Resource Roundup: March 17th, 2021 |
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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* Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that the Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery will be transitioning from a regional approach to a county-by-county evaluation process. The governor also announced a new third phase of the Roadmap and that, effective March 22, the entire state of Washington will enter Phase 3. Sports guidance will change in Phase 3 to allow in-person spectators at events for the first time in a year. Spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor venues with permanent seating with capacity capped at 25%. The change affects both professional and high school sports, as well as motorsports, rodeos, and other outdoor spectator events. Social distancing and facial covering are still required. Read the rest of the story here.
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*NEW* Round 4 of the Working Washington grants opens March 29, offering grant relief funds to small for-profit businesses, especially those that were required to close due to public health and safety measures. Priorities for funding are:
- Businesses required to close.
- Businesses with lost revenue as a result of closure.
- Businesses with added expenses to maintain safe operations.
- Equitable distribution of grant funds across the state and to businesses owned and operated by historically disadvantaged individuals.
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*NEW* Following last week’s announcement of $23 million of new rental assistance and the prospect of new rental assistance that will be available to Seattle and King County through the American Rescue Plan, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan has announced the extension of COVID-19 relief measures, including the moratoriums on residential, nonprofit, and small business evictions in the City of Seattle through June 30, 2021. Currently, the state legislature is also considering statewide eviction protection legislation. Other COVID-19 relief measures include continuation of Utility Discount Program’s Self Certification Pilot Program is extended until June 30, 2021, which can lower Seattle City Light bills by 60 percent and Seattle Public Utility bills by 50 percent.
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Worker and Business Resources
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*NEW* The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is making changes to food pick up priority zones. As part of its COVID-19 pandemic response, SDOT will soon install new signs on selected block faces around the city. These signs will be:
- A new permanent 5-minute Load Zone sign and curb paint, to provide space at the curb for food delivery and other retail pickup/drop-off needs. This affects eight blocks in the Pioneer Square district that do not already have a temporary loading zone.
- An accompanying blue Food Priority Pick-up sign
SDOT will be doing individual outreach to the businesses on blocks that will be affected. Learn more here.
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*NEW* The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) wants to support the safe reopening of buildings that may have been closed for an extended period of time due to COVID-19 related restrictions. Low, or no water use in vacant or underused buildings increases the risk to plumbing systems and the potential for Legionella. To safely resume water service in buildings that were closed or underused during the pandemic, follow safety guidance to prevent Legionella and other opportunistic waterborne infections:
- When opening buildings back up, allow two to three weeks lead time to start up the water plumbing system and make sure there is time for testing and possible disinfection if needed.
- Once all start up efforts are complete, evaluate the effectiveness of your procedures by testing for Legionella using an approved culture method.
DOH employees are reaching out to commercial building owners and maintenance managers with information on how to avoid a potential health risk related to limited water use inside larger buildings with complex plumbing. Learn more here.
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*NEW* The Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), Ventures, Business Impact NW and Tabor 100 are hosting a Building Financial Strength in Your Business webinar on April 6, from 2:00 to 3:30PM. Featuring Jenefeness Tucker, Certified Business Advisor at WSBDC, Ollie Garrett, President of Tabor 100, Maurisa Phillips, Loan Readiness Officer at Business Impact NW and Beto Yarce, Executive Director of Ventures, you’ll learn about business tools, resources and financial opportunities that strengthen BIPOC-owned businesses in Washington State. Register here.
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On February 28, 2021, Governor Inslee signed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB 5272) into law. This law waives annual renewal fees for 12 months (April 1, 2021 to March 30, 2022) for the following liquor license types:
- distillers, distill/rectify, fruit/wine distillery, craft distillery, distillery/craft distillery tasting room, domestic wineries, domestic breweries, microbreweries, beer/wine restaurant, spirits/beer/wine restaurant, tavern, snack bar, nonprofit arts, motel, hotel, sports entertainment facility, public house, spirits/beer/wine nightclub, beer/wine theater, spirits/beer/wine theater, senior center and caterers
Additionally, licensees that temporarily closed between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, and did not pay a renewal fee during that time, will not have to pay an additional fee in order to become an active licensee again. Please contact Licensing Customer Service at the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) for questions about the above information: call (360) 664-1600 – Option 1 or email.
