Resource Roundup: July 22nd 2021

Resource Roundup: July 22nd, 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* Mayor Jenny A. Durkan has announced the final lineups and activations as part of the City of Seattle’s large-scale Welcome Back to Pioneer Square event taking place Saturday, July 24 in Occidental Square. You can find a full lineup of performers and events here. Live music begins at 10:30am and those wishing to attend can RSVP here.

*NEW* Free presentations for your community! What do we need to know about COVID-19 to protect our communities? Should we still be thinking about reducing the risk of COVID-19 at work? What about in the neighborhood? King County's COVID-19 Speaker's Bureau provides free presentations on topics you want your organization or community to know. Presentations are available in Arabic, English, Spanish, Amharic, Oromo, Somali and more. Interpreters are also available upon request along with fully accessible webinars, including live captioning, ASL interpreters, materials available in advance, and translation of materials into Braille. Submit a request for a presentation here.

Worker and Business Resources

*NEW* The Washington Flex Fund is now open to for loans of up to $150,000, providing capital for small businesses and nonprofits to reopen and recover. Loans can be used to pay for payroll, rent, utilities, marketing, repairs or improvements or other costs. The loans are designed to help small businesses, especially businesses that have traditionally had less access to capital, including BIPOC-owned businesses, to gain access to the funds they need to reopen, recover, or grow.

This is a Washington state program, separate from other federal, COVID-19 relief funding, like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), so businesses that have received PPP loans can apply. To be eligible to apply organizations must have less than $3 million a year in annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees. Washington Flex Fund loans are NOT forgivable, so businesses should ensure that they can afford payments. Visit the Small Business Flex Fund website to apply.

*NEW* Working with community-based organizations, King County will be distributing federal funds for need-based rental assistance to tenants in the county through the Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program (EPRAP). This grant is intended to prevent evictions by paying past due and future rent. Funds will be distributed equitably and will target limited resources to those with the greatest needs. Apply here.

The Seattle Department of Transportation Safe Start temporary permit program ends in May 2022. Take the Safe Start Permit-Holder Survey to provide feedback on the future use of streets and sidewalks for outdoor cafes, displays, or vending. The survey will close on August 15, 2021. Responses will be compiled and analyzed, and resulting data will be used to guide and support future proposal for a transition away from temporary recovery permitting and toward a return to standard permitting.

The PSE Foundation 2021 grant application is now open. This will focus on the most immediate needs such as childcare, housing, food and other essential services and help address COVID-19 impacts through 2021. Applicants should demonstrate how funding for programmatic or capital projects will enable organizations to help communities HEAL and overcome insecurities worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic related to health or welfare insecurities.

Local nonprofit organizations serving the communities of PSE’s 10-county service area (Whatcom, Island, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Pierce, Lewis and Thurston counties) are invited to apply. Learn more about Grants or go directly to PSE Employee & Retiree Matching. Application deadline is August 31st with grants awarded in November 2021.

Public Health — Seattle & King County has made several updates to it's COVID-19 Information and Resources to reflect the updated mask Directive. The changes are as follows:

Key updates to the FAQ on wearing masks in King County, including when to wear a face covering, information specific to public transportation and why children need to wear masks.
How long people should isolate or quarantine depending on their situation. Translated versions can be found on the Isolation and Quarantine page.
When Can I Be Around Others Again?
Getting Vaccinated" flyers now available in multiple languages

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.

Reopening Resources

*NEW* The Alliance for Pioneer Square has introduced a section on our website to help provide businesses guidance and resources for best practices as the state fully reopens.

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.

King County is providing reopening business tools for Phase 3 guidance and requirements. The new tools include a safe work plan template, owners guide to reopening and reopening checklist. Businesses can access these resources below:
King County Safe Start: Businesses and Workplaces
City of Seattle: COVID-19 Reopening Business

The Association of Washington Businesses has created a hub where businesses can get access to PPE and other resources to assist with reopening. The site is free to use and available to all Washington businesses.

Neighborhood Advocacy

*NEW* The Alliance for Pioneer Square invites local artists to submit an application to paint a new, permanent mural on the western wall along 4th Ave under the Yesler Bridge. Visit our website to learn more and to apply.

All application materials must be received by Monday, August 9 at 9:00am. For any questions about this call for artists, please contact Sara Pizzo, Public Realm Manager, at [email protected].

*NEW* On Friday July 16th, the Alliance for Pioneer Square held an information session where we presented on the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on Pioneer Square, relief and resources available from the City, State and Federal government to all those impacted by the crisis, and the Alliance’s response to support our neighborhood. The information session presentation slides and recording are now available to view here.

*NEW* Last week, the Alliance for Pioneer Square held a Lunch and Learn with Recology, Seattle Public Utilities, and Waste Management Seattle, on garbage collection, recycling and yard/food waste. The meeting has been recorded and is available to view here, along with the presentation slides here and here. Visit the Alliance's website for more solid waste resources.

*NEW* Join the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) and the Seattle Police Department (SPD) for a one and a half hour de-escalation training on August 17th from 1:30a-3p. RSVP here.

*NEW* Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) is offering a virtual training to staff and member organizations of the Alliance for Pioneer Square. The training will be held on August 31, 2021 from 1:00pm - 4:30pm via Zoom. RSVP here.

Partner Efforts

*NEW* The Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) is spearheading two Welcome Back Weeks: July 12-24 and September 4-19. Throughout the summer, DSA is creating countless opportunities for workers, residents and visitors to participate in fun and safe events, from outdoor concerts and movies to happy hours and urban hikes.

During the first week of each two-week period, DSA will host tented booths in various downtown locations featuring music, refreshments, and friendly staff who can answer questions about what’s open, what’s changed, and even offer updates on commuting options.

To make these “Welcome Back Weeks” as full and rich as possible, DSA/MID is asking all downtown businesses to participate by offer unique opportunities, deals, promotions or incentives to attract people downtown. Ideas include: Two-for-one tickets, discounted entry to attractions, “Welcome Back” specials, sidewalk sales, prizes, early access to stores/attractions, etc.

Events will be added to an online calendar, promoted through numerous channels, and receive marketing and PR support. Interested businesses can sign up here. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Additional Resources

Between weekly messages please review our website, which features an in-depth series of resources intended to assist small business owners, managers, and employees impacted by the COVID-19 virus crisis, along with public health recommendations.

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.

Sincerely,

The Alliance Team

ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE