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* Earlier this year, the Alliance for Pioneer Square announced another round of funding through the Façade Improvement Fund, providing financial support to Pioneer Square business and property owners who embark on projects to improve the overall appearance of their building facades and storefronts. 

Please note, funds for the current round of Façade Improvement Fund have been exhausted and we are no longer accepting applications. The Façade Improvement Fund is made possible by Historic South Downtown and the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development.

• *NEW* King County Executive Dow Constantine has issued a proclamation declaring Monkey Pox a public health emergency in King County. Public Health – Seattle & King County has been working to distribute antivirals and vaccine to healthcare systems and is directly providing clinical services through Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic at Harborview and through community vaccination events. Public Health is also working with local community- based organizations to reach the highest risk populations with health information.

For more information on Monkey Pox visit www.kingcounty.gov/monkeypox. People in Washington can also call 1-833-829-HELP (4357) to ask about risk factors, vaccines, testing and treatment or visit the Washington department of health's website for more information.

• *NEW* The FDA recently extended the expiration dates for several over-the-counter COVID tests. Public health officials have communicated that at home COVID-19 tests are likely good for several months beyond the expiration date on the box. According to the state Department of Health, that includes those that Washington residents can get mailed to them for free through 

sayyescovidhometest.org. 

Any home tests ordered through Washington's program can be safely used for six months beyond the "Use by" date listed on the packaging. You can check the FDA's website for a full list of approved COVID-19 tests and their revised expiration dates. Learn more here.

Worker and Business Resources

• *NEW* Earlier this month, the Seattle Office of Economic Development, through its Neighborhood Economic Recovery Fund and Only in Seattle initiative, held a webinar to provide an update on current technical assistance resources available to businesses in Seattle. These included financial health and commercial space information, available state funding, legal assistance and more. The webinar was recorded and is available here. You may also view the presentation deck here.

• *NEW* Greater Seattle Partners in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Commerce, Port of Seattle, and Coupang is hosting a conference offering small and medium-sized businesses the opportunity to learn more about growth through exporting with an emphasis on the South Korean market. "Small Business Growth and Resiliency Through Export Opportunities in U.S.-Korea Trade" will be held on September 8th from 9a-5p at the Bell Harbor Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way. The one-day conference will be preceded by a reception on the night before. Both events are free to attend and open to the public. Registration is required and available here.

• *NEW* Business Impact Northwest (BINW) and Amazon are joining forces to help small businesses prosper as they recover from the challenges of COVID-19. Leveraging the U.S. Small Business Administration, Business Forward’s National Small Business Digital Alliance and Amazon’s digital business tools, BINW will provide growth-enabled business resources and educational workshops as part of a Small Business Digital Accelerator Program to help advance equitable and inclusive growth in Washington State.

The program will support small businesses and entrepreneurs across Washington who are interested in becoming online sellers or looking to optimize e-commerce. The program is targeting fifty small businesses to participate. In partnership with Amazon, BINW will select five to fifteen businesses to sell at live pop-up vending events throughout Puget Sound during the 2022 Holiday Shopping Season. In addition to selling products in-person, selected businesses will be promoted through Amazon, Business Impact NW, and other partners’ digital channels in anticipation of Small Business Saturday.

For eligibility, program details and to learn more visit here.

• Are you a small business interested in receiving up to $100,000 to improve your commercial space? The City of Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) 2022 Commercial Tenant Improvement Fund provides up to $100,000 to eligible small businesses to make commercial improvements more affordable for projects located within Seattle city limits. Review and learn more about eligibility requirements and the selection process here.  Applications are due on September 8th at 5p via the online grant portal. The OED is also hosting information sessions to describe the intent of this funding opportunity and answer questions. Visit here to register and view recordings of the virtual sessions.

• The Washington State Legislature has allocated a new round of grant funding for small businesses affected by the pandemic. $70 million was appropriated by the legislature for the next round of Working Washington Grants: Round 5. Eligible for-profit and non-profit businesses may apply.

The application portal is now open and will remain open for 24 days until September 9th. Learn more here. 

• 4 Culture's 2022 Landmarks Capital grant is now open. Landmark Capital funding is specifically for stewards of designated historic landmark properties in King County who are working to rehabilitate them. The grant supports projects focusing on the stabilization or restoration of historic building fabric, repair or replacement of essential building systems, or the restoration of historically significant landscapes.

 Projects that contribute to the diversity of property types and histories represented in King County’s built environment, and that are centered on underrepresented communities, will receive additional consideration. Visit here for guidelines and to apply. Deadline for applications is September 21st at 5p.

Partner Efforts

• *NEW* The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Seattle's Community Business Connector Program supports an equitable economic recovery and connects targeted businesses with free or low-cost training, technical assistance, and other resources. By deploying "connectors" who can provide culturally relevant business assistance, the program will help to address the barriers that prevent BIPOC and rural businesses from accessing business resources.

Community-based organizations and individuals are invited to submit an RFQ (request for qualifications) to join a team of Community Business Connectors to serve BIPOC and rural businesses in King County. The program aims to provide business assistance to underserved small businesses who may face cultural or language barriers when accessing business resources. Connectors will receive a one-time funding award from $30,000 to $40,000 over 12 months as part of the pilot project.

Learn more about the Community Business Connector Program here. Deadline to apply is September 9th.

Other Neighborhood Updates

• *NEW* Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) recently celebrated the opening of it's Pioneer Square Clinic, located at Chief Seattle Club’s permanent housing development, ʔálʔal. Services offered at the clinic include:



• Full primary and pediatric care
• Traditional Indian Medicine
• Behavioral health and substance use disorder services
• Immunizations, including COVID-19 vaccines
• Dental services provided through a mobile dental unit

The clinic is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a 9:00 a.m. opening on Tuesdays. Call (206) 324-9360 to schedule an appointment.

• *NEW* Please join us for the Pioneer Square BIA Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 16th from 4-5:30p as we celebrate all the successes we have achieved together this past year and look ahead to 2023. All Ratepayers in good standing are invited to meet the BIA Stakeholder Board, the Alliance board members, and Alliance staff as well as learn about new initiatives planned for the upcoming year. You will also have a chance to meet and connect with both your first floor and upper level neighbors, including welcoming some new faces! RSVP here to attend.

• *NEW* In November 2020, the Alliance launched the Saturday Free Parking program to increase visitor traffic to the district during a time when many felt uncomfortable riding mass transit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a steady increase in public transit ridership declining engagement, the Alliance has decided to end the program. The last day of Free Saturday Parking was August, 27th, 2022.

Please note, free parking will continue to be offered during First Thursday Art Walk. Questions? Contact us at info@pioneersquare.org.

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.

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