Welcome Back Weeks Attended By At Least 15,000 People, Spur Economic Activity and Support for Workers Downtown

July 30, 2021 by OED

Digable Planets (right to left: Ladybug Mecca, Doodlebug, and Butterfly) performing at Westlake Park at Welcome Back to Westlake | Photo by Jacqueline Wu.

Welcome Back Weeks Catalyzed Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Spending at Downtown Small Businesses

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today announced the outcomes of Welcome Back Weeks – a two-week effort from the City and downtown partners to bring workers, small businesses, and visitors back to downtown Seattle. As part of Welcome Back Weeks, the City invested more than $300,000 dollars directly into small businesses, artists, and cultural organizations who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Those investments support nearly 500 small businesses, and 80 percent of those are owned by women or people of color. The City is also employing 200 artists and cultural workers, many of whom haven’t been able to perform in person for 16 months, and 90 percent of the City-hired creative workers are women or people of color.

Across the City’s large-scale events and partner promotions, the City estimates that at least 15,000 visited downtown Seattle to participate in Welcome Back Weeks. In addition, the City’s small business partnerships resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in new spending at downtown small businesses.

“Downton Seattle is our city’s economic engine and heartbeat, and it was devasted during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn,” said Mayor Durkan. “As we turn our attention to recovery, the City will remain focused on spurring economic activity, supporting workers, and revitalizing our arts and cultural scene. Our Welcome Back Weeks brought tens of thousands of residents and visitors back to our downtown neighborhoods, but this was just the first step in a long and dedicated effort to help our downtown core recover. I’m grateful to our partners across downtown for supporting an equitable and ambitious COVID-19 recovery.”

“It was great to see so many neighbors from all over the city come to celebrate the reopening of Downtown and our urban core. This well-attended community building activity demonstrated how placemaking can connect our community and help our local businesses. The City was able to employ many of our local artists, musicians, and other creatives during these Welcome Back Weeks, after so many haven’t had an opportunity to share their talents that help make Seattle such a great place to live. These events marked the first of many steps in our recovery, and foreshadow the positive impact we expect when all businesses return to work Downtown,” said Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis (District 7, Pioneer Square to Magnolia).

The City of Seattle estimates that 5,700 people participated in its large-scale Welcome Back Weeks events, including 2,000 people at the Hing Hay Park event in the Chinatown-International District, 700 people at the Occidental Square event in Pioneer Square, and 3,000 people at the Westlake Park event in Westlake. In addition, the City vaccinated 52 new people across its Welcome Back Weeks clinics, which were a partnership with the Day In • Day Out music festival taking place at Seattle Center this Labor Day weekend.

The Downtown Seattle Association partnered with the City on Welcome Back Weeks, and their efforts resulted in:

Welcome Back Booths experienced over 10,000 engagements with people
Downtown Summer Sounds is gaining popularity and attendees: more than 100 people at most concerts
Recent Beers & Bites event in Occidental Square attracted approximately 1,500 visitors over a three-day period

“People are coming back to downtown, and it’s great to see the activity picking up in the heart of the city,” said Downtown Seattle Association President & CEO Jon Scholes. “We’re seeing the number of daily visitors, total downtown foot traffic and hotel occupancy all trending upward. Downtown is turning a corner and we are keeping up the momentum by organizing Welcome Back Weeks in September to create unique events, activities and experiences you can only get downtown. We invite people to check out www.LoveSeaTown.com to see all that’s happening and come on down to take part.”

As part of Welcome Back Weeks, the City partnered with the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area, the Alliance for Pioneer Square, and Intentionalist to support nearly 500 small businesses downtown, 80 percent of which are owned by women of people of color. The outcomes of those partnerships are as follows:

The Alliance for Pioneer Square distributed 134 Passports to Pioneer Square, which supports local small businesses in the neighborhood;
423 receipts from 175 different downtown small businesses were uploaded to Intentionalist’s Receipt and Receive program, which amounts to $16,142 in spending at downtown small businesses; and
Intentionalist’s Gift Like it Matters program catalyzed more than $10,000 in additional gift certificate revenues for downtown small businesses.

