Save the date for the 2019 Only in Seattle grant awards! 

The 2019 Only in Seattle grants will be announced at a community event on March 28 at the Othello-UW Commons. Come celebrate this year's recipients with Mayor Jenny Durkan and peers from across Seattle's business districts! Doors open at 10:30 a.m.. RSVP here - we hope to see you there! 

With a deep history as one of Seattle’s oldest and most diverse residential neighborhoods, the Central District has many stories to tell. The area is filled with historic homes, a wide variety of restaurants and a thriving arts and culture scene.  

By partnering with The Evergrey, our team here at the Seattle Office of Economic Development is helping shine a light on the diverse people and local businesses that make today’s Central District a special place to live, work and play. Over the past three years, our Only in Seattle grant program provided over $500,000 to the Central Area Collaborative to support business technical assistance, district marketing and events, and partnership and capacity building. 

Check out The Evergrey's amazing videos exploring some of our favorite CD businesses and historic locations: 

• Earl’s Barber Shop: We’re more than barbers – Earl’s Cut and Styles
• Donald King, Local Architect: 4 Buildings that shaped the Central District
• Washington Hall: Seattle’s Spot for Fresh Dance Moves
• Seattle Fish Guys: These guys (and gal) know fish

Meet our new team member, Peter Bloch Garcia! Peter joined the Only in Seattle team this month, taking over Mikel Davila's body of work as a Business District Advocate. He will work with communities in the Central Area, Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill and South Park neighborhoods. You may know Peter from his previous position as founder and recent past Executive Director of the Latino Community Fund. Peter brings over 17 years of experience in the nonprofit and community-building arenas to contribute to OED’s efforts. Peter is excited to join the important economic equity work of OED’s programs and collaborate with a great team of folks committed to public service. You can reach him at peter.bloch-garcia@seattle.gov. 

Community development in Lousia Hotel renovation - The historic Louisa Hotel in the Chinatown-International District is being rebuilt to include 84 new apartments for those making between $45,000 and $75,000 a year, and 10 retail spaces on the street level, offering an exciting opportunity to connect business owners with the perfect space to run their restaurant or shop for years to come. 

Matching funding for ORCA benefits - The Washington State Legislature recently designated funding to provide a 50 percent rebate on an employer's investment in ORCA passes, up to $10,000 per business. In order to qualify, an employer must employ fewer than 100 employees and have not previously offered ORCA benefits. Employers can choose between ORCA Passport or Choice, can cost share with employees as much or as little as they'd like, and can combine this program with pre-tax deductions for their employees. This is an incredible opportunity and is being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis through our partner organization Commute Seattle. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with Commute Seattle if your business or organization qualifies, and spread the word!