people on staff (now it has 187 million members and 3,177 employees). Canfield reveals the most common mistakes she sees businesses make on LinkedIn, and how all companies can use the professional social network better.

THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE MOTION PICTURE INITIATIVE FOR WASHINGTON

VANGUARD SEATTLE 

Seattle has overwhelmingly demonstrated a desire for the significant number of jobs (and limelight) affiliated with in-house film projects to continue, as they have in recent months because of in-state filming. When a major motion picture or television show is set in Seattle, tourism sees huge spikes. But much is lost when the production takes place elsewhere. By allotting a 30 percent tax deduction for those involved with projects filmed in Washington, the Motion Picture Incentive program (signed back into law by Christine Gregoire earlier this year) promotes the use of local crews, hotel and car rentals, and thus drives tourism. More importantly, it ensures that our own talented filmmakers don’t seek production elsewhere, as local production is integral to the film industry’s continued growth in Seattle.

WATERFRONT DESIGN: LESSONS FROM DENMARK 

CITY TANK 

Cities around the world are transforming industrial and utilitarian harborfronts into great places for people. The Danes in Denmark have a well-earned reputation for creating high-quality, inviting, and lively waterfronts. The removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct presents an opportunity for Seattle to transform its own waterfront and to explore these global solutions. Among other lessons Seattle can learn from Denmark, the city can work to activate public spaces, focus on quality over quantity, remain true to place, and beware of misleading or fabricated images of the city.

NOT SIGNED UP FOR DAILY DIGEST?

Are you and your friends signed up for OED’s Daily Digest? Compiled from over 100 news sources, the OED Daily Digest is the best way to keep up with the latest in business, technology, workforce,    industry, real estate, maritime, energy and economic development news in Seattle.

Only In Seattle Presents Event In Chinatown/International District On Saturday, Nov. 24

by

Only in Seattle Sunday shines a much-deserved spotlight on small businesses in Seattle neighborhoods by offering the public great shopping deals through partnerships with businesses in participating neighborhoods.

The next event will be held in the Chinatown/International District neighborhood on Saturday, November 24. Other upcoming Only in Seattle events will bring special offers to Pioneer Square businesses on Thursday, December 6 (in conjunction with Pioneer Square’s First Thursday), and to Georgetown on Sunday, December 30. This initiative is part of the City’s continued push to encourage discovery and exploration of neighborhoods in Seattle.

“Buying gifts or experiences locally during the holidays is a great way to support our neighborhood businesses,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “I hope that people will explore and support the unique stores and restaurants that we’re featuring in the Only in Seattle campaign.”  

Only in Seattle Sundays in Chinatown/International District on Saturday, November 24

Only in Seattle Sundays on Saturday, November 24 features discounts at 13 businesses, including: Chuminh Tofu, Fuji Sushi, Lam’s Seafood Market, Kobo, Momo, Oasis Tea Zone, Phnom Penh, Plus45Design, Seattle Pinball Museum, Shabu Chic, Uwajimaya, Wing Luke Museum, and World Pizza.

To view and redeem the monthly Only in Seattle Sundays deals, shoppers can download or print the Only in Seattle Sundays day-pass, available at http://www.onlyinseattle.org/ois_sunday.html. They can also download the free Chinook Book mobile app and present their print or electronic proof of participation at participating businesses. Additionally Seattleites are encouraged to follow Only in Seattle on Facebook and Twitter, where the City’s Office of Economic Development (OED) will be giving away prizes from select neighborhood businesses throughout the month.

Listen and Watch for Only in Seattle during the holidays

The Office of Economic Development is excited to announce three partnerships to further the reach of the Only in Seattle marketing campaign.

In an effort to publicize the Only in Seattle initiative and promote local neighborhoods, CBS Radio Seattle (KMPS-FM, KZOK-FM, KJAQ-FM & KNFQ-AM) is proud to announce a partnership with BECU. CBS Radio Seattle is creating an interactive marketing program that encourages audiences to “find the hidden gems” in our area. The campaign will be featured on CBS Radio Seattle starting December 3. CBS Radio and BECU will also support local community events involving Only in Seattle.

Traveling on Virgin America during the holidays? Be sure to look for our Only in Seattle video segment on Virgin America flights coming in and out of Seattle on the RedHOT travel video series, which features the hottest, hippest and best in the airline’s destinations and reaches over 1 million airline passengers per show. The Only in Seattle video will be featured for five months, from November through March.

Though a partnership with Chinook Book, all Only in Seattle deals for Chinatown/International District, Pioneer Square, and Georgetown will be available to all Chinook Book mobile app users. While the printable day-pass from OnlyinSeattle.org is good for one day only, the Chinook Book app extends those great Only in Seattle deals for 30 days. The Only in Seattle Chinatown/International District Chinook Book deals are valid November 24 through December 24. A free version of the Chinook Book app is available through the App Store and Google Play.

For the past two years Only in Seattle has captured the essence of Seattle’s neighborhoods and shared the unique stories behind each of the featured businesses. With Only in Seattle Sundays the campaign’s “buy local” mission is brought to life beyond the Only in Seattle website, www.onlyinseattle.org,  by inspiring people to take one day a month to discover and explore a new neighborhood or businesses they might not experience otherwise.