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The National Development Council (NDC) Grow America Fund (GAF) is taking applications for forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) First Draw and Second Draw Loans. Funds are limited and going quickly. Now is the time to submit your application and receive up to 10 weeks of payroll and other business assistance. Apply here.
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Commute Seattle will host a webinar April 8, 2021 at 2pm, on navigating Seattle’s recently announced Commuter Benefits Ordinance. In this short webinar, Nick Abel, Senior Transportation Specialist at Commute Seattle, will provide a brief overview of the City of Seattle's Commuter Benefits Ordinance and share easy and low-cost ways to comply. There will time at the end for attendees to ask any questions they have about the ordinance or how it affects their business. Register here to attend.
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SBA is currently accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications from all qualified small businesses, including agricultural businesses, and private nonprofit organizations. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan provides economic relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This is a 30 year loan at 3.75% interest for businesses and 2.75% for nonprofits with no repayment penalty or fees. The loan amount is generally determined by 6 months of losses and may be utilized for capital and normal operating expenses. Visit the SBA website to apply and learn more.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury issued guidance in early January for the reconstituted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The new PPP has $284.5 billion available, including $35 billion for first-time loans and is available to businesses that have previously received a loan. Borrowers are eligible for a second-draw PPP loan of up to $2 million. Second time borrowers must:
- have less than 300 employees,
- demonstrate a 25% or more loss in revenue from 2019 to 2020,
- have spent first PPP loan on eligible expenses
The new round of PPP will remain open through March 31. Apply here.
Reopening Resources
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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
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*NEW* JustCARE is a multi-agency and multi-provider approach to respond to individuals living outside in both Pioneer Square and the Chinatown/International District area and respond to repeated neighborhood calls for attention to public order issues without resorting to traditional enforcement. Funding for the program ended in January and Just CARE is calling on Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Seattle City Council, King County Executive Constantine, and King County Council to access any viable federal reimbursement source to augment local resources to maintain and expand JustCARE's approach. Sign the petition here to support the continuation of the JustCARE program.
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*NEW* Join the Alliance for Pioneer Square at a virtual information session on Friday, March 19th from 1:30 to 2:30 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. Joining us this month are guests from the Seattle Department of Transportation and Sound Transit. RSVP here. Find previous meeting slides and webinar recordings here.
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The Pioneer Square Residents’ Council seeks to partner with neighborhood cafes, restaurants, and bars to encourage residents to eat and drink at Pioneer Square businesses as part of a Neighborhood Loyalty Program. The Pioneer Square Residents’ Council has proposed working with neighborhood businesses to offer discounts, such as 10% off, for residents when they mention what building they live in when purchasing goods. If your business is interested in partnering with the Pioneer Square Residents’ Council on the Neighborhood Loyalty Program, email Chris Woodward at [email protected].
Partner Efforts
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First and Goal Incorporated (FGI) has partnered with the City of Seattle and Swedish to make Lumen Field Event Center (LFEC) a COVID Mass Vaccination Site beginning on March 10th. The vaccine site will be opened to only those with scheduled appointments on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11:00am to 7:00pm. At this time, it is estimated LFEC will receive around 5,000 does per week with the potential to expand to over 100K per week. The Lumen Field Garage and the North Lot will be available for free parking to individuals with appointments.
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Seattle Restaurant Week is back this spring (April 1-30) and is continuing to support Seattle restaurants with a month-long promotion, giving diners a unique chance to support local establishments while sampling their menus. Seattle Restaurant Week is also presenting another FREE promotion that offers greater flexibility for each restaurant, and highlights a variety of dining experiences available that include takeout, outdoor dining, delivery, ready-to-heat, and more. Read here for more details and how to participate.
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Neighborhood Spotlight
The Pioneer Square location is open for doughnuts and coffee, Monday-Friday from 8am to 3pm.
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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.
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Sincerely,
The Alliance Team
ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE
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