Apply for the Working Washington Small Business Grant! 

Applications available for up to $20,000 in emergency funding.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extension of COVID-19 public health restrictions through January 4. Due to the extension, an additional $50 millionwill be allocated to Washington State Department of Commerce's Round 3 of the Working Washington Small Business grants, bringing the total investment to $100 million. The remainder will go towards funding qualified businesses that applied in earlier rounds of the resiliency grant program.

Small businesses with annual revenues of $5 million or less in 2019, businesses in sectors most impacted by recent public health measures, and sectors that have experienced significant, cumulative impacts are eligible. Examples include full-service restaurants, fitness centers, bowling alleys and music and event venues.

Priority will be given to applications received by December 11.

The Seattle Office of Economic Development is offering technical support to small businesses who are applying. For assistance,email oed@seattle.gov or call 206-684-8090. In-language assistance available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, Amharic, and Somali. 

For more information and to apply, click here. 

In-language translation in Español (Spanish), Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese), 한국인 (Korean), 简体中文 (Chinese), and ไทย (Thai).

The Only In Seattle team also hosted a webinar last Friday for business district partners to support businesses apply for the grant. The presentation's recording and slide deck can be found in our Bottom Line Blog.

Free Face Masks for Washington state businesses

The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Business Health Trust in close partnership with Premera Blue Cross are providing 46,000 masks/face coverings to Washington businesses. 

For more information and to order masks for your business, click here. 

City of Seattle Announces $5 Million in New Grants to Support Small Businesses and Workers Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mayor Jenny Durkan, City Council President M. Lorena González, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, and Councilmember Tammy Morales announced a new $5 million relief package to support small businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to recent statewide restrictions needed to slow the surge of COVID-19, the $5 million will be directed toward small businesses and workers in the hospitality industry. $2.5 million will be granted to restaurants and bars, and $2.5 million will be granted to hospitality workers. This budget action will be introduced and considered by the City Council on Monday, December 7.

The City will not open applications for small business grants; instead, it will identify eligible grantees from the current pool of Small Business Stabilization Fund (SBSF) applicants. The most recent round of SBSF grants closed on November 30, and an initial analysis by the City’s Office of Economic Development shows that approximately 1,100 restaurant or bar owners applied for grants. All eligible applicants will receive grants to support continuing operations including outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery. Restaurants and bars who receive grants through this newest round will remain eligible for up to $10,000 SBSF grant as well.

For more information, click here. 

Updated Business and Restaurant Requirements During COVID-19

Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) has issued a permanent Director's Rule reinforcing public health measures that have been in effect since mid-July, requiring businesses to follow state-mandated requirements, including use of protective face coverings, social distancing and adhering to capacity limits. 

Resources for Business Regarding the Rule have been updated since Gov. Inslee's announcement in mid-November. 

COVID-19 Public Health Requirements for Businesses (English), አማርኛ (Amharic), 简体中文  (Simplified Chinese), 한국어 (Korean), Soomaali (Somali), Español (Spanish), Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese).

🎁 Is Your Business on the Shop Your Block Map?

The City of Seattle launched the new Shop Your Block retail map as part of the larger public campaign—Shop Your Block—that aims to  support small businesses throughout the holiday season. Shop Your Block connects consumers to local small retail businesses throughout Seattle using the new retail map and online neighborhood marketplaces. This campaign is the result of partnerships between the City, Comcast, small business owners, business district organizations, and community partners. Shop Your Block  celebrates Seattle’s unique character and encourages the public to support local retailers in their neighborhood —in person or online— this holiday shopping season.

Click here to add or edit your business on the Shop Your Block map.

Shop Early, Shop Local, Shop Safely

#ShopYourBlock!  

Apply to the Comcast RISE Small Business Program 

Comcast has launched Comcast RISE, a multi-year commitment to provide marketing, creative, media, and technology services to qualifying small business owned by underrepresented groups. 

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) business owners are eligible to apply for Comcast RISE. For more information and to apply, click here. 

Cut costs with Lean and Green Program

Are you struggling to find new and untapped low-cost opportunities to reduce your organization’s energy and environmental impacts? Are you looking for affordable ways to learn and get support for implementing a successful Lean Six Sigma project into your organization? Are you looking to get environmental projects integrated into your organization’s continuous improvement initiatives that will deliver both operational and environmental cost reductions?

Impact Washington is offering Lean and Green, a pilot program that will involve 5-10 interested organizations that will meet weekly to reduce your facility’s environmental impacts and costs. We will help your project team of 2-4 people identify an environmental
project at your facility with support from your top management. Through customized training and coaching/support calls, we will help you navigate through the DMAIC roadmap to apply Lean and Six Sigma methods to complete an improvement project. Projects can focus on reducing chemicals, water, energy, hazardous waste, air emissions, or solid waste. Weekly support calls will ensure project progress, answer questions, and support the project through completion. Lean and Green certificate from Ecology provided upon completion of the program/project.

For more information, click here. 

Seattle IT Technology Matching Fund is Open 

Looking for a low-cost option to provide devices that improve digital literacy?

Check out Seattle Information Technology Department Technology Matching Fund grant application process that is underway now! Past winners have set up labs, held computer classes and distributed devices to those who need them. Two online workshops are scheduled to guide applicants through the Technology Matching Fund grant process.

Click here for more information and to apply. Applications are due 5:00PM Tuesday, January 12, 2021.

Free Workshops from the Food Finance Institute

Looking to scale-up your business but don’t want to commit to a program? The Food Finance Institute's Scaler Series offers businesses the flexibility to learn how to successfuly grow their businesses, one workshop at a time. It’s a series of 6 workshops normally costing $250. The Scaler Series enrollment is free for 2020 - 2021.

January 14 - Sales & Distribution Planning 
February 4 - Marketing & Branding Planning 
February 24 - Operations & Organization Planning 
March 18 - Sources & Uses of Capital Finance Planning 
April 15 - Food Safety & GFSI Planning 

Click here to learn more and register.