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Pictured: Dr. Alvertis Brooks Jr., Ibijoke (Ibi) Idowu-Holiday tabling at the Juneteenth Freedom Festival

Summer 2025 Newsletter

Summer is in full swing, and we’re excited to share what’s happening at RVCDF! From strengthening small businesses through technical assistance to hosting local events like our upcoming Grand Opening, there’s a lot to look forward to.


Want to get involved with RVCDF? Consider joining our Board of Directors!

If you are interested in joining the board, please contact Alvertis Brooks (abrooks@rvcdf.org) or reach out through our website.


Wishing you a safe, joyful summer from all of us at RVCDF!

Strengthening Small Business Through Technical Assistance

At its core, technical assistance is the process of identifying a business’s needs for growth and delivering the knowledge, tools, and support necessary to meet those needs. For us, this isn’t just a service—it’s a commitment.


Our CDFI has long been recognized for going the extra mile to support our clients. In Q4 of 2024, we expanded that support with the launch of our Technical Assistance (TA) support modules through the Initiate platform. This online resource hub provides clients—and prospective clients—with on-demand education around essential business processes to help sustain and grow their enterprises.


Looking ahead to Q4 of 2025, we’re deepening our TA offerings with in-person and virtual workshops, one-on-one skill-building sessions, and peer-to-peer resource networking opportunities. Through strategic partnerships with seasoned experts, we’re excited to introduce a membership model that provides small businesses access to these services at a fraction of typical operating costs.


We’re proud to announce our first formal partnership with the Small Business Development Center, which will co-locate in our new space to deliver direct support to entrepreneurs. Stay tuned for announcements about additional partners joining our ecosystem in the coming months.


As we expand, we are also creating space for other community-based Technical Assistance providers. If you’re a TA provider looking to scale your capacity, collaborate, or connect with our network of entrepreneurs, we encourage you to reach out to our office. We’d love to explore how we can support your work and grow together.


Business Development


Rainier Valley Community Development Center Small Business HUB

Every business community needs a home base to foster sustainability, growth, and innovation. These home bases serve many purposes. They help new start-ups get off the ground, facilitate networking opportunities to share best practices, provide access to technical assistance and education, and so much more.


Rainier Valley Community Development Fund recognizes the importance of creating a space where the small business community can come together to solve mutual problems and support the economic development of South Seattle, and our new office has been built out with that in mind!


Our new office space has not only made room for our expanding staff. Its also created new opportunities, with a second wing of offices, a conference center, and an event space. Technical Assistance (TA) workshops have already begun with group seminars in the conference room, and more are on the horizon. Business education events open to all small business owners are on the way, along with one-on-one mentoring for aspiring entrepreneurs.


We are also using the new space to deepen partnerships, with community collaborators using our offices to provide services and referrals to other business resources. The City of Seattle’s Small Business Development Center will use one of our offices to provide TA and direct clients to other providers, and we’re looking forward to other partners using our space to bring their unique services to the community. Non-profits and other organizations are also welcome to use the conference center and event space to hold their own special events, allowing the community to capitalize on the many resources available in our neighborhoods. 

RVCDF is proud to establish our business and community HUB, and we’re looking forward to working with you to make it a mainstay of South Seattle! 


RVCDF Client Spotlights

Upcoming Events

Soft Opening

July 17th | 11AM - 2PM


RVCDF Clients are invited to join us as we celebrate the soft opening of our new headquarters!


Enjoy light refreshments and help us shape the future of our space. We want to hear your ideas on how we can design a space that truly centers community.

Grand Opening

August 21st | 11AM - 2:30PM


Join us as we celebrate the Grand Opening of RVCDF’s new office! Enjoy refreshments, a brief presentation, and a ceremonial ribbon cutting as we mark a significant milestone for the organization, with local businesses and community leaders in attendance.

Local Events Calendar

For more information on events and how to register, visit our Events Calendar on our website.


JULY

July 9th | 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Workshop: Seattle Small Business Happy Hour

📍 Amazon Skills Center


July 25th | Time TBD

Summer Black Business Mixer w/ B.O.B.E

📍 Location TBD


AUGUST

August 10th | All Day Event

Othello Festival (Sponsor)

📍 Othello Park, Seattle


August 22nd-August 24th

Acts On Stage: The Wiz Musical

📍 Benaroya Hall


August 23rd | 12:00 - 6:00 PM

98118 Fest (Sponsor)

📍Columbia Park



August 23rd | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Back2School Bash w/ Rainier Beach Action Coalition

📍 Rainier Beach Community Center


SEPTEMBER

September 11th | Time TBD

Owner Operator Tour with @weFranch

📍 Location TBD


September 18th | Time TBD

Seed Arts 50-Year Celebration ENVISION

📍 SEED’s Rainier Arts Center


September 27th | 7:30 PM 

Homestead Community Land Trust- A Conversation with Stacey Abrams

📍 Town Hall Seattle

Small Business Resources

Find a mentor with SCORE Greater Seattle! Access FREE, confidential one-on-one business counseling by phone, email, or in person. Serving the Greater Seattle area, we also offer FREE workshops tailored for start-up entrepreneurs.

December brings FREE marketing and Quickbooks classes - sign up today!


Learn more

Become a member of Seattle Made and connect with a thriving community of local manufacturers, artisans, and small businesses. This FREE Membership offers resources, networking opportunities, promotional support, and access to events designed to help your business grow and succeed.


Learn more


Schedule an appointment with the Seattle Small Business Association to access services such as funding programs, business counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery support.


Learn more

Contact Us

206-722-5281

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