Resource Roundup: January 5th 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* Earlier this week, joined by members of his executive team, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell gave his inauguration address about his vision for the City of Seattle. Watch the entire ceremony and speech here.
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*NEW* On Monday December 27th, the CDC made some changes to recommendations for isolation for people with COVID-19. For all people who test positive, regardless of vaccination status, the CDC has shortened the recommended time for isolation from 10 days to five days.
- If you have no symptoms, or your symptoms are improving after five days, you can leave your house. If you have a fever, stay home until your fever goes away.
- You should continue to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask around others for five additional days.
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High-quality and well-fitting masks are essential and are described here.
According to the CDC, this change was made because data demonstrates that the majority of COVID transmission occurs early in the course of illness. The CDC states that most transmission occurs in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after onset of symptoms. Read more about changes to isolation and quarantine for COVID-19 here.
- Last month, the ORCA Recovery Card Program, which provides free ORCA cards to essential workers in Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square, was extended through December 31, 2022. The program supports small business recovery by assisting employees in traveling or returning to work, helps people save money on transportation and encourages them to take transit more which helps the city meet sustainability goals.
Those who received the card during the summer can continue using the same card free of charge for another year to help get them to where they need to go affordably and efficiently. The city recognized the benefits of the ORCA Recovery Card with 91 percent of people using transit more frequently than they did before receiving their ORCA card, according to a survey conducted by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).
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Worker and Business Resources
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*NEW* Applications are now open for 4Culture's Recovery Fund for Individuals. The fund will offer between $1,000 and $12,000 to eligible cultural producers who have been financially impacted by the pandemic, as they recuperate, adapt, and advance their practice. An applicant's primary occupation must be within 4Culture’s program areas of heritage, historic preservation, art, or public art to be considered. Click here to learn more and apply. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, February 2 at 5:00 pm PST.
Join 4Culture this month for a series of workshops to meet program managers, walk through the application, have your questions answered, and hear from other cultural producers.
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*NEW* To back underrepresented small business owners as they navigate the pandemic and plan for long-term success and resilience, American Express has partnered with Main Street America to launch a $1.65M year-round program called Inclusive Backing. The Inclusive Backing grant program will offer 250 grants of $5,000 each to small-business owners in older or historic commercial districts across the country.
The priority will go to businesses disproportionally impacted by the pandemic. Grants will be awarded in four cycles over 12 months. Applications for the first grant cycle are now closed. Details on future grant cycles will be announced soon. Find more information about the grant program here.
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*NEW* The Merchant Maverick Opportunity Grant Program for AAPI-Owned Restaurants opened on January 3, 2022. Its sole purpose is to extend financial opportunities to business owners who otherwise have trouble accessing traditional financing. This grant program will award 10, $10,000 grants to Asian and Pacific Islanders who are American citizens and own a restaurant or foodservice business. The program only accepts 5,000 applications total, and small businesses can click here for more information.
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*NEW* As of January 1, 2022, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is not able to accept applications for new COVID EIDL loans or advances. The SBA but will continue to accept requests for increases, reconsideration, and appeals as follows:
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will accept and review reconsideration and appeal requests for COVID EIDL applications received on or before December 31 if the reconsideration/appeal is received within the timeframes in the regulation. This means six months from the date of decline for reconsiderations and 30 days from the date of reconsideration decline for appeals – unless funding is no longer available.
- Borrowers can request increases up to their maximum eligible loan amount for up to two years after their loan origination date, or until the funds are exhausted, whichever is soonest.
Partner Efforts
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*NEW* Commute Seattle will host a webinar next week, on January 13th, to help small businesses navigate Seattle’s new Commuter Benefits Ordinance which went into full effect this month. Find more information and a link to register here.
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Other Neighborhood Updates |
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Donation Pick-up of $1400 worth of goods from American Life Insurance company. |
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Thanks to your generous donations, a collection of over 30 women's coats, 60 men's coats, warm hats and gloves, scarves, blankets, hygiene supplies and more will be distributed directly to individuals formerly living in Pioneer Park who received temporary housing and services last year.
A special shoutout goes out to the following:
- Cheers to American Life Insurance (known to us as "Hawk Tower") for their generous donation/shopping spree of needed items totaling $1400.
- To Shawn O'Donnell's at the Smith Tower, Cone & Steiner, and Cafe Umbria for hosting neighborhood drop off boxes.
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- To our resident homes: The Florentine, The Gridiron, The Nolo, The Wave, The Terry Denny, and The Corona for hosting boxes and encouraging residents to donate goods.
This will further the JustCare program’s mission to engage in outreach, service provision, and temporary housing to the unhoused individuals in Pioneer Square.
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Additional Resources
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*NEW* January's First Thursday Art Walk returns to Pioneer Square in 2022 on January 6th. This also means the return of the Alliance for Pioneer Square's free parking program. Find more information on the January 6th Art Walk, our Free Parking Program re-brand and Free Parking Saturdays program here.
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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 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.
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Driving to Pioneer Square? Check out mobile-friendly DowntownSeattleParking.com for parking locations throughout the neighborhood.
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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