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News from the Office of Economic Development | Vol. 1 No. 16 | June 17, 2020
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King County Applies for Phase 2 of Safe Start Washington Plan
COVID-19 Guidance Posters for Staff and Customers
Public Health - Seattle & King County has informational posters for businesses to help inform staff and customers on the latest COVID-19 guidance.
Learn more here. Posters are available Amharic, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Khmer, Korean, Marshallese, Russian, Samoan, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Tongan, and Vietnamese.
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Free COVID-19 Testing Available in King County
Free testing is available to lessen the spread of COVID-19 throughout our region. Getting tested can help you protect your family, friends, and community should you contract the virus
Click here for a list of FREE Open Access COVID-19 Testing Locations. Language interpretation services are available at most location at no costs and are open to anyone regardless of immigration or insurance status.
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Upcoming Small Business Workshop
"How to Create a Basic Online Presence for Your Small Business"
Wednesday, June 24, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. (English) - Register here: https://bit.ly/2UTWzhs
Thursday, June 25, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. (Spanish) – Email Anisa Khoshbakhtian at anisa.khosh@seattle.gov to register
This online workshop will focus on educating small business owners in establishing their basic online presence, including claiming their business’s Yelp page and Google business listing and understanding relevant social media channels. These skills are particularly critical during this time and will help small businesses during the COVID-19 reopening period. OED and The Seattle Public Libraries will be putting on a series of workshops to support small businesses in elevating their online presence as well as understanding the various technologies available to help them in navigating the new restrictions put on small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Outdoor Cafe and Retail Permits
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) are working with OED to help businesses reopen safely by expediting outdoor cafe and retail permits to expand business operations. Check out available options here and stay tuned for future announcements.
SDOT: Business Enhancements
SDCI: Property & Building Use
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COVID-19 Lease Amendment Toolkit Available in Eight Languages
The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) partnered with Communities Rise and Perkins Coie to launch a toolkit to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic explore options for their commercial leases with a goal of remaining in their spaces. The COVID-19 Lease Amendment Toolkit provides a suite of tools – including template lease amendment language – to assist small businesses and nonprofits who are navigating the negotiation of their commercial leases with their landlords. The toolkit is available in English, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Korean, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Small businesses and nonprofits that have 50 or fewer employees are also eligible for a free, 60-minute consultation with a legal professional to assist with any COVID-19 commercial lease-related questions.
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PPP Loans Are Still Available and with More Flexibility
 Last week, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was enacted. Significant changes include:
- Threshold required to spend on payroll decreased from 75% to 60%
- 24 weeks, instead of eight weeks, allowed to meet the threshold
- Pre-COVID staffing levels extended from 6/30/20 to 12/31/20
Businesses are encouraged to apply for the PPP loan while funding lasts. OED provides FREE technical assistance to businesses to:
- Understand available financial resources, including loans and grants
- Check eligibility for loans and other resources
- Apply for SBA loans and complete the application, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), SBA Express Bridge Loans, and SBA Debt Relief
- Guidance on PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and Detailed Instruction
- Deadline to apply for PPP is June 30, 2020.
Please call the Seattle Office of Economic Development at 206-684-8090 from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or email OED at oed@seattle.gov anytime to receive free assistance. You can ask for language assistance and receive interpretation over the phone.
Scammers Posing as OED Staff
The Office of Economic Development (OED) has received numerous reports of scammers posing as OED, Small Business Administration, and Washington State Employment Security Department staff to solicit information from businesses and workers.
Report Scams and Fraud
If you suspect a scam: report the activity to the Washington State Office of Attorney General, by calling 1-800-551-4636 from Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by completing a claim at https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ComplaintForm.aspx.
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Grassroots and Community Partners Hosts CID Art Walk
On June 14, grassroots organizers and neighborhood business district partners (Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area, Seattle Chinatown-International District Preservation and Development Authority, and Friends of Little Saigon) hosted an art walk for community members to view to view murals that were created to beautify boarded buildings and honor Black Lives Matter. The art walk also had a live DJ, band, and featured speakers that connected the Asian and Black community.
The City and community partners initially worked together to clean and board up businesses in the CID and downtown core in response to damages sustained from the protest. Artists and community members came together to support small businesses and create beautiful artistic tributes standing in solidarity with the movement to end racism and police violence experienced by the Black community.
It's not too late to go and view murals around the Chinatown-International District and Little Saigon! These murals are only up for a limited time.
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City of Seattle Engages with Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP), Businesses and Residents to make Changes
The Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) has emerged as a gathering place where community members can demand change of their local, state, and federal government. Capitol Hill and Cal Anderson Park have long been a gathering place for justice. While there have been inaccurate and misleading depictions of the CHOP from the President and some national media, the City believes first amendment activities can continue while also maintaining public safety and allowing access for residents and businesses who operate in the area. To better address the needs of all those impacted, there will be minor changes to the protest zone including safe and sturdier barriers to protect individuals in the area, allow traffic to move throughout the neighborhood, ease access for residents of apartment buildings, and help local businesses manage deliveries and logistics. Read more here.
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Capitol Hill Small Business Survey
The Capitol Hill Business Alliance (CHBA) is requesting participation to better understand how business in Capitol Hill have been impacted by current events in the neighborhood. Click here to take the survey.
*Please note this is not OED's Business Impact Survey.
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The Seattle Public Library Launches Your Next Job
The Seattle Public Library launches Your Next Job for job seekers to get FREE one-on-one help with job and unemployment questions by phone, online, or text messaging. SPL can help with basic technology skills, getting started with unemployment, and learn new skills or apply for a job. Click here to learn more.
SPL is also helping businesses find accurate market data to pivot and explore the viability of new services and products, and start new businesses too. SPL also provides nonprofits with remote access to a valuable grant seeking database.
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OED Online Resource Hub and Blog
Stay up-to-date by visiting our resource hub and reading our weekly Resource Roundup blog! With loans and grants available at the state and federal level, OED has created a comprehensive resource page for workers and small businesses impacted by COVID-19, and is providing technical assistance to support our small businesses. Our weekly blog provides 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 philanthropic partners
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Creative Industries Resources
PPP Loan Forgiveness Q&A with the Experts
Join SBA and Washington Small Business Development Center for a PPP Loan info session with Q&A
Thu, June 25, 2020
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
This live webinar will feature representatives from the SBA and the Washington State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and cover the PPP Loan Forgiveness regulations and related applications and instructions including how it changes the rules related to owner compensation, FTE counts, the 24-week covered period, non-payroll costs and more. Register here.
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Seattle Public Utilities + EnviroStars' "ReLaunch Green" Webinar Series
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and EnviroStars Green Business Program team is compiling tools to help local businesses maintain their commitments to green business practices. The “ReLaunch Green” program kicks off with two free webinars that are packed with actionable tips to reduce operational costs and risks, boost employee and customer confidence, and conserve valuable resources.
Click here to register for the series:
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Webinar 1: Recycle, Compost, and Save Money at Your Business on Thursday, June 18 at 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
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Webinar 2: Conserve Water and Protect Water Quality at Your Business on Thursday, June 25 at 12:00 - 1 p.m.
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