Resource Roundup: October 6th, 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* Last week, Mayor Jenny Durkan delivered her fourth and final budget address and transmitted her 2022 Proposed Budget to the City Council. The budget includes approximately $200 million in investments in affordable housing, increasing investments in public safety and alternatives, and funding dedicated to building a more equitable Seattle. The total 2022 budget totals over $7.1 billion with $1.6 billion for the general fund that includes additional federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to invest in urgent local priorities. Watch the full address here.

  • *NEW* Beginning October 25, 2021, customers across King County will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status or a negative PCR or rapid COVID-19 test within 72 hours. The Seattle Metro Chamber recently released the King County Vaccine Verification Toolkit for Businesses to help businesses implement the new policy in daily operations. This toolkit was drafted in partnership with King County and includes:
  • Key details about the order
  • Accepted proofs of vaccination and testing
  • Signage
  • Scenarios and training resources

The Chamber is hosting a webinar tomorrow, October 7th at 2p with local business owners and managers who have already implemented vaccine verification policies. They will share details and answer questions. This special webinar is free for all King County businesses. Register here to attend.
Worker and Business Resources

  • *NEW* King County has allocated $20 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding to support the reopening of the cultural sector, including large cultural organizations, science organizations, independently owned live music venues, and independently owned movie theatres. This funding will support cultural organizations and creative businesses that rely on mass gatherings and have been gravely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Available funding includes:
  • $16.5 million to arts, culture, and heritage organizations with a pre-COVID-19 full operating season annual budget of more than $1 million
  • $1.5 million to science organizations that promote science and nature conservation through education, exhibition, and other programs by public admission in King County
  • $1 million to independently owned and operated live music venues
  • $500,000 to independently owned and operated movie theatres

Applications are now open and will remain open until October 18, 2021 at 11:59p (PT). If you are unsure if your organization or business is eligible for this funding, please check here before filling out your application. Learn more and apply on the King County Creative website.

  • *NEW* 4Culture and the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture have partnered to create a single application process for several grantmaking programs in King County and the City of Seattle. These programs are intended to support organizations with the following:
  • Operating expenses related to cultural programs and services which are accessible to King County residents and visitors, and provide public benefit.
  • Staff salaries, rent, utilities, supplies, fees, or services.

Visit 4Culture's website fore more details on each program.

Reopening Resources


  • 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.


Neighborhood Advocacy

  • *NEW* Seattle’s general elections for Mayor, City Council Positions 8/9, and City Attorney will be held via mail-in ballot on Tuesday, November 2. Join us for a series of forums to hear the candidates’ positions on issues impacting Pioneer Square. Register here or view recordings of previous forums here.

This series of free candidate forums for the November general elections is open to all. Suggested questions from attendees may be submitted via the event registration page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Partner Efforts
Commute with ORCA

ORCA for Business provides your employees access to Seattle’s growing public transit system. 

This service offers flexible solutions for businesses of all sizes within any industry. 

Learn more about each of these options here and how they can benefit you and your employees.
  • *NEW* Help shape the future of light rail in your community! Sound Transit is looking for people along the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions (WSBLE) project corridor who bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences to join one of several community advisory groups as they approach the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Members will serve as ambassadors to their communities and bring forth community values, concerns and ideas. People who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color, women, LGBTQ+, immigrant or refugee, low-income, or people with diverse abilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Submit an interest form here to get involved. Submissions will close on 5p on Wednesday, October 27, 2021.

  • *NEW* The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Food Equity Fund was developed in 2021 in response to recommendations from the Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board to increase investments in community work led by those most impacted by food and health inequities: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, families with young children, youth, and elders.

In 2022, approximately $3 million in funding is available for community-led projects. Projects will be awarded within two funding tiers. Tier 1 grants have a maximum award amount of $75,000 for projects that take between 3 to 12 months to complete. Tier 2 grants have a maximum award amount of $150,000, and cover projects that span from 15 to 24 months. Funding is provided through revenue from Seattle's Sweetened Beverage Tax. Find out everything you need to know to start a Food Equity Fund application here. The deadline for the Tier 1 applications is November 30th, 2021 by 5p.

  • The Seattle Police Commission would like to invite you for an opportunity to engage in conversation with Monitor Dr. Antonio Oftelie at their upcoming Community Engagement meeting, on Tuesday October 12th from 6-8p via Zoom. The meeting is an opportunity to meet with the current Monitor and Monitoring team, who will share updates about the consent decree and the current monitoring plan and answer any questions you may have. Attend here. (Passcode 338426)

Other Neighborhood Updates



  • *NEW* Join us for the Pioneer Square BIA Annual Meeting on November 17th, 2021 from 4-5:30p at AXIS (308 1st Ave S), where we will look back on 2021 and ahead to 2022. Throughout the meeting, you will learn about our new initiatives for the upcoming year, programming slated for 2022 and also celebrate with us, the successes of this past year. Register here. All BIA ratepayers in good standing are welcome to attend.

Please note, attendees will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status or a negative PCR or rapid COVID-19 test within 72 hours to gain entry. Face masks will be required at all times during the event, except while actively eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status.

Additional Resources


  • 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 2021.

  • 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