Resource Roundup: April 14th, 2021
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


  • *NEW* On April 12, the Seattle City Council voted 8-0 approving legislation to provide nearly $23 million in rent and utility relief for Seattle residents. The approved legislation makes the following funding allocations: 
  • $8.0 million to the United Way of King County to provide rental assistance; 
  • $7.0 million to provide rental assistance on behalf of tenants residing in publicly-subsidized rent and income-restricted affordable housing; 
  • $6.2 million to community-based organizations to target rental assistance for BIPOC communities; and 
  • $1.5 million to provide emergency utility assistance to income-qualified renters through Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities programs. 

Much more detail, including FAQs and how-to steps for accessing assistance, will be forthcoming. Since 2020, Mayor Durkan along with City Council, have allocated for City of Seattle of Seattle renters and homeowners $18 million in rent and homeowner assistance, and payments for tenants to support city-funded affordable housing providers. 


SVOG supports live event venues, promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theatre operators, or talent agencies who were economically impacted by COVID-19. Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
Worker and Business Resources

  • *NEW* The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) have opened COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Grants for small businesses in four sectors: Shellfish Growers, Farmers Market Organizations, Agritourism, and Craft Beverage Producers. WSDA will provide nearly $15 million in small business assistance grants to help agriculture businesses and organizations in sectors that have been economically hurt due to marketplace disruptions created by the necessary public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant awards will be approximately $15,000. For more information and to apply, click here. Applications close April 26, 2021.

  • *NEW* Are you a restaurant or bar that needs PPE? The SSTAR Program provides mobile COVID-19 outreach service to bars and restaurants. The mobile outreach service provides free COVID-19 protection supplies that include facemasks, gloves, thermometers, hand sanitizer and disinfecting solutions, posters and educational materials. The next distribution will be Thursday, April 15, 10-12pm at the Issaquah Walgreens Parking Lot (6300 E Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE). Click here for more.

  • *NEW* Commute Seattle's ORCA for Business provides employees access to Seattle’s growing public transit system. The service offers flexible solutions for businesses of all sizes within any industry. Small or medium-sized business that have never offered subsidized transit benefits before may be eligible to participate in a Small Business Incentive that offers a 50% rebate on the first year of your program(of the employer’s contribution) of up to $10,000 when investing in a new ORCA Business Passport program. This is available for a limited time and open only to businesses new to commuter benefits. Learn more about ORCA Business programs here or set up a short consultation by emailing [email protected]


  • The U.S. Small Business Administration announced extended deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022. This means:
  • All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2020, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note.
  • All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2021, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 18-months from the date of the note.

Find more information on the announcement here.

  • Do you and your family need financial support to successfully isolate or quarantine? Anyone living in King County who tests positive or is exposed to COVID-19 may be eligible to receive a one-time household bill payment of up to $1,500 to help pay their current rent, mortgage, utility, water, phone and internet bills. The Household Assistance Request program is funded by the Department of Health and will continue for as long as funds are available. No application is necessary. Those with a recent positive COVID-19 test or who are identified as a close contact of a positive case will receive a call or text from a King County contact tracer within five days. This will start the enrollment process to determine eligibility. Visit the King County website to learn more.

Reopening Resources



  • 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, April 16th from 1:30 to 2:30pm 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. RSVP here. Find previous meeting slides and webinar recordings here.

  • *NEW* Join the Alliance for Pioneer Square and Waterfront Seattle for an update on upcoming Pioneer Square East West pedestrian improvements on Tuesday, April 27th from 12:00 to 1:00pm. RSVP here. Learn more about the project here.

Partner Efforts

  • *NEW* The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods invites you to their Community Conversations where they will dive into issues important to you and your community. The next Community Conversations with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods will take place on Wednesday April 21 from 6 to 7:30PM. RSVP here to attend.

  • *NEW* April is Earth Month and Waste Management is putting together a spotlight series to feature and highlight businesses and organizations for their sustainable efforts. If your organization is doing something to help improve sustainability for the community and is interested in taking part in the series, reach out to Waste Management directly at [email protected]. Follow them on Instagram for updates on featured businesses.
Neighborhood Spotlight 
Seattle Restaurant Week (SRW) is back, and running until the 30th of April, with special prix fixe menus of $20 lunches and $35 and $50 dinners all month long. Participating eateries are currently offering lots of options for diners to choose from, such as takeout, ready-to-heat, delivery, meal boxes, and indoor and outdoor dining per public health guidelines.

Diners can grab a meal in whatever format works best for them form the following participating Pioneer Square establishments: Dead Line, Luigi’s Italian Eatery, Nirmal’s, Pioneer Square D&E, Shawn O’Donnell’s Smith Tower, Two Doors Down Beer & Burgers. Showing support has never been so delicious!

Additional Resources



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