Resource Roundup: April 27th 2022
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* Last week, the Alliance hosted the Seattle Redistricting Commission for an information session to learn more about this year's City of Seattle redistricting process. The recording and slides from the session are available here, along with information about upcoming opportunities for the Pioneer Square community to engage in the process.

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. 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.

The Seattle Redistricting Commission will host public forums for each City of Seattle Council District this spring/summer. The public forums will provide an opportunity for communities to provide feedback to the Commission regarding redistricting preferences. The District 2 public forum will be held on Thursday, May 19th from 5:30-7:30PM. The District 7 public forum will be held on Thursday, July 21 from 5:30-7:30PM. Register here for the District 2 and 7 public forums.

  • *NEW* The Pioneer Square BIA is excited to announce the recipients of the 2022 Inspiration Fund. Project goals for this year included celebrating neighborhood diversity, enhancing public spaces and neighborhood storytelling. The Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area (BIA) has granted a total of $10,000 in matches to support two projects that align with these goals and are making a positive impact in the Pioneer Square neighborhood in 2022.

The first is a community performance art piece by neighborhood artist Tariqa Waters of Martyr Sauce Pop Art Museum and Gallery,that encourages the public to engage with Pioneer Square’s vibrant community and supports local artists, creatives and small businesses. The second is a cabaret-style musical revue by Rose Cano and David Nyberg of Creative Hiatus Productionsthat brings awareness, understanding, acceptance and laughter to those who visit Pioneer Square. Learn more about each project here.

  • 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. 
Worker and Business Resources

  • *NEW* With the Sounders FC, OL Reign, and Mariners seasons underway, May 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 May event calendar.

Please note, multiple events have been scheduled for the followings dates:

  • Sunday May 8th: OL Reign vs. Racing Louisville FC @ 3pm
Mariners vs. Tampa Bay @ 1:10pm
  • Wednesday May 25th: OL Reign vs. Kansas City Current @ 7pm
Mariners vs. Oakland @ 7:10pm
  • Sunday May 29th: Sounders FC vs. Charlotte FC @ 6:30pm
OL Reign vs. San Diego Wave FC @ 12pm
Mariners vs. Houston @ 1:10pm

  •  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.
Partner Efforts

These projects are aimed at benefiting neighborhoods, small businesses, artists and property owners by creating vibrant and engaging streetscapes that encourage the public to visit downtown Seattle, support local businesses and artists — particularly Black, Indigenous, and other entrepreneurs and artists of color. Check out this map for locations throughout Pioneer Square and Downtown or view listings here to find out more about the pop-ups and art installations!

  • 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.
Other Neighborhood Updates
  • *NEW* Isle of Plants, a vegan grocery store located at 216 Alaskan Way S, in Pioneer Square is now open for online orders, in-person to-go orders and curbside pickup,

The store offers a 100% vegan shopping experience, from clothes, groceries, to food and drinks. Visit their website here. The store is open Fridays to Sundays, 10am - 4pm.
  • *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.

  • 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.

  • 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.
Additional Resources

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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.
Sincerely,

The Alliance Team

ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE