Resource Roundup: April 13th 2022 |
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Pioneer Square Business Stakeholders-
The Alliance for Pioneer Square team is working diligently to keep the Pioneer Square community informed regarding new resources and opportunities available to them. This roundup is part of a series of weekly messages capturing new resources and opportunities. Find each weekly email to date on our website.
*Please see this roundup's new resources and opportunities highlighted in RED*
What's Happening
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*NEW* The Alliance for Pioneer Square is excited to announce open applications for the Façade Improvement Fund, a financial support program for businesses and properties in the district. The Façade Improvement Fund is intended to provide financial support to Pioneer Square business and property owners who embark on projects to improve the overall appearance of their building facades and storefronts.
Only properties and businesses within the Pioneer Square District boundaries will be eligible to apply. Funding awards will be capped at $5,000 and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Funds will be awarded on a first come first serve basis. The deadline to apply for funding is August 31, 2022.For program eligibility, frequently asked questions and how to apply, visit the Alliance for Pioneer Square website. If you have any questions about this program, please reach out to sara@pioneersquare.org.
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*NEW* This year, Seattle will be adjusting the boundary lines of the seven Seattle City Council Districts to ensure that each district represents a similar population. Learn more about this year's City of Seattle redistricting process at a listening session on Thursday, April 21 from 10-10:45a via Zoom.
Pioneer Square is currently divided into Council District 2, represented by Tammy Morales (Southeast Seattle, including portions of Chinatown-ID, Rainier Valley, and SODO) and Council District 7, represented by Andrew Lewis (Downtown, Queen Anne, Magnolia). The proposed draft maps provided by the Seattle Redistricting Commission either divide Pioneer Square into three different City Council districts or remove Pioneer Square entirely from being represented alongside adjacent, high density districts such as Downtown, Belltown, and Uptown, facing similar urban challenges.
Click here for ways the Pioneer Square community can participate in the redistricting process.
As a business, property owner or resident near a potential WSBLE route or station alternative, it is important to note the effects to residences and businesses and provide feedback to the Sound Transit Board to inform possible mitigation measures. Lean more about how West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions (WSBLE) will impact Pioneer Square, what to expect as a project neighbor and how to provide input to the Sound Transit Board Board here.
The West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions (WSBLE) project will provide fast, reliable light rail connections to dense residential and job centers throughout the region. In addition, a new downtown Seattle light rail tunnel will provide capacity for the entire regional system to operate efficiently. These two separate Link extensions are part of the regional transit system expansion approved by voters in November 2016.
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Worker and Business Resources
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*NEW* The Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) is offering a professional development and mentorship program for visual artists who are interested in the public art realm but have limited experience. Artists will be selected through a competitive process to participate in a series of monthly workshops, seminars, and staff-led public art related mentorship meetings. Workshops will take place approximately October 2022 through June 2023, and project commissions will tentatively be installed in August 2023.
Up to 12 individual artists will be selected to participate. This is a paid opportunity, both for attendance and participation in the workshops and the commission for the temporary public artwork. Deadline to apply is 5pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Visit here for application details and RSVP for an online application workshop on Saturday, April 16 from 11am – 12:30pm at this link.
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*NEW* The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is embarking on its Seattle Transportation planning process and needs your help to develop a plan that reflects the community's values, needs, and experiences. How do you travel around Seattle and what is the best way for SDOT to communicate with you in developing this plan together? Take this brief survey to get started and sign up for email updates here.
Many app-based or “gig” workers on platforms like DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber Eats are underpaid and can end up earning a sub-minimum wage. After expenses such as mileage, vehicle maintenance, and other business costs are considered, workers may sometimes even lose money on app-based work. In June 2021 the Council passed premium pay for app-based workers. This legislation however, is tied to the pandemic and app-based workers need a long-term solution that holistically addresses the concerns they have and their subminimum wage earnings.
The PayUp policy package is a group of bills being drafted and introduced by Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Andrew Lewis that work to address the many issues facing app-based workers. The first bill about minimum payment, transparency and flexibility, discussed in the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, can be watched live on the Seattle Channel. Learn more about PayUp on this website.