“It was wonderful to see the community come out to support downtown small businesses throughout Welcome Back Weeks,” said Intentionalist CEO, Laura Clise. “Small business owners including Wendy Huynh of Bubble Tea Fresh Fruit in Little Saigon and Vaness Vu of Doner Box in Belltown shared with us that the additional foot traffic and support from the community means a lot as they continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of pandemic recovery. Our community showed up, and it will be important to continue to Spend Like It Matters in the weeks and months to come.”

The Intentionalist placed a Welcome Back Seattle Tab at Yen Ma's Gan Bei, located in the Chinatown-International District. | Photo by the Intentionalist. — The Intentionalist placed a Welcome Back Seattle Tab at Yen Ma’s Gan Bei, located in the Chinatown-International District. | Photo by the Intentionalist.

In an effort to support local artists and small businesses, the City’s Welcome Back Weeks were the launch of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture’s (ARTS) Created Commons initiative, a new City effort to create a vital lifeline to fund artists and creatives by transforming public spaces into venues for spectacular temporary arts and cultural extravaganzas. Through this effort, the City employed approximately 200 artists and cultural workers as part of the events, many of whom haven’t been able to perform in person for 16 months, and 90 percent of the City-hired creative workers are women, LGBTQ+ and/or people of color.

“The Created Commons event was amazing! Hing Hay Park was full of people excited to be back together enjoying shows and we were one of them,” shared Bleachbear, who performed at the Welcome Back to the Chinatown-International District event. “It felt wonderful to be up on the stage again. In fact, after such a long hiatus from playing live shows during the pandemic, we were probably more pumped to be playing a show than any time we could remember! While it felt new in ways, it was also comfortable and familiar, and it just felt awesome to see familiar faces from past shows singing along with us. Pulling together events in City parks with local performers was a brilliant way to get the community connected again, and we were so glad to be a part of it.”

“I personally didn’t realize how much the Welcome Back Week shows would impact me as an artist until I was on stage at Hing Hay Park looking out into the crowd as I started my first song, realizing I would be singing songs for my family and my community. [It was my] first time onstage since the pandemic shut everything down in 2020,” shared Daniel Pak, artist and Executive Director of Totem Star, who performed at the Welcome Back to the Chinatown-International District event. “Special thanks to Jenny Ku at ARTS for championing youth voice and culture, as she advocated strongly to get youth artists on the stages at Hing Hay, Occidental, and Westlake. Witnessing Totem Star artists bring so much love and joy to the community shows us how far we’ve come and also where we need to go to ensure that young people have a platform to share their stories and perspectives as the future cultural leaders of Seattle.”

Totem Star's Sharmaine performed at Occidental Square as part of Welcome Back to Pioneer Square. | Photo by Jacqueline Wu. — Totem Star’s Sharmaine performed at Occidental Square as part of Welcome Back to Pioneer Square. | Photo by Jacqueline Wu.

Welcome Back Weeks are a key element of the City’s Road to Downtown Recovery plan, which seeks to bring workers, small businesses, and visitors back downtown. You can find more information on the City’s downtown recovery efforts at www.seattle.gov/covidrecovery.

Digable Planets to Headline Free Sunset Concert at Welcome Back to Westlake Event

July 21, 2021 by OED

City Partners With More Than 30 Restaurants and Retailers for Halloween in July Trick-or-Treating at Westlake. Welcome Back to Pioneer Square and Westlake Events Taking Place This Saturday and Sunday.

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced final lineups and activations as part of the City of Seattle’s large-scale Welcome Back to Pioneer Square and Welcome Back to Westlake events taking place Saturday, July 24, and Sunday, July 25, respectively. Renowned hip-hop trio Digable Planets will headline the free Sunset Concert at Westlake Park alongside a lineup of Seattle-based artists. The Welcome Back to Westlake event will also feature a Halloween in July celebration, and the City has partnered with more than 30 restaurants and retailers to host trick-or-treating for kids and families.

The Welcome Back Seattle events in Pioneer Square and Westlake are predominantly outside, and will align with current statewide reopening protocols. Unvaccinated attendees should wear a face covering indoors as well as outdoors if they are unable to maintain social distance. In addition, the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) will host a pop-up vaccine clinic at both events. SFD will administer Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer at these clinics, and patients can get their first or second dose. If a patient is receiving their second dose, they’ll need to show proof of vaccination. If a patient receives their first dose of Moderna or Pfizer, SFD will provide them with locations to schedule their second dose. The first 100 people who receive their first or second dose at the City’s Welcome Back Weeks pop-up vaccination clinics will receive a free single-day ticket to the Day In • Day Out music festival. As of July 20, 81.5 percent of Seattle residents have begun the vaccination process, and 76.2 percent of residents have completed the vaccination process.

“Our first Welcome Back Seattle event in the Chinatown-International District was incredible. It was so heartening to see Seattleites and our neighbors from across the state and country come together to dance, celebrate, and gather once again as a community,” said Mayor Durkan. “I hope you’ll participate in our Welcome Back Week events in Pioneer Square and Westlake. We’re offering some of the best things you’ve missed over the last year and a half, whether that’s Halloween and trick-or-treating, live music from a renowned group, or promotions with your favorite restaurants and retailers.”

Stylized photo of Pioneer Square; Explore old and new favorites in the neighborhood, Occidental Square, July 24, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Welcome Back Pioneer Square takes place in Occidental Square Saturday, July 24, from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., and live music begins right at 10:30 a.m. Party Hat Gallery will be on-site providing free screen printing of a design by Seattle artist and gallerist Tariqa Waters. The Intentionalist and Alliance for Pioneer Square are also providing small business promotions in alignment with the Welcome Back Week events. You can find a full lineup of performers and events here.

Stylized graphic of Westlake Park; Halloween in July, Westlake Park & nearby retailers, July 25, 12-9 p.m.

Welcome Back to Westlake takes place in Westlake Park Sunday, July 25, from 12-9 p.m., with live performances beginning right at noon. Digable Planets will headline with a Sunset Concert beginning at 8 p.m., and the full lineup of performances is available here. The Halloween in July and trick-or-treat events will take place from 12-4 p.m., and families can find a full list and map of participating trick-or-treat locations here. Attendees are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and participate in the costume contest taking place at 4 p.m. in Westlake Park, with prizes from Nepantla Gallery, Bite Society, and other local retailers. Party Hat Gallery will again be on-site providing free screen printing of a design by Seattle artist Brandon Vosika.

“The Created Commons programming has been a great success in connecting working creatives with opportunities that meet the civic needs of this particular moment in time, said Calandra Childers, Acting Director of ARTS (Office of Arts & Culture).“We’ve been able to hire more than 200 artists to reignite our neighborhoods, bring customers to small businesses, and even get more folks vaccinated. I love that we’re closing out with Digable Planets – an iconic Seattle hip hop trio that speaks to our past and our future.”

“Seattle is near and dear to my heart, and nothing brings me more joy than to see opportunities for us to reconnect as a community and enjoy our beautiful summer weather together,” said Pamela Banks, Interim Director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development. “This weekend I hope individuals and families from across the city and region meet us in Pioneer Square and Westlake to enjoy the concert, trick or treat at participating shops, support the local retailers and restaurants, and have a great time!”

Welcome Back Seattle is a part of ARTS’ Created Commons initiative, a new City effort to create a vital lifeline to fund artists and creatives by transforming public spaces into venues for spectacular temporary arts and cultural extravaganzas.

$30 Million to Invest in Equitable Communities

July 15, 2021 by OED

On Tuesday, June 13, Mayor Durkan transmitted to Council the community-led Equitable Communities Initiative Task Force’s recommendations for $30 million in investments to improve outcomes for Seattle’s Black, Indigenous and people of color communities. The Office of Economic Development worked closely with the Task Force to support the development of recommendations and will help implement programs aimed at investing in economic equity, including access to capital for small and micro business, financial and technical assistance, and pathways to health careers.

Investing in Equitable Communities, $30 million; Building Opportunity through Small Business Support; Developing Diverse and Culturally Competent Educators and Education Opportunities; Accessing Affordable Housing, Land Acquisition and Generational Wealth; Improving Positive Health Outcomes; photo of downtown in background

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan transmitted $30 million in investments recommended by the Equitable Communities Initiative Task Force (ECITF) to improve disparate outcomes for Seattle’s Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. The investments begin to correct disparities caused by government-sanctioned and racist policies, which negatively affect the Black and Indigenous communities at disproportionate rates. The legislation was developed after Task Force members and city departments developed implementation plans for each recommended strategy.

