Beto Yarce’s journey to becoming the acting director of our office is rooted in small business ownership. Beto started his own business, Cintli, with $250 and a six-foot table. He made jewelry and sold Mexican folk art at famers markets and festivals around Seattle. The idea to grow his… [ Keep reading ]
National Small Business Week is a time to celebrate the important contributions of our small businesses to Seattle’s economy. They bring character to our neighborhoods, drive our economy, and embody what makes Seattle special. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. For every dollar we invest in a small… [ Keep reading ]
The tofu at Chu Minh Tofu in Little Sài Gòn is made with a lot of love and a lot of labor. Soybeans are first ground by hand before a small machine finishes the process, resulting in the perfect tofu. That process will soon be much easier, thanks to a… [ Keep reading ]
Muhammad Ali once said, “The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” Those are the words guiding how Tricia Arcaro Turton manages her gym, Arcaro Boxing. “If it wasn’t for other people that were beacons of hope showing me the way,… [ Keep reading ]
Small businesses looking for financial support to upgrade their spaces can now apply for the Tenant Improvement Program. We have two packages available in 2026: the sign package award of up to $15,000 and the equipment package award of up to $50,000. These packages help cover the cost of replacing… [ Keep reading ]
Jamila Conley opened WeRise Wines with a vision: highlight wines from diverse and underrepresented winemakers. The idea was inspired by a dinner party featuring Black women winemakers, which came at a pivotal time for Conley. Previously working in tech, she was considering a career change motivated by a desire to… [ Keep reading ]
When designing the space for her first yoga studio, Jasmine RaShae’ was intentional with every detail. Ancient African artifacts line the studio walls and there’s an inviting lounge area at the front, complete with a record player open for anyone to use. RaShae’ jokes that people walking by may question… [ Keep reading ]
Valentine’s Day is a busy time for Rosa María Cisneros Andrade. As the owner of RMC Floral Designs, she’s preparing for lots of orders. “Oh my gosh! I’m busy here with lots of red roses, white roses, plant, orchids, balloons, cards, chocolates,” she said. Helping Cisneros Andrade handle the rush… [ Keep reading ]
Running a business is challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the struggle and many business owners had to get creative with how they reached their customers. For Kathmandu MoMoCha, it was making a switch to selling frozen dumplings that kept them afloat. Our Small Business Capital Access Program, which owner Suroj… [ Keep reading ]
When it came to building his business, Alex Dorros found his biggest challenge was finding affordable kitchen space. He even had to put his business Siembra, which sells Peruvian and Colombian food, on hold at one point because he couldn’t find a space that met his needs. Now, through our… [ Keep reading ]
