SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
Are you interested in contributing to the success of Belltown businesses by joining a group of engaged owners? Please contact us to join!
SEATTLE OFFICE of ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (OED)
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (SDOT)
The Small Business Flex Fund offers loans up to $150,000 for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
Businesses, non-profits, and organizations with fewer than 500 employees can claim refundable tax credits that reimburse them for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave to their employees due to COVID-19, including leave taken by employees to receive or recover from COVID-19 vaccinations.
Culturally and linguistically relevant help is available in-language for small businesses and nonprofits looking to find and apply for resources, access translation assistance, plan for recovery and safe re-opening, and more.
Business Flexibility Interim Regulation Ordinance
A new ordinance proposed by Mayor Durkan's administration will add flexibility for storefront uses allowing permit applications for new businesses with a wider range of activities and services (e.g. medical offices, fitness centers, art installations, etc.). Businesses that received a permit and invested in a new storefront under this temporary ordinance could remain indefinitely, but they would not be able to expand their footprint in future years.
This ordinance intends to provide the aforementioned flexibility to the main retail streets in the Commercial Core, Belltown, and Pioneer Square neighborhoods. According to Recovery Project Manager Lucia Schmit, "new options for permitted businesses would also include food processing, horticultural operations, and crafts manufacturing. Chinatown-International District businesses already have this kind of permitting flexibility through the International Special Review District."
August 17 - Seattle mayor to sign downtown empty storefront legislation into law | MyNorthwest