COVID-19 Weekly Update: August 11th, 2020

Pioneer Square Business Stakeholders-

The Alliance for Pioneer Square is working diligently to support the Pioneer Square community through the COVID-19 virus outbreak. This is part of a series of weekly messages outlining impacts and resources available. Find each weekly email to date on our website.

*Please see this week's new resources and opportunities highlighted in RED*

What's Happening

Gov. Jay Inslee has released an additional guidance document for Washington's Safe Start phased reopening plan. The memo outlines the updates to gatherings, live entertainment, restaurants and taverns, entertainment and recreational centers, card rooms, movie theaters, and weddings and funerals and builds upon guidance released earlier. Inslee also extended the pause indefinitely on counties moving ahead in the Safe Start Washington plan. Read more here.

Reopening Resources

*NEW* The Seattle Times has put together a list of restaurants offering takeout, delivery and/or dine-in service during the Coronavirus pandemic. If you’d like to submit your restaurant please fill out the form at the bottom of this page. This is a growing list that will be updated periodically.

*NEW* After entering Phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s Safe Start Reopening Plan, Public Health – Seattle & King County is launching a new initiative to begin educational outreach and enforcement of Safe Start requirements for operating restaurants, bars, and taverns in an effort to keep businesses open and move King County forward through the Safe Start phases. Public Health’s Environmental Health Services Division has established the Safe Start for Taverns and Restaurants (SSTAR) program to conduct site visits at restaurants, bars, and taverns throughout King County. Read more here.

*NEW* Visit Seattle has created the All Clear King County Pledge, a health and safety pledge that allows them to curate a list of businesses within King County that are making health and safety a top priority. Participating businesses will receive a toolkit with shareable digital badges, social media verbiage, and printable signage to signify their pledge promise and provide reassurance to customers. Review full guidelines and take the pledge here.

The City of Seattle is launching a series of Phase 2 reopening toolkits to help small businesses authorized to reopen under the Governor’s guidance to navigate public health requirements and financial considerations. The toolkits provide critical information for small business owners, including a reopening checklist, resources to access Personal Protective Equipment and financial assistance, testing information, and rent and commercial lease assistance. The City has toolkits for the following industries:Restaurants and taverns, Personal services, Professional services, In-store retail, Fitness and training, Domestic services. The toolkits are available on the City’s new reopening website.

Public Health — Seattle & King County has created free downloadable posters that businesses can print and post to help communicate to their customers and staff the steps they are taking to minimize the risk of COVID-19. Click here to download.

The Association of Washington Businesses has created a hub where businesses can get access to PPE and other resources to assist with reopening. The site is free to use and available to all Washington businesses.

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.

Financial Resources

*NEW* The GSBA and Comcast Washington have co-created the Ready for Business Fund to support small businesses. The fund grants $2,500 to selected small businesses that have experienced financial loss and hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, awardees will receive wrap-around support services from GSBA and Comcast (including GSBA membership, technical support, marketing, and consulting). The application closes on Friday, September 4, 2020. Learn more about the fund here.

4Culture's COVID-19 Reopen Fund application is now available. The Reopen Fund provides grants for cultural organizations and designated landmarks that are reopening, restarting, and continuing programming while adapting to COVID-19 related public health restrictions. The deadline to apply is August 17, 2020 at 5 pm PDT. Learn more and apply here.

On June 15 the SBA reopened the EIDL application for new applications from qualified businesses. Businesses that have not previously applied may now apply for the loan which can be used for debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a PPP loan. Read more and apply here.

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Washington Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
OED provides technical assistance to businesses applying for SBA loans and understanding the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aids, Relief & Security). This includes helping businesses navigate the application process and documentation. For general inquiries, please email OED@seattle.gov or call 206-684-8090.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications here.
Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Note, the deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 16, 2020.
The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic development has compiled a summary of the CARES Act and a SBA FAQ.

Worker and Business Resources

*NEW* Seattle City Light (SCL) is reaching out to local business communities to share information about resources and services offered in response to COVID-19 to help during these challenging times. In addition to flexible payment plans, SCL is offering bill deferral to all customers and free virtual energy assessment to identify energy saving tips to save customers money on their electricity bill. Learn more about eligibility and request Seattle City Light bill deferral or a virtual energy assessment here or call (206) 256-5200.

The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the #WeGotThisWA: COVID-19 Lease Amendment Toolkit webinar, produced in partnership with Business Health Trust. The recording of the webinar can be found at this link. Communities Rise has a page of COVID-19 support here, including the Lease Amendment Toolkit and the small business and non-profit legal clinic.

The city is now offering temporary free street closure permits for restaurants and businesses seeking to expand outdoor options. This adds to the city’s free permits for curb spacing and sidewalk cafes. Currently, the permits are available for up to six months, and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is expediting permit review. For more information about the new permits types or to schedule an applicant coaching session, click here or e-mail publicspace@seattle.gov.

The Seattle City Council has passed a law that prevents landlords from seizing personal property should a small business of 50 or fewer employees (or a nonprofit) default on a commercial lease. The law, sponsored by Seattle council member Andrew Lewis, will be in effect throughout the current state of emergency and remain the following six months after to help in small business recovery efforts. Read more about the new legislation here.

A partnership of the University of Washington Foster School of Business and School of Law is offering a series of free legal consultations and negotiation training to help small businesses that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The series, funded by the UW Population Health Initiative, will run through November. Learn more about this initiative here.

OED has created a comprehensive resource page for workers and small businesses impacted by COVID-19 and is providing technical assistance to support small businesses. News and information about new policies and resources available from the City of Seattle, the State of Washington, the federal government, and philanthropic partners can be found on the OED's weekly Bottom Line blog.

The Office of the Mayor has created a page containing information and links for City of Seattle programs and services that may be helpful for residents significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Federal Government has launched a comprehensive webpage for small business owners to research their options.

Neighborhood Advocacy

*NEW* The Alliance for Pioneer Square will host a virtual information session on Friday, August 21st from 1:30-2:30p where we will be presenting on the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on Pioneer Square, and the Alliance’s response to support our neighborhood. RSVP here to attend (note, a Zoom link will be provided on Thursday, August 20th to those who RSVP). Find previous meeting slides and webinar recordings here.

*NEW* The Alliance for Pioneer Square invites businesses to a three-part webinar series with Google. Learn how to reach customers online with Google, use data to drive growth, and how to make your website work for you. Register and learn more here.

The Alliance for Pioneer Square, in collaboration with DEI Creative, has launched an online marketplace as a tool for member businesses to generate revenue through online sales during the Coronavirus pandemic. Read DEI Creative's full press release about Support Local here.To participate in the Pioneer Square Marketplace, register your business here.

As the neighborhood continues to navigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, we want to offer an opportunity to reconnect. Click here to join the Pioneer Square Business Owners and Managers Facebook page.

Partner Efforts

Mayor Durkan has launched “Seattle Protects”, an online marketplace to connect local manufacturers and businesses with organizations, communities, and individuals in need of cloth face coverings. Seattle Protects seeks to help local organizations, businesses, and nonprofits struggling to find face coverings at the scale necessary to serve their workforce. Learn more here.

Additional Resources

Between weekly messages please review our website, which features an in-depth series of resources intended to assist small business owners, managers, and employees impacted by the COVID-19 virus crisis, along with public health recommendations.

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