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2020 has not turned out how any of us planned. But it has made us take a look at what we are, and what we want and need to be as a City and a community. While we weren't able to be together, we ended up growing closer, crossing new boundaries, and burning down silos. The Office of Film + Music is steadfast in our mission to support and grow the creative industries that we serve. While we wish we were celebrating the holidays with you in person, we are diligently working until we will see you at that club, that event, that show, or that film set! Warmest wishes for a better 2021.
Thank you, Randy Engstrom
The Office of Film + Music share our appreciation of and thanks to Randy Engstrom for guiding the office as Interim Director in 2019.
Randy, your leadership of OFM supported unprecedented collaboration with industry and community stakeholders, leading to the development of the Film Task Force advisory group and strengthening of the work with the Seattle Music Commission. Your collaboration helped drive development of the inclusive creative industries program as a centerpiece of the City’s recovery efforts and economic development work.
With your departure from the Office of Arts & Culture, the City has lost a visionary, a doer, and a beacon of what is good with municipal government. We are sad to see you move on, but we are looking forward to seeing you take on the next exciting chapter of your life.
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The Mixer: Seattle Creative Industries Year-in-Review
Thank you for attending our final Mixer of 2020 last Wednesday! For those who didn't make it, be sure to check out the video of our recap on the work OFM, OED, ARTS, Seattle Music Commission, and Film Task Force did in 2020 to advance equity and industry support. Thank you Seattle Music Commissioner Daniel Pak for MC’ing, and Film Task Force member Beth Barrett for being our quizmaster! Thank you to our partners; Women In Film, NWFF, SIFF, Northwest Screenwriters Guild, The Vera Project, Sue Ennis, Formosa, KEXP’s DJ Sharlese, and Sub Pop Records for providing the prizes! Check out the video of the event here!
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City of Seattle and Community Partners Launch ‘Shop Your Block’ Holiday Campaign to Support Small Businesses
OED 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. 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. Learn how you can participate in Shop Your Block here!
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We Want to Hear From You! Take the 3rd Round of the Business Impact Survey by December 23!
The City of Seattle, King County, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Seattle Partners are coordinating a regional effort to assess the economic impacts related to COVID-19. This is the third and final round of a regional survey, which will help us understand trends in impacts faced by businesses and organizations. Information collected in this survey will help develop economic recovery strategies and quantify emergency relief programs for small businesses, non-profits and independent workers throughout King County. If you represent a business or non-profit organization or are an independent worker throughout King, Snohomish, or Pierce counties that have been impacted by COVID-19, please complete the Business Impact Survey by December 23 at 5 pm.
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City Council Unanimously Passes Joint Proposal with Mayor to Provide $5 Million in New Grants to Support Small Businesses and Workers Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic
Mayor Jenny Durkan, City Council President M. Lorena González, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, and Councilmember Tammy Morales celebrated the City Council’s unanimous vote to provide 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 go to restaurants and bars, and $2.5 million will go to hospitality workers. Recent data indicates that over 600 restaurants and bars have permanently shut down in Seattle since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
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.
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Apply for the Working Washington Small Business Grant
Gov. Jay Inslee recently announced an additional $50 million in CARES Act funding has been allocated for grants to small businesses that are struggling because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Businesses that made less than $5 million in revenue in 2019 are eligible for grants of up to $20,000 to cover costs incurred due to COVID-19. Full-service restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and other businesses that have been harmed by the most recent public health restrictions will have highest priority.
The Washington SBDC is available to provide technical assistance to any business owner who needs help with the grant application. Learn more here.
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Washington Lawyers for the Arts Legal Advice Week – December 14-18
WLA is offering artists and arts professionals statewide 30 minutes of free advice related to their legal issues. Legal issues must relate to an artistic discipline but can cover a wide range of areas such as copyright, trademark, publicity rights, licensing, fair use, business formation, and contract review. Intake request forms are accepted through Thursday, December 10th. Learn more here.
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