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With the Sounders FC, OL Reign, and Mariners returning to the field, April will see plenty of foot traffic coming and going from the south end of the district. To better inform business operations on game and event days, follow this link to the Lumen Field and Event Center, WAMU Theater, and T-Mobile Park April event calendar
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With the ORCA Business Passport program, employers buy all-inclusive, annual ORCA passes for all benefit-eligible employees at affordable rates, now with an extra 50% off through the ORCA Business Incentive.
Offering ORCA can also help businesses take advantage of pre-tax savings and comply with Seattle’s Commuter Benefits Ordinance. Employees can use their ORCA passes across the region on buses, light rail, ferries, streetcar, and more. Enrollment is easy. Start saving today by reaching out to Commute Seattle to find the right ORCA Business program for you, and to learn if your business qualifies for a 50% discount. Learn more at commuteseattle.com/orca-for-business. Sign up for Commute Seattle's “On the Move” Newsletter for key transportation news and resources to help you promote climate-friendly commute options.
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Other Neighborhood Updates |
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*NEW* April 16-24, 2022 is National Park Week. National Park Week is an annual presidentially proclaimed celebration to encourage people to discover the places, programs, experiences, and stories of the National Park Service (NPS).
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*NEW* On May 3rd and 4th, the Alliance for Pioneer Square is partnering with GiveBIG and 501 Commons to ask for your help as we continue to support the neighborhood through recovery. The Alliance for Pioneer Square is on the forefront of vital conversations impacting our district, serving as a full-time advocate, resource, and champion for Pioneer Square. Your generous support is critical to our success and allows us to continue our work, making Pioneer Square the best neighborhood in Seattle.
During the GiveBIG statewide fundraising campaign, individuals and organizations come together across Washington to invest in their communities. Mark your calendar for May 3rd and 4th 2022 and bookmark this giving link to make a donation during this 48-hour giving event. You may also donate anytime through the Alliance website.
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*NEW* Join us and a host of neighborhood volunteers on the morning of Saturday, May 21st to help give the neighborhood a little extra TLC. Team up with your fellow coworkers and neighbors for this community effort. All ages and abilities welcome! Register Here.
The Spring Clean is a great way to make a positive difference in the community and make Pioneer Square an even more beautiful and welcoming neighborhood. Stay tuned for more information on the day's cleanup activities in upcoming communications.
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With several larger employers bringing back their workforce to Pioneer Square, we want to give them a warm welcome! In addition to providing returning workers with information about how to engage with the neighborhood and shop local, we are seeking information on retailers’ discounts or specials for upper floor folks. Pioneer Square businesses offering neighborhood specific promotions and deals are invited to email them to info@pioneersquare.org. All deals will be compiled and shared with upper floor businesses on this resource page. Visit here to learn more.
Earlier this month, The Alliance reached out to several large upper floor employers to gain insight into their return to office needs and future plans. Some respondents noted their staff have been operating within the neighborhood under a full time or hybrid model for the past several months. The others strongly signaled their intent to partially bring their staff back to the office in April 2022 with more staff planned to be present by early June. We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces strolling along the streets of our one-of-a-kind district.
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Additional Resources
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*NEW* Save $5 with code PIONEERSQ on First Thursday Artwalk with Veo, one of Seattle's new bikeshare providers. Learn more about their class II e-bikes in Seattle here. Driving to Pioneer Square? Check out mobile-friendly DowntownSeattleParking.com for parking locations throughout the neighborhood.
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*NEW* Each Friday, we give neighborhood businesses and organizations the opportunity to share a series of photo and video content to the Alliance for Pioneer Square’s social media channels via stories, feed posts and live video updates, for the entire day. Fill out the Google Form to get started with the process or email our Marketing Manager, Thembela Mavuso at thembela@pioneersquare.org if you have any questions.
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The Pioneer Square Business Owners & Managers Facebook group is an opportunity for business owners and retailers to participate in an online forum and share resources, support, and stories. We invite you to join the group and connect with other neighborhood businesses. Click here to join the Pioneer Square Business Owners and Managers Facebook page.
- The Alliance is coordinating with the Butler Garage on 114 James Street, to provide free parking on Saturdays throughout the year. Park for free every Saturday with a dated proof of purchase from a Pioneer Square business. Free parking is available from 11am to 8pm each Saturday in 2022.
Please let us know how we might best support you. Feel free to contact any of us with comments, questions, suggestions, or concerns.
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Sincerely,
The Alliance Team
ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE
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