In 2020, Mayor Durkan requested that the City, for the first time, build the budget around $100 million in investments in BIPOC communities. The Mayor used all of the City’s resources to balance the budget during a historic shortfall, including: $73 million from the City’s emergency reserves, $20 million in reductions to the Seattle Police Department, a wage freeze for non-represented employees, redirecting voter-approved levy dollars to support basic city operations, federal relief assistance, and new City revenues. The Equitable Communities Initiative Task Force is one element of the overall $100 million investment.

“Today, Seattle is delivering on its commitment to address generational wrongs that have had a devastating impact on communities of color. These impactful community leaders have fought for justice within their communities, volunteered their time, and expertise to make recommendations that are the first step towards righting past wrongs. The best ideas come from the community, and their work underscores that fact. By working together, they’ve shown what’s possible when the government steps out of the way so that community can step forward with real solutions. I look forward to seeing these investments serving the urgent needs of communities that have for far too long been grossly under-funded.”

“The ECI Task Force focused on targeting investments to the most significant and pervasive systemic challenges facing communities of color in our city. Their recommendations focus on equity in business development, education, homeownership and healthcare. I applaud the members of the task force for their diligence and determination to find the best path to improve outcomes for generations to come,” said Councilmember Debora Juarez ex-officio Task Force member.

The Task Force developed nine recommendations with 18 strategies to strengthen communities of color so that they can thrive. The recommendations fall under the following four pillars:

$7.5 Million – Building Opportunity through Small Business Support

Provide Equitable Small and Micro Business Capital
Offer Small Business Technical Assistance on Financial Health, Digital Tools, and Construction Support

$7.5 Million – Developing Diverse and Culturally Competent Educators and Education Opportunities

Fund Culturally Supportive Re-entry Programs for Formerly Incarcerated BIPOC
Support Equity in Education with Students
Provide Cultural Education for BIPOC youth

$8.8 Million – Accessing Affordable Housing, Land Acquisition and Generational Wealth

Establish a Generational Wealth Education Program and Resource Portal
Identify Housing Strategies for Low- and Middle-Income Apprentices and Pre-Apprentices
Broaden Priority Hire and WMBE Support
Create Homeownership Supports and Development Opportunities
Study the Feasibility of a Lease to Own Program
Provide Ownership Retention Resources for BIPOC Families to Remain in Their Homes

$6.2 Million – Improving Positive Health Outcomes

Provide Holistic Culturally Responsive & Inclusive Healthcare
Improve Access to Culturally Responsive & Inclusive Healthcare
Sustain a Healthy Food Fund for Community-Led Projects Focused on Food Security
Increase Farm to Table Access with a BIPOC Emphasis
Support an Environmental Justice Fund for Community-Led Projects
Address Barriers to BIPOC Professionals Entering the Healthcare Workforce
Enhance Youth Career Exploration in the Healthcare Industry

Recognizing it will take years of investment to address generations of disinvestment, Mayor Durkan has committed to including another $100 million in her proposed 2022 budget to further address systemic inequities facing BIPOC communities.

“As we closely examined generational wealth, we found that many BIPOC communities not only don’t have access to housing, but they also don’t have access to the same financial support that many White-led businesses do. We wanted to create opportunities for BIPOC business owners to work with colleagues who resemble those they serve. Through Technical Assistance, we are providing a deeper level of support while they are at the table applying for funding, helping them analyze how much they need, and assist in completing applications,” said Task Force member Donna Moodie, owner of Marjorie. “We can invite them to turn a loan into a forgivable loan simply by attending Technical Assistance classes that would improve their business acumen. This is a win-win create esteemed people in our communities whose business behavior and success can be modeled.”

