|
News from the Office of Economic Development | Vol. 1 No. 23 | August 4, 2020
|
|
4 Days Left to Apply for a PPP Loan
 Congress reopened applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and extended the deadline to August 8.
PPP loans allow small businesses to keep workers on their payroll.
- PPP loans have an interest rate of 1%
- Loan payments are deferred for 6 months
- No collateral or personal guarantees are required
- Businesses now have 24 weeks (previously 8 weeks) to spend at least 60% (previously 75%) of the loan amount on qualified payroll expenses(or business income if you are sole prop or independent contractor)
- Up to 40% (previously 25%) of the loan amount can be spent on non-payroll costs, specifically rent, utilities, mortgage interest related to business on obligations in place prior to 2/15/20.
- If a borrower is unable to rehire previously employed individuals or similarly qualified employees, the borrower will not have its loan forgiveness amount reduced based on the reduction in full-time equivalent employees.
- For portions of the loan that are not forgiven, it becomes a 5 year loan at 1% (previously 2 year loan).
Businesses are encouraged to apply for a PPP loan, and/or Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) while funding lasts. OED provides FREE technical assistance for 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 EIDL and EIDL Advance, SBA Express Bridge Loans, and SBA Debt Relief
- Interpretation is available in 8 languages: English, Amharic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese
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.
Catch the Business Resource Open House
August 11, 2020 | 9:00am to 10:30am
Are you a small business owner trying to figure out how to reach your customers, safely reopen, or pivot your business?
Join the virtual Business Resource Open House, August 11, 9 - 10:30AM. Some of the top concerns we are hearing from Seattle’s small businesses community will be addressed by small business advocates. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, network with other business owners that have been impacted by COVID-19, explore next steps to boost your virtual presence, and learn what is happening with Seattle’s small business funding, technical assistance and mentoring.
This free event is co-hosted by Beacon Business Alliance, Rainier Ave Business Coalition and Seattle Public Library’s Library to Business program.
|
Free Street Closure Permits Webinar Recap
Only in Seattle hosts Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) last week to discuss the expansion of street closure permits. If you missed the webinar, you can catch the webinar here.
Building on the City’s free permits for sidewalk cafes and curb spaces, Mayor Jenny Durkan and the City of Seattle announced last week a new street closure option for one or more blocks as part of the City of Seattle’s efforts to support businesses during the ongoing public health crisis. These new permits will give restaurants and retail stores more space to operate while providing their patrons and passersby more space to move following Governor Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan. The City will begin accepting street closure permit applications on Wednesday, July 29, 2020.
To learn more about these permits, and decide if these options are right for your businesses, visit the permitting:
SDOT: Temporary Outdoor Café, Merchandise Display, Vending, and Street Closure Permits
SDCI: Property & Building Use
|
 Additional Citywide Testing Sites Expanded to South Seattle
A third citywide testing site is located at Rainier Beach High School. Rainier Beach has one of the highest density of BIPOC communities in Seattle, and citywide testing will increase the capacity for testing by up to 40,000 tests per week. The Rainier Beach walk-up testing site is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9:30am - 5:30pm.
There are also two additional drive-thru COVID-19 sites in SODO and Aurora.
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.
Register online for a test. Language interpretation services are available at most location at no costs and are open to anyone regardless of immigration or insurance status.
New Enforcement Measures for Businesses Failing to Comply with Safe Start Plan After Outreach and Education
Building off of the City’s recent announcement to increase education and outreach efforts, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) issued a new public health and safety measure to enforce state-mandated business requirements, including protective face coverings, social distancing and capacity limitations.
For customers, residents or employees who have concerns about non-compliance, FAS will conduct outreach, provide education, and help to enforce Governor Inslee’s Safe Start plan in non-food business establishments across the city. Public Health – Seattle & King County has expanded efforts to educate and enforce protections in food establishments, with FAS in a supporting role.
Effective immediately, FAS will begin implementing the new measure through the use of a Director’s Rule. Understanding the complexities of navigating the COVID-19 environment, the City’s focus is primarily to conduct outreach and education to help businesses comply with the new rule. With repeated and/or egregious offenses, businesses may have their City of Seattle business license suspended and may be charged with a crime that carries a maximum penalty of up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Read more.Read more.
|
Phase 2 Reopening Toolkits For Small Businesses
King County has entered Phase 2 of Washington's Safe Start reopening plan. Phase 2 allows certain businesses and activities to resume under strict public health and safety guidance.
The City of Seattle developed toolkits to help businesses in various sectors reopen, based on Washington Department of Health and Public Health - Seattle & King County guidelines. The toolkits have guidance for restaurants and taverns, retail, professional services, personal services, fitness and training and domestic services.. Toolkits are available in Amharic, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Businesses can also call OED for assistance at 206-684-8090 (interpretation available in Amharic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese).
