|
|
✨ New look, same OED ✨
We’ve refreshed our website, and we’re excited to share the result with you!
The website features a fresh home page design, new navigation, and updated content. Our goal is to make it easier and more accessible for people to navigate the site to find the information they need. Through feedback, testing, and best practices, we built a website that better prioritizes the end-users – you!
Check out our website's new design. Want to learn more about how we went about the redesign? Check out this blog post.
|
|
|
OED is one of several departments involved in the Mayor’s Downtown Activation Plan, which seeks to revitalize the heart of Seattle. Check out the Plan and get involved at downtownisyou.com. You can also join the Good News Downtown mailing list.
|
 The Downtown Activation Team
On Friday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a new holistic approach to address public safety and public health challenges in Downtown. The pilot Downtown Activation Team will provide place-based activations, cleaning, and safety operations.
|
 Holiday celebrations 🎄
The annual Tree Lighting Celebration is next Friday, Nov. 29 in Westlake Park! The festivities start at noon, with family-friendly activities and giveaways. The lighting ceremony for the 45-foot holiday tree and star will start around 5 p.m., followed by a fireworks show. 🎆
|
|
 Cloudbreak is back 🎙️
Book a staycation, see local bands for free! OED is proud to support Cloudbreak, the citywide live music festival, which runs through November 27. Book a room at a participating Downtown hotel and you’ll receive a free pass to see 185 artists across 35 music venues in Seattle.
|
 Simplifying new projects 🏗️
Mayor Harrell signed legislation that will make it easier for new development in Downtown neighborhoods. The three-year exemption from the design review process for residential, hotel, and research and development projects will shave about six to nine months off the planning and design process for projects.
|
|
|
Celebrating the return of Marjorie 🎉
Marjorie is back! The beloved restaurant is the second business participant of our Business Community Ownership Fund, the first-in-the-nation small business funding model we launched in partnership with Grow America and JPMorgan Chase. This program puts business owners on a pathway to long-term control and ownership of their commercial spaces.
Originally opened in 2003, Donna Moodie named the restaurant after her mother and it quickly became a Seattle institution. Marjorie closed in 2023 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the BCO Fund, Donna brought Marjorie back, this time in Midtown Square in the Central District.
Why Donna says the BCO Fund is making a difference for her and other small business owners.
|
Easing loading and parking hassle for musicians and venues
Mayor Harrell signed a bill creating a Music Venue Permit program, making it easier for musicians to find parking and unload their equipment.
We worked with the Seattle Department of Transportation and the Seattle Music Commission to develop a new curbside designation for live music venues that responds to feedback about the unique parking and loading needs of performers. A public facing permit application portal is being developed and is expected to open for applications next year.
🅿️ Learn about the new Music Venue Loading Zones.
|
|
|
Nominate a small business 🏬
There’s still time to get your nominations in for the 2025 National Small Business Week Awards! The awards are part of National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of our entrepreneurs and small business owners. The Seattle District Small Business Administration will announce winners in May.
You can self-nominate or nominate your favorite local business in these categories:
- Small Business Person of the Year
- Small Business Exporter of the Year
- 8(a) Graduate of the Year
- Rural Small Business of the Year
- Microenterprise of the Year.
🗓️Deadline to submit: Thursday, December 5.
Submit your nomination.
|
Mix it up with creative professionals 🎨📺💃
Join the mix one last time. The final MXR:SEA event of 2024 is tonight, November 21!
This series of workshops brings Seattle’s creative economy professionals together for networking, learning resources.
This month’s event focuses on creative small businesses. Business owners can connect with other creatives and entrepreneurs, gain economic insights, learn about business resources, and enjoy some live music.
🗓️ Thursday, November 21, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
📍Sole Repair, Capitol Hill
MXR:SEA tickets.
|
Learning opportunities for business owners
Get help with your business plan or learn about resources available as a business owner after a disaster. There are several free learning opportunities for entrepreneurs coming up:
📈 Grow your business. Get collaborative business support from Growing Contingo and the Seattle Public Library. Services include business plan support and market research to help continued growth. The event is Monday, Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Beacon Hill Library. Sign up for business support.
🚧 Prepare for a natural disaster. Learn how to navigate disaster recovery from FEMA and the Small Business Administration. Business owners will learn how to make an initial insurance claim and how to find additional resources. The webinar is Tuesday, Dec. 10, 10 - 11:30 a.m. Register for the session.
|
|
|
|