“As housing prices continue to rise across Seattle, the Task Force used this opportunity to recommend steps to help address this crisis. Strategies like developing a lease to purchase program will help shift the mindset away from the thought that living in Seattle means that you can’t own. But we also took a broader approach because we know that access to good jobs and access to apprenticeships are also strategies to keep people housed,” said Task Force member Sharon Williams, Executive Director of CD Forum. “The City must also take an active role in developing educational programs that encourage longer-term strategies for families and individuals to create generational wealth. It is our hope that with these recommendations, over time, we will see more people on the path to ownership and remaining stably housed within our City.”

THE PROCESS

From December 2020 to June 2021, the Task Force of 26 community leaders met weekly for more than 60 cumulative hours in over 30 meetings. With decades of lived experience and professional expertise, the Task Force developed recommendations using the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) Equitable Development Community Indicators Report as background; tapping into the ingenuity of the Innovation Advisory Council by working with a team of Microsoft data scientists to further disaggregate race-based data within the report; and by taking a comprehensive look at current City investments into BIPOC communities, with an eye towards developing programs to fill gaps within the system and strengthening programs with proven success.

Throughout April, and due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the task force facilitator, The Profitable NonProfit hosted a series of virtual stakeholder meetings inviting rank and file community members, peer organizations, business owners, and community-based organization leadership to ensure recommendations mirrored community needs and priorities.

Following the announcement of their recommendations, the Task Force began convening weekly with City departments to help inform on the creation of implementation strategies that can be quickly launched so that millions in investments will begin landing in the community by the end of 2021. Task Force members thought deeply about systemic barriers to BIPOC organizations in accessing City funds and worked with the City to define ways to lower barriers that have blocked communities of color in the Requests for Proposals (RFP) process. Some of the strategies include:

Being intentional about who the investments were targeting by giving priority to organizations led by people of color, and serving communities furthest from equity.
Providing language access to reduce language barriers for potential applicants.
Including technical support for prospective applicants and continued support throughout the process.
Launching a simplified low-barrier RFP specifically targeting small organizations.

After seven weeks of collaboration and discussion with the Task Force, eight departments developed implementation strategies based on Task Force recommendations, including the Department of Early Education and Learning; Department of Finance and Administrative Services; Department of Neighborhoods; Human Services Department; Office of Arts and Culture; Office of Economic Development; Office of Housing; and the Office of Sustainability and Environment.

NEXT STEPS

The $30 million investment was allocated in the 2021 budget, however, the funding is currently under Council proviso, meaning that recommendations cannot be implemented and money disbursed to the community until the proviso is lifted. The Task Force will present their spend plan with 18 investment strategies to the Seattle City Council Finance and Housing Committee on Tuesday, July 20 at 9:30 a.m. and request that the legislation is passed on to the full Council to lift the proviso. With swift Council action, City departments expect to begin developing RFP’s in the coming weeks with a surge of investments landing in the community by the end of 2021.

Task Force members are in ongoing discussions with the City on continued engagement to ensure accountability and tracking of investment outcomes. Further, the City of Seattle recently launched a disparity study to identify and remove inequities in the City’s soliciting and procuring of contracts and awarding of public funds. For more information on the Equitable Communities Initiative visit: seattle.gov/equitable-communities-initiative.

Reimagining Commercial Space Usage

July 9, 2021 by Jacqueline Wu

Ballard Blossom Provides New Pop-up Space for BIPOC and Women Owned Small Businesses

On July 1, Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) Director Pamela L. Banks and Deputy Director Tina Inay met with Ballard Alliance Executive Director Mike Stewart and Senior Development Manager Devin Reynolds to tour the old Ballard Blossom retail store. Currently, this location is serving as a small Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) business pop-up incubator space.

Seattle Office of Economic Development, Ballard Alliance, and Cafe Avole owner Solomon Dubie outside of the Ballard pop-up incubator space. — Seattle Office of Economic Development, Ballard Alliance, and Small Business Advisory Council/Cafe Avole owner Solomon Dubie outside of the Ballard pop-up incubator space. Right to left: Ballard Alliance Executive Director Mike Stewart, OED Deputy Director Tina Inay, Small Business Advisory Council/Cafe Avole owner Solomon Dubie, OED Director Pamela L. Banks, and Ballard Alliance Senior Development Manager Devin Reynolds. Photo by Phillip Sit.

In 2018, the original Ballard Blossom proprietor moved when the building was slated for demolition to build a 7-story hotel. However, the pandemic’s economic impact stalled the development of the hotel. With support from OED, Ballard Alliance worked with the property owner to transform and activate the space for a new purpose. Last summer, Ballard Alliance’s Ballard Public Art Committee selected five artists to cover the building in murals – each mural sharing a message that is connected through floral elements as a nod to the former building tenant.

After the development of the murals, Ballard Alliance realized that the space could temporarily host pop-up small businesses before the building is demolished. Since April, Ballard Alliance has successfully partnered with seven small businesses to fill the space, turning the formerly vacant building into an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to have commercial space. All seven of the current businesses are either BIPOC-owned, women-owned, or both. Prior to this new endeavor, none of these businesses had a brick-and-mortar space of their own. The Pop-up small businesses include:

Ballard Alliance’s long-term goals include growing and scaling these successful pop-ups into a traditional retail space within the district. As the city at large—and OED specifically—implement immediate and longer term economic recovery strategies, reimagining how commercial spaces are used will continue to be a strategy for economic recovery and community resilience.

Drop by the Ballard pop-up business incubator space at 1766 NW Market St. And support small businesses.

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

June 7, 2021 by Paulina Oceguera

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.

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

April 27, 2021 by Paulina Oceguera

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.

Small Business Update Webinar: January 28, 2021

February 4, 2021 by Jacqueline Wu

The Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) is committed to supporting small businesses as we work together to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Highlights of our January 28 webinar session include:

Key elements of the new 2021 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Update
New tax provision and updates
Washington Small Business Development Center Assistance and Advising

Below are links from the January 28 webinar (please note, you must register for the webinar in order to listen to the recording).

Please continue to monitor this blog and our website for updated information from OED.

City Awards an Additional 143 Grants from Small Business Stabilization Fund

June 23, 2020 by Karissa Braxton

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

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

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

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

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

Grantees of the second round of the Stabilization Fund.

#SupportSeattleSmallBiz Spotlight: ‘Support the ID’ Virtual Community & Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 15, 2020 by Annie Tran

Mural on Jade Garden | Photo Credit: Annie Tran

Since 1977, the United States has observed May as Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander communities. May was originally chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese individuals and families to the United States, and the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

As our country observes Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month, this week’s #SupportSeattleSmallBiz Spotlight highlights a collective community effort to support Asian and Pacific Islander businesses in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID).

View of the Chinatown-International District down King Street | Photo Credit: Sharon H Chang

The CID is a vital and unique part of the Seattle community, a place of rich cultural history, and a cultural and historic home for many Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Across our region, it is known for its many incredible restaurants and other vibrant small businesses.

Storefront in CID | Photo Credit: Sharon H Chang

Earlier this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic began, xenophobia fueled fears that businesses in the CID were no longer safe for patrons. Xenophobic fears and hysteria associated with Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are part of a legacy of racism and exclusion that has impacted Seattle’s CID.

‘Support the ID – Community United’ Facebook Group Administrator | Sarah Baker

Sarah Baker, born and raised in Seattle, social justice advocate, and program manager at Communities Rise, has close connections with the CID. Sarah grew up near the CID and her grandmother worked at the local Uwajimaya. As the impacts of the pandemic grew, so did her concern for the CID’s small businesses. “If we physically can’t dine at the restaurants, what can we do?” She wondered, “how can we support businesses?”

On March 8, what originally began as a simple Facebook post on her personal account to promote businesses in the CID has grown into the “Support the ID – Community United” page.

Teaming up with her friend Bill Tashima, along with another of their mutual friends, their collective efforts helped create an online community dedicated to supporting the businesses of the CID. Since its formation, the Facebook group has gained nearly 1,000 new members a day, and now has more than 19,000 members.

“Support the ID – Community United” has become a virtual community for residents to share the many ways they are supporting local Asian and Pacific Islander businesses in the CID, and build a sense of connection during this era of physical distancing. Discussions range from where to get their favorite dim sum, strategies for supporting businesses impacted by vandalism and crime, to advocating against anti-Asian sentiment and model minority stereotypes.

