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* The Pioneer Square BIA is excited to open the application period for the 2023 Inspiration Fund. This year, the BIA is matching volunteer hours and/or funding up to $10,000, for community members to implement projects and programs making a positive impact in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. Project goals include celebrating neighborhood diversity, enhancing public spaces, and neighborhood storytelling.

The BIA encourages applicants to propose their best and most creative ideas. Potential projects might include work around murals, art, alleys, workforce development, public area improvements, cleanup experiences or events. Collaborate and connect with the community on a creative project! Applicants must submit a completed Application Form with required documentation (if applicable) by email to [email protected] no later than March 31, 2023 at midnight. Visit our website for grant application, details and eligibility.

• *NEW* The Board of Directors of the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness seeks new members to help fulfill their mission. They are looking for board members who:

• Are committed to housing justice and center equity in their work
• Are able to spend 5-10 hours per month (attend board meetings, participate in committees, and steward board work)
• Are willing to be good ambassadors for the Coalition in their communities
• Especially looking for board members who: Are passionate about the Coalition’s mission, vision, and values, understand and are enthusiastic about performing board governance roles and responsibilities, identify as Black, Indigenous, or as a person of color

If you’d like to learn more, please consider joining an informal information session on March 21st (drop in between 5:30-7:00 p.m.). You can email questions to [email protected] or call the Coalition’s office at 206.204.8350. Please complete and submit an application by NOON on Friday, March 31 and they will follow up with all applicants during the week of April 3. Apply here.

• *NEW* WA Cares has released new items for its employer toolkit to help you prepare for payroll deductions that begin July 1. These toolkit materials are intended for employers, business and professional organizations, community groups and anyone who wants to communicate about the WA Cares Fund. Get the toolkit items here.

Get the latest news on WA Cares in your email Inbox! You can sign up to receive informational emails from WA Cares here.

• The Downtown Seattle Association is looking for partners to help enhance Westlake Park and Occidental Square. If your organization offers fun, inclusive activities or services, we encourage you to submit a proposal through our Request for Interest (RFI) form. Past activities include (but are not limited to) fitness classes, arts and crafts, children’s activities, dance and pet events. View the RFI here.

Worker and Business Resources

• *NEW* The state's Department of Commerce Washington Hospitality Grants Program launched this month on March 14, 2023. This program offers one-time grants to eligible restaurants, hotels, motels and other qualifying hospitality businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts. Please review the full list of program eligibility requirements here.

Complete program information is available on the program website. To stay up-to-date on the grant application process, businesses can sign up for the Washington Hospitality Grants newsletter or refer to this informational one-pager. For immediate questions about the program launch, please contact [email protected].

• *NEW* C2FO and Schultz Family Foundation have partnered on a new initiative designed to provide access to $100 million in working capital for small and diverse businesses. This program will provide loans based on the business's unique potential, including growth and management team. Learn more about this partnership and the loan application process here.

• *NEW* Following the declaration of Racism is a Public Health Crisis, King County Council allocated $25 million in general funds to advance equitable economic recovery and racial justice through a community-centered, co-creative grantmaking processes. The focus of this effort and the related investments is to start to undo the harms on the following populations who, based on extensive research and data nationally and in King County, most negatively experience the generational, current, and longstanding impacts of racism, making it a public health crisis:

• Black Americans who are the descendants of enslaved Africans and continue to experience the ongoing and deep impacts of systemic racism in all of its facets.
• Indigenous Peoples directly impacted by settler colonialism within the US borders which have created the systems of institutional and structural racism perpetuated by the United States government and ongoing settler colonialism of the United States. It includes American Indians/Alaska Natives/Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, American Samoa, and Pacific Islander communities.

The application portal is now live via King County's Zoom Grants portal. Learn more and apply here.

• *NEW* Discover tips and best practices for advertising on Facebook and Instagram during the next Washington State Tourism Skillshop on March 23 at 10-11a on Zoom. Businesses, DMOs, hotels, and others can utilize paid social ads to reach engaged target audiences, generate awareness, and increase revenue. Learn about the types of ads on Facebook and Instagram and how those ads align with campaign objectives, as well as how to budget and navigate the targeting options within Ads Manager.

All webinars will be recorded and shared with registrants and posted to the SWT YouTube channel. Register here.

• *NEW* The Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce have partnered to bring you a monthly dedicated Technical Assistance Open House event. Want to start a business? Want to grow your business? Need consultation? Look no further than this one-stop-shop for all of your Business Development needs. With diverse partners of leading industry experts and resources, they are here to help you tackle any challenge to make your business thrive!

This is a drop-in event from 10am to 2pm. Registration is encouraged.

• *NEW* Help your employees with Metro’s Business Programs. ORCA cards can be used for any transit trip, to the workplace and the pizza place. For heading out on date night or dropping the kids at soccer.

In today’s job market, it’s more important than ever to attract and retain great employees with great benefits. Whether your team works on the frontlines, from home or somewhere in-between—no matter if your company is large or small—ORCA transit benefits offer flexibility, freedom and value. Learn more here.

• Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) has announced its 2023 funding programs. Its two funds – the Small Sparks Fund and the Community Partnership Fund – support grassroots projects that build stronger communities, with an emphasis on projects led by or impacting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

The Small Sparks Fund provides funding up to $5,000 per project, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis through October 31, 2023. This fund is perfect for small community activities such as neighborhood clean-ups, block parties, community art projects, workshops, and more.

The Community Partnership Fund provides funding up to $50,000. Applications for the second round of funding will open in July. This fund provides opportunities to create large and lasting impacts in your community by supporting community organizing, public art projects, park improvements, cultural events, design, and construction of community facilities, and more.

Visit here for virtual workshops and more information on the application process.

• 2023 applications for digital equity grant opportunities from the City of Seattle are now open for organizations and community groups looking to help close the digital divide. This year, the City is offering $545,000 for qualifying projects with Technology Matching Fund (TMF) grants.

TMF grants of up to $45,000 will be awarded, depending on the project needs. The required Community Match is 25% of their funding request with cash, time, or other contributions. Final applications are due by April 17, 2023 and awardees will be notified in July. Projects must be completed by August 2024

• The Alliance is sharing information regarding foot traffic coming and going from the south end of the district from February though April. 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 event calendar.

Partner Efforts

• *NEW* Celebrate springtime and support local at the "Hello Spring" Market in Occidental Square on Friday, March 24.The event, hosted by the Downtown Seattle Association, runs from 11a-4p and features more than 15 makers offering handmade jewelry, art, gifts, flowers and more.



Free face painting, a craft station and live music will also be on hand. All are welcome, come out and say hello to spring!

• *NEW* The Downtown Seattle Association/Metropolitan Improvement District, in partnership with the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, is seeking proposals from interested organizations to enliven downtown public spaces through a City funded grant program. The Downtown Arts & Culture Recovery Grant is a funding opportunity available to Seattle arts/culture organizations, small businesses, and artist groups that are looking to incubate new ideas for public space events/activations and/or continue existing activation programming in new spaces. Grant awards will range from $1,000 to $12,750 and applications are open now through Tuesday, March 21st.

Events and activations are intended to reach underserved communities and audiences and ideas may include, but are certainly not limited to:

• A series of performances at indoor or outdoor venues
• Temporary public art or lighting
• Festivals, fairs, or other public events
• Art and culture exhibits
• Art or cultural workshops or classes

More information on the program and application process can be found here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Seth Geiser at [email protected] or 206-708-9484.

• Real Change is hosting an Open House on Saturday, March 18, 12pm-2pm at 96 South Main St. This event are free and open to the public. The community is encouraged to attend to learn about their programs and ongoing coverage of homelessness, the housing crisis, local politics, and art.

Attendees will hear from Editor Ashley Archibald about Real Change’s award-winning, independent journalism. Real Change vendor Bryant Carlin will also speak on the direct impact of our newspaper on his photography career. Guests will have the opportunity to tour their Vendor Program, Advocacy Department, and Newsroom firsthand with Development Manager Samira Khadar.

Real Change was founded in 1994 to provide low-barrier, immediate work opportunity to people experiencing homelessness and poverty through the sale of our weekly Real Change newspaper. Through our people-first journalism, Real Change provides opportunities for our neighbors who are directly impacted by the housing crisis to tell their stories. For more information about Real Change, visit realchangenews.org.

• The Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) is up for renewal this year, and the MID needs your help to ensure it gets reauthorized for another 10 years. If you want the MID-funded cleaning, safety, concierge and park services and the work of downtown ambassadors to continue, please lend your voice to the MID's efforts! The MID has created an online petition in support of the renewal process. You can sign up to support the MID renewal here.

Other Neighborhood Updates

• *NEW* On Wednesday, April 12th the Alliance will host a variety of representatives from the City, County, and nonprofit organizations for a drop-in open house from 12-6p at 210 Studio (210 S Washington St.) during which community members can share their concerns and ideas about public safety in our neighborhood. Your input is important and will be key in developing strategies regarding street civility and public safety. RSVP here to attend.

• The Alliance for Pioneer Square invites community members to our spring networking event on Thursday, March 23rd from 4-6p at 210 Studio (210 S Washington St.). Stop by and connect with your neighborhoods! This event is open to anyone who owns property, a business or works in Pioneer Square. Complimentary food and beverages will be available. RSVP here today. For any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

• Pioneer Square-based photographer Mark White, is extending an offer to Pioneer Square business owners and managers for a free photo session during the month of March. If you own or run a Pioneer Square business, the session and up to 3 retouched images will be yours to keep at no charge. You can book a session on via the web at www.mjwhitephotos.com or email Mark at [email protected].

Additional Resources

• The Alliance offers free virtual/in person de-scalation trainings led by the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) and the Seattle Police Department (SPD). The MID/SPD de-escalation training is going to be in-depth training program that teaches you how to recognize, reduce and manage aggressive behavior.

Over the course of the presentation, the MID will provide effective and compassionate methods of handling anxious or aggressive people, as well as increase confidence and introduce skills that can be used during threatening situations. Members of SPD will also present on personal safety techniques and field individualized questions from attendees. Please contact [email protected] to schedule a training for your business.

• 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 us at [email protected] 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.