TI Program awardees, small business spotlights, and grant opportunities

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two business owners standing in front of their respective businesses

Meet the 2025 TI Program Awardees 🎉

Congratulations to the 2025 Tenant Improvement Program awardees!

This year, we are investing more than $1.7 million in support to 45 businesses across Seattle. These funds will help small businesses by covering the costs for new equipment, signage, electrical upgrades, and construction projects.

Our goal with the TI Program is to support established businesses with upgrades to their equipment while reducing the financial burden and helping them to grow and thrive.

Learn more about the TI Program and see which businesses received the latest round of award.

Downtown is You!

Our department 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.

mabel standing in front of store sign in Pacific Place

Credit: Growing Boy Media

Pop-ups in Pacific Place 🛍️

Seattle Restored is transforming vacant spaces in Pacific Place through five new pop-ups. Take a yoga class, sip on some tea, and shop some local businesses now through January. 

Seattle Restored

group of three girls drinking boba from lightbulb shaped cups

Credit: CIDBIA

C-ID Food Walk 😋

Eat lots of food while supporting small businesses. The Chinatown-International District Food Walk is Saturday, November 29. Participating businesses will offer special menus and other discounts.

Food Walk info

two women and a man wholding paper jellyfish on the waterfront

Credit: Brandon Patoc

So much to SEA! 💚

The new Perks Pass from Visit Seattle features a curated collection of discounts and savings on things to do and places to eat in Downtown. The free mobile-friendly passport is designed to help Seattleites rediscover the heart of Emerald City.

Perks Pass

santa in front of a crowd at pike place market

Credit: Pike Place Market

Magic in the market

Celebrate the holiday season at Pike Place Market’s 30th Annual Magic in the Market! The family-friendly celebration on Saturday, November 29 includes music, holiday card making, a scavenger hunt, family photo ops, and more!

Holiday magic

Small business spotlight

Jiaxin and Chong sit at a table in Ooink Capitol Hill

Small Business Capital Access Program helps ramen shop share passion🍜

Rainy days and ramen go hand in hand. That’s why Jiaxin Wang and Chong Ooi opened Ooink in Capitol Hill. From sourcing the perfect bones for their broth to using artesian well water for their noodles, every bowl is crafted with care, passion, and tradition.

Our Small Business Capital Access Program helped reduce their loan payments, allowing them to open a second location and launch an e-commerce business. Now, they’re shipping their one-of-a-kind ramen nationwide.

CAP helps small businesses grow and thrive by providing financial assistance in the form of principal paydowns on eligible loans and other financing options. To date, the program has reduced more than $8 million in loan principal for 389 small businesses. 

Learn more about Jiaxin and Chong’s journey and our Small Business Capital Access Program.


Jan Johnson standing under the Panama Hotel sign

Tenant Improvement Program helps preserve living museum Panama Hotel

The Panama Hotel in Japantown isn’t just a building, it’s a piece of living history.

Opened in 1910, the Panama tells the story of the neighborhood and its residents throughout the years. Jan Johnson, the owner, works hard to preserve that history.

Through our Tenant Improvement Program, Jan was able to restore some of the original windows, ensuring this Seattle landmark continues to thrive.

Learn how our program supports small businesses and preserves vital community spaces.

City and State Opportunities and Resources

image of the skyline with back to business

Helping small businesses recover and stay protected

Funds are still available for our Back to Business program. This program helps small businesses impacted by vandalism or property damage, as well as those looking to make investments to prevent future damage.  

We offer support through two different programs:

  • Storefront Repair Fund: Reimbursements to help businesses recover the costs for fixing damages from vandalism or other property damages.
  • Storefront Security Fund: Reimbursements to business owners to cover the cost of improving security.

📅 Applications are open through December 2025, or until funds run out.

📝 Learn more and apply today.


Boots to Business 💼

Turn your business idea into reality. The Seattle Small Business Administration’s Boots to Business Virtual Reboot Course is designed for those exploring the idea of starting a business or other self-employment opportunities.

The free, online class takes participants through the key steps for evaluating business concepts and provides foundational knowledge for developing a business plan. Attendees are introduced to a broad spectrum of entrepreneurial business concepts and resources available to access start-up capital, technical assistance, contracting opportunities and more.

📅Tuesday, November 18, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

📝Register for the course.