The community’s positive response has far surpassed Sarah’s expectations. Many businesses report overwhelming support from patrons. Not only can customers share their support for local businesses they care about, restaurants like Jade Garden, Purple Dot, and Rainier BBQ are now able to express their gratitude and communicate with customers more directly.

Food from Purple Dot Cafe | Photo Credit: Carol Xie

“To us, Purple Dot is a small piece of a greater puzzle: the Seattle International District’s Chinatown community. Our community is made of many small businesses who have been here for generations after generations; it is made up of the individuals and the families that have made the ID a part of their daily lives, and it is made up of the unwavering support and sense of community that we have been given, even before COVID-19 began,” says Carol Xie from Purple Dot Cafe.

Xie explains, “During this time of hardship, while many of us are battling with the decision of whether or not we can pay the bills next month, we have each other, in this community, to rely on. We thank each and every one of you for your support, and even more so now. We are truly grateful for and humbled by the ID’s community in allowing us to keep our doors open each and everyday.”

“Support the ID – Community United” has reached users beyond Seattle, and has influenced communities in Renton and White Center to create similar support pages for local businesses. Businesses such as XCJ, a xiaolong bao company in Bellevue, have attributed the overwhelming community support they have received in part from this group—noting the page’s critical role in helping them keep their doors open.

Beyond serving as an online community, Sarah asked, “how else can we harness this energy?”

The ‘Support the ID’ group raised beyond their GoFundMe goal|Photo Credit: ‘Support the ID – Community United’ Facebook Group

Soon, she created a GoFundMe page to generate financial support for front-line health care workers in addition to small businesses. Funds raised have been used to purchase meals from small businesses in the CID, and then donated to front-line workers at nearby clinics and hospitals serving COVID-19 patients. Organizers hoped to raise at least $5,000, and the fundraising was so successful that they decided to cap it at $15,000 and contribute the additional funds to a local nonprofit. So far, over $16,000 has been raised.

The additional funds are being reinvested in the community by supporting the organization Asian Referral and Counseling Service’s (ACRS), and their annual “Walk for Rice” fundraiser, which provides culturally familiar foods to local food banks for immigrants, refugees, elders, and families throughout King County.

As the community has stepped in to help keep the doors of many businesses open, the City has continued to expand its programs designed to support businesses in the CID and address barriers they may face.

The Office of Economic Development’s ‘Only in Seattle’ program works closely with community-based organizations in the CID. Partners like the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA), Seattle Chinatown-International District Public Development Authority (SCIDpda), and Friends of Little Saigon (FLS) have helped connect businesses to resources such as the Small Business Stabilization Fund and access to in-language assistance with their Small Business Administration loans. Many of the CID’s restaurants are also included in the City’s #SupportPugetSoundSmallBiz map, which helps residents find small businesses providing takeout or delivery.

SDOT’s food pick-up priority signage | Photo Credit: Annie Tran

Working with Mayor Durkan’s team, many other City departments are working to support the CID in the face of the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) recently created new food pick-up zones outside restaurants throughout Seattle.

These zones have made it easier for customers to pick up takeaway orders in the CID and across Seattle, which have increased over the last several weeks. Starting this week, SDOT is adding 15-minute curbside pick-up zones to support retail businesses that are open for curbside delivery. Restaurant and retail business owners can request pick-up zones by contacting SDOT at 206-684-ROAD or e-mail 684-ROAD@seattle.gov.

“Support the ID — Community United” is just one example of the many innovative ways community members have used technology and other resources to support small businesses, the backbone of our economy, in the face of the major impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sara explains that Seattleites can do their part to help businesses and organizations in the CID by “supporting ACRS’ Walk for Rice fundraiser and supporting InterimCDA,” which fund raises to purchase food for elders who are unable to leave their homes.

This May, we all have an opportunity to honor API Heritage month by continuing to learn about the many contributions API individuals and communities have made to society, and by supporting local businesses in the CID, a place whose vibrant culture we must maintain, and a place whose small businesses we must help thrive into the future.

###

Resources Roundup: 5/6/20

May 6, 2020 by Kari Tupper

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

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

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.

###

Bottom Line Blog Office of Economic Development

Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development