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 Seattle Office of Economic Development is gauging interest for the idea to extend alcohol service hours in the city, including closing at 4:00 a.m. or 24-hour service. Gathering community input is the first step to determine if such a policy would be supported and to understand potential impacts of extending hours. Please take this short survey to share your thoughts. This survey will be open until midnight on Sunday, March 5th.

If you have any questions or additional feedback, email Scott Plusquellec, Nightlife Business Advocate or call (206) 247-4789.

• *NEW* 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.

• *NEW* Get the latest news on WA Cares in your email Inbox! You can sign up to receive informational emails from WA Cares, Washington’s long-term care program, to prepare for payroll deductions that will start in July – sign up here.

Worker and Business Resources

• *NEW* 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 Community Partnership Fund provides funding up to $50,000 with two opportunities to apply this year. Applications for the first round of funding are currently open and must be submitted by 11:59pm on March 13, 2023. 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.

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.

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

• *NEW* 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

• *NEW* Applications are now open for the Launch Program, a grant and mentorship program that will provide 20 women and non-binary small business owners with a $10,000 grant and six months of educational programming, from the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Ladies Who Launch. The 2023 Launch Program is open to women and non-binary small business owners who operate consumer packaged goods businesses, including businesses selling items like food and beverages, household goods, apparel and more—with an annual gross revenue between $100,000 and $499,000.

Click here for more and to apply. The deadline to apply for the 2023 Launch Program is Friday, March 31, 2023.

• Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6 – Northwest Seattle), Chair of the Land Use Committee, in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has announced that SDOT is officially accepting new permit applications for long-term ‘permanent’ outdoor street cafes.

SDOT will be accepting applications now through April 30, 2023, for folks who are re-applying for a permit. If you are applying to be a first-time permit holder, you can apply at any time. In addition to the street cafes, there are new seasonal and temporary event-based permitting options. Cafes are allowed in the curb space or on sidewalks. The long-term permits renew annually. For more information, you can check out SDOT’s blog with the different permits and what they mean.

• The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) approved by the State legislature in 2021 went into effect on February 1st. Governor Inslee’s statement notes that for qualified families, this credit will provide for up to a $1,200 cash refund. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) is a new annual tax credit of as much as $1,200 for low to moderate income people in Washington. Undocumented immigrants and mixed status families are eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit. Free assistance with the WFTC application is available through United Way of King County's Free Tax Prep program, which offers assistance at 16 sites across King County, including at El Centro de la Raza. A full list of organizations offering assistance with the application can be found here.

You can check your eligibility and apply through the Washington Department of Revenue. Applications for the 2022 tax year will be accepted through December 31, 2023. View FAQ's about the program here.

• 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* Real Change is hosting Open Houses on Thursday, March 16, from 11am-1pm and Saturday, March 18, 12pm-2pm at 96 South Main St. These events 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.

• *NEW* Join the Port of Seattle at the 2023 cruise job fair on Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and meet with employers hiring for part-time and full-time positions at Pier 66 and Pier 91 cruise terminals and for Alaska jobs. Positions are available at $20–25 per hour from mid-April to October. Interviews will be held on site. Still in school? Employers will work with high school and college students and teachers to accommodate academic schedules.

• 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.

• Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) seeks unique and interesting business collaborations that promote and enhance parks through a shared commitment to healthy people, healthy environment and strong communities. Opportunities vary, with some sites appropriate for carts, food trucks and other self-contained businesses. Most locations do not have storage or electricity available. Small businesses and Women and/or Minority Businesses (WMBE) are encouraged to submit proposals.

Before submitting your request, review the program website for FAQ, site descriptions and visit the park location. Concession permits are awarded through a competitive evaluation process called the Request for Proposal (RFP). RFP proposals must be received by SPR no later than 3 pm on March 2, 2023. Visit here for more information.

Other Neighborhood Updates

• *NEW* 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].

• The Alliance for Pioneer Square invite community member 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].

• 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.

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 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.