For additional resources, please see:
Safe Start King County (En Español)
Governor COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses and Workers
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
|
Order your Small Business Safe Start Kit
Chambers and business organizations around the region have come together in partnership with King County to provide Safe Start Kits. These kits provide cloth face coverings, disposable masks, and hand sanitizer to businesses in King County to help keep employees healthy and safe. Click here to have your kits shipped.
|
|
|
2020 Cal Anderson
2020 Cal Anderson Park is a project of Seattle Parks and Recreation to engage the public on how changing assumptions and language can affect the design of park spaces and create a sense of belonging for everyone.
2020 Cal Anderson Park Project Website
Parkways Blog Post
|
|
|
|
Career Labs Online Train-the-Trainer
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on Seattle and many of our city’s youth-serving programs, creating an urgent need to enable the delivery of engaging, high-impact training remotely. OED’s Workforce Development Team is delighted to bring the Career Labs Online program to Seattle and to offer a Train-the-Trainer course to select youth workers and facilitators serving young adults across Seattle.
Career Labs Online is a 40-hour synchronous modular training program designed to help entry-level and early career talent become career-ready by developing the professional and “soft skills”, habits, and dispositions needed to be successful at work and in their lives. Career Labs helps high-school to early career participants master key employability skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and time management. For more information, click here.
When: August 31 – September 4, 2020
Time: 9am – 12pm (plus approximately 1 hour of homework/day)
Who can Register: Organizations that serve youth, 14-24. The program will be capped at 15 facilitators to enable a high-quality interactive learning environment. Organizations that serve Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) are highly encouraged to apply.
How to Register: Please complete the application, (est. time to complete, 5 min) by August 21. If you have any additional questions, please contact Sasha Gourevitch at the Seattle Office of Economic Development. Phone: 206-472-5560; e-mail: sasha.gourevitch@seattle.gov.
|
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.
|
COVID-19 Posters for Staff and Customers
Public Health - Seattle & King County has i 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.
|
PPE for Reopening Your Business
Seattle Protects is an online marketplace that connects local manufacturers with organizations, businesses, nonprofits, community groups, and individuals in need of affordable cloth face coverings. Visit the marketplace to browse local manufacturers’ inventory.
|
The Seattle Public Library Launches Your Next Job
The Seattle Public Library launches Your Next Job. Your Next Job provides FREE one-on-one help with job and unemployment questions by phone, online, or text messaging for job seekers. SPL can help with basic technology skills, completing unemployment applications, learning new skills or applying for a job. Click here to learn more.
SPL is also helping businesses find accurate market data. This data can help businesses pivot their business models, explore the viability of new services and products, or start an new businesses! SPL also provides nonprofits with remote access to a valuable grant seeking database.
|
Support for Seattle's Gig Workers
The Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance temporarily provides paid sick leave for gig workers during the COVID-19 emergency. This goes into effect on July 13 and will grant access to paid sick and paid safe time. Find more information here.
|
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
|
Creative Industries Resources
|
|
COMO HACER NEGOCIOS CON LA CIUDAD DE SEATTLE
Viernes, 7 de Agosto del 2020
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Acompañenos EN LINEA -VIRTUAL via SKYPE para recibir información sobre como hacer negocios con la
Ciudad de Seattle.
Para information acerca del link de Skype, por favor contacte a Carmen Kucinski Carmen.Kucinski@seattle.gov
- Averigue si la Ciudad de Seattle compra el tipo de producto/servicio que usted ofrece
- Aprenda sobre los procesos de licitación de la Ciudad de Seattle para su producto/servicio
- Aprenda sobre el proceso de contratación de obras públicas de la Ciudad de Seattle
- Conozca cómo acceder a los planos y especificaciones en línea para proyectos de construcción de obras públicas
- Aprenda sobre oportunidades que ofrece la Ciudad de Seattle a través de contratación
- Aprenda sobre el programa para Empresas Pertenecientes a Mujeres o Minorias (WMBE)
- Como registrarse en el directorio de negocios de la Ciudad de Seattle (OBD)
Habra una presentacion en PowerPoint. Se recomienda atender a este taller por computador. Si no puede atender por computador, tiene la opcion de escuchar el taller por telefono. Al finalizer el taller le estare enviando la presentacion de PowerPoint por correco electronico:
Join Skype Meeting
Trouble Joining? Try Skype Web App
Atender por telefono
206-386-1200,4876861# (US)
844-386-1200,4876861# (US)
206-684-5900,4876861# (US)
¿Preguntas? Contacte a Carmen Kucinski Carmen.Kucinski@seattle.gov
|
GSBA & Ventures Small Business Incubator
The application for the next quarter of the GSBA & Ventures Nonprofit Small Business Incubator is now open!  
Designed to empower trans and gender-diverse business owners, and LGBTQ BIPOC entrepreneurs, the Small Business Incubator takes students through an immersive, eight-week business learning experience. At a sliding-scale cost, incubatees attend Ventures' Business Basics Course, receive a free one-year GSBA Membership, access to consultation with GSBA VP of Membership & Programs Ilona Lohrey (she/her), and more.
The application closes on Sunday, August 9 with courses beginning in September. Apply here.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
