COVID-19 Bi-weekly Update: December 22nd, 2020

Pioneer Square Business Stakeholders-

The Alliance for Pioneer Square is working diligently to support the Pioneer Square community through the COVID-19 virus outbreak. This is part of a series of weekly messages outlining impacts and resources available. Find each weekly email to date on our website.

*Please see this week's new resources and opportunities highlighted in RED*

What's Happening

*NEW* On Wednesday, December 16, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an order officially extending a moratorium on evictions for residents, small businesses, and nonprofits through March 31, 2021 (it was due to expire at the end of 2020). The mandate also extends a couple of other pandemic-related measures that could impact restaurants and bars: allowing temporary loading zones for pick-ups and the suspension of 72-hour parking rules enforcement until further notice.

*NEW* In early December, the Seattle City Council Finance and Housing Committee unanimously approved $5 million in relief for bars, restaurants, and hospitality workers. This package was announced on December 4th by Mayor Durkan and Councilmembers Morales, Mosqueda, and González. The measure will make $2.5 million available in grants specifically for restaurants and bars, and $2.5 million in direct relief for hospitality workers.

*NEW* The City of Seattle, King County, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 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 those groups 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 23rd at 5 pm.

Worker and Business Resources

*NEW* 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.

The 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),

국어 (Korean),

Soomaali (Somali),

Español (Spanish),

Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese).

The Food Finance Institute's Scaler Series offers businesses the flexibility to learn how to successfully grow their businesses, one workshop at a time. It’s a series of 6 workshops, normally, each series workshop is $50, however, the Scaler Series enrollment is free for the 2020 – 2021 workshops. Brought to you by funding from the Small Business Administration.

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.

The Office of the Mayor has created a page containing information and links for City of Seattle programs and services that may be helpful for residents significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Federal Government has launched a comprehensive webpage for small business owners to research their options.

Reopening Resources

King County is providing reopening business tools for Phase 2 guidance and requirements. The new tools include a safe work plan template, owners guide to reopening and reopening checklist. Businesses can access these resources below:
King County Safe Start: Businesses and Workplaces
City of Seattle: COVID-19 Reopening Business

The Association of Washington Businesses has created a hub where businesses can get access to PPE and other resources to assist with reopening. The site is free to use and available to all Washington businesses.

The Alliance for Pioneer Square has introduced a section on our website to help provide businesses guidance and resources for best practices as they prepare to reopen their doors to customers.

Neighborhood Advocacy

*NEW* Join the Alliance for Pioneer Square at a virtual information session on Friday January 15, from 1:30 to 2:30 where we will be presenting on the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on Pioneer Square, relief and resources available to those impacted by the crisis, and the Alliance’s response to support our neighborhood. Joining us this month is Commissioner President Peter Steinbrueck from the Port of Seattle. RSVP here. Find previous meeting slides and webinar recordings here.

The holidays are once again upon us and the Alliance for Pioneer Square has put together lots of ways to help shoppers, residents and visitors celebrate the season locally. Plug into Pioneer Square's 2020 Holiday Programming and engage in a series of in-person/online promotional activities to help entice the community to support Pioneer Square and to help boost your business' performance this holiday season. Learn more here

The Pioneer Square Residents’ Council seeks to partner with neighborhood cafes, restaurants, and bars to encourage residents to eat and drink at Pioneer Square businesses as part of a Neighborhood Loyalty Program. The Pioneer Square Residents’ Council has proposed working with neighborhood businesses to offer discounts, such as 10% off, for residents when they mention what building they live in when purchasing goods. If your business is interested in partnering with the Pioneer Square Residents’ Council on the Neighborhood Loyalty Program, email Chris Woodward at [email protected].

As the neighborhood continues to navigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, we want to offer an opportunity to reconnect. Click here to join the Pioneer Square Business Owners and Managers Facebook page.

Partner Efforts

The City of Seattle's Office of Economic Development (OED) has launched the new Shop Your Block campaign 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. You can access the campaign website, retail map, neighborhood marketplaces and shoppers guides here. Businesses can sign on to the map and/or edit their information here. For assistance, reach out to OED at [email protected].

The Alliance for Pioneer Square is proud to champion the "Do Something" campaign, a joint effort by Visit Seattle and the Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority. The campaign, running from October 2020 to January 2021, encourages locals and neighboring drive markets to explore and support businesses throughout King County and to do something nearby. Businesses may download the the following digital marketing toolkit to help promote the DO SOMETHING messaging on their social media platforms.

Neighborhood Spotlight

The Public Defender Association has set up a warm winter coat drive to benefit Co-LEAD and JustCARES clients. Co-LEAD has been conducting outreach to houseless neighbors in Pioneer Square to get them housed, provide medical attention and wrap around services to help with their transition.

Co-LEAD has a goal of 100 coats. All you need to do is drop off a (clean) gently worn or new LARGE or X-LARGE warm winter jacket at CONE & STEINER, now through Dec 30th in the drop box picture above. Cone & Steiner is located at 135 S. King Street.

Additional Resources

Between weekly messages please review our website, which features an in-depth series of resources intended to assist small business owners, managers, and employees impacted by the COVID-19 virus crisis, along with public health recommendations.

Please let us know how we might best support you. Feel free to contact any of us with comments, questions, suggestions, or concerns.

Sincerely,

The Alliance Team

ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE