Mayor Durkan Announces Initial 250 Grant Awards through City's Small Business Stabilization Fund

On Monday, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced the initial 250 grantees of the City’s $2.5 million Small Business Stabilization Fund. The fund provides $10,000 grants to small businesses financially impacted by COVID-19. You can find out more about the Stabilization Fund here, including a complete list of businesses that received Stabilization Fund awards.

Nearly 9,000 small businesses applied for the first round of the City's Small Business Stabilization Fund, which underscores that the need goes far beyond what the City can provide without further support from the private sector, philanthropic partners, and economic relief from the federal government.

Comcast has donated $50,000 to address the urgent need for future rounds of the Stabilization Fund. This investment will help ensure we can continue providing direct capital assistance to small business owners struggling to support their employees and stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interested individuals and organizations can donate to the Stabilization Fund by emailing covidpledge@seattle.gov.

Bottom Line Blog

Update on U.S. Small Business Administration  EIDL and PPP Loans

Both the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan programs are currently out of funds. Congress is working to approve more small business relief for these programs. In the meantime, the SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances).

Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis for both EIDL and PPP loans, based on available funding.  

What you can do now while waiting for more funding to become available

Businesses still interested in applying for EIDL and PPP loans should plan ahead and have application information ready for when the next round of funding becomes available.

• If you have not yet applied for either of these loans, you can be prepared by having your business's gross revenue and expenses for 2/1/19 - 1/31/20 ready to go for when the application process opens again.
• For those interested in PPP but have not yet applied, we recommend that you check in with your lender.  They may still be taking applications but holding them until funding resumes from SBA. Check other lenders as well.  Many lenders such as Washington Federal and Umpqua Bank are taking contact information online for prospective customers and will reach out.  This way businesses can try to position themselves as best as possible for when funding resumes.    

On Friday, April 10, Mayor Durkan joined with King County Executive Constantine and United Way of King County to announce an expanded rental assistance program. Thanks to generous donations to the Community Relief Fund and a variety of community partners, one month of rental assistance is being offered to people in King County struggling to pay rent due to the coronavirus.

If you’re a King County resident who has been impacted financially by COVID-19 and are behind on your rent, you may qualify for assistance. If you meet these requirements, please fill out the online application at www.uwkc.org/renthelp.

The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development are holding weekly calls to share new developments, hear about the impacts you are experiencing, and answer your questions.The next webinar is Wednesday, April 22, from 11:00am- 12:00pm.  

Webinar Registration

WFEA Events Industry Impacts Survey

Event organizers: In an effort to gauge the economic, social, and cultural impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on the local event industry and community, the WFEA and ASSET groups ask that you complete this survey.

Submissions for the Northwest Arts Streaming Hub (NASH) are now open! NASH aims to aid Pacific Northwest artists and organizations by providing a centralized online hub to broadcast their work. Learn more.

Complete the Impact Surveys for Film Businesses, Workers, and Employees

Individual cast and crew members can take this COVID-19’s Impact on Washington Film Workers Survey.  State-wide production companies or companies who service the film industry can take this COVID-19’s Impact on Washington Film Companies Survey. The information that you provide will give us powerful tools to help advocate on behalf of the film industry now and in the future. 

COVID-19 Impact on Washington Film Workers Survey

COVID-19 Impact on Washington Film Companies Survey

Unemployment Insurance for Gig Workers 

On March 27, Congress passed the  CARES Act, expanding unemployment benefits to gig workers. Whipsmart has shared this process for creative industry crew and employees:

Unemployment Insurance for Gig Workers

Washington State’s Whipsmart Resource List

Whipsmart, a new creative economy-focused nonprofit that gives creative professionals the tools they need to succeed, has assembled a resource list that provides a comprehensive list of resources for creatives that will be updated in real time by a dedicated staff member to ensure that the information is timely and relevant. 

Whipsmart Resource List

ArtZone Phones It In

In this installment of “Art Zone Phones It In” Lauren Weedman sends a very funny stream-of-consciousness video check-in on how she’s holding up; Grace Love, with her adorable son Milo, performs “Elevate” from the new release “Grace Love & Reset;” Photographer Ernie Sapiro captures the stark beauty of Seattle under quarantine; a few suggestions on ways to experience art from the safety of your living room; and Nancy offers Joe an apology… kind of. 

📺 Watch Art Zone Phones It In