COVID-19 Weekly Update: March 24, 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 the third of a series of weekly messages outlining impacts and resources available. Find the the March 11th here, and for March 17th here .

What's Happening

On Monday, March 23rd, Governor Jay Inslee announced a two week "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order which enforces the following measures:

  • Require every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity.
  • Ban all gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes.
  • Close all businesses except essential businesses. (See the a full list of essential businesses here. To clarify status, or to petition to be added to this list, please email: business@mil.wa.gov.)

Read more about the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" announcement on the governor's Medium page.

Financial Resources

  • SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Washington Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • 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.

  • 2020 Emergency Fund for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
  • Approximately $1.5 million is available for the City of Seattle Small Business Stabilization Fund, an emergency fund that provides working capital grants in amounts up to $10,000 to qualifying small businesses. Eligibility criteria and how to apply is here. Note, the deadline to apply is Wednesday March 25, 2020.

  • Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has signed a coronavirus emergency order prohibiting evictions of small businesses and nonprofits for at least 60 days. Find the full Civil Emergency Order here.

Work and Business Resources

  • The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development is committed to responding to and supporting our small businesses to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19. As this is a rapidly developing issue, OED will be holding weekly calls to share new developments, hear about the impacts you are experiencing, and answer your questions. Please join OED every Wednesday, from 11:00am- 12:00pm. A recording and notes from each webinar will be posted to OED's Bottom Line blog.

  • The Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) is making some temporary modifications to allow businesses to act quickly, including returns of alcohol products (applies to alcohol distributors and alcohol licensees), curbside service and delivery (applies to alcohol licensees with “to-go” privileges), and delivery (applies to alcohol licensees with “delivery” privileges). See the LCB release for more information.

  • The Alliance for Pioneer Square has compiled a list of resources and tutorials on “How to Create an Online Store” and “How to Partner with Third-Party Delivery Companies”. Find the full list here.

  • Last week, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced today that starting this afternoon the Seattle Department of Transportation is converting on-street parking spaces near restaurants to temporary loading zones to facilitate curbside meal pickup. You can also read the full news release here.

Public Safety and Vacant Properties

  • While our community is navigating this difficult time, the Seattle Police Department would like to provide some quick suggestions for securing businesses that now have reduced hours, or who have been forced to temporarily close. Click here for more information.

  • The City of Seattle has regulations and standards for maintaining vacant properties. These standards focus on keeping buildings closed to unauthorized entry and maintaining the structure and yard areas to prevent the accumulation of waste and deterioration of the building. Click here for more information.

  • The Seattle City Attorney’s Office and Seattle Police Department, in conjunction with the Racial Disparity Project, developed new protocols to address trespass issues facing the community called the Trespass Program. The Trespass Program is an agreement among individual property owners, businesses, and Seattle Police Department to regulate conditions of entry on their property. Owners must post signs notifying the public about three conditions of entry and cooperate in the prosecution of those charged with violating those conditions. Property owners and business owners can sign up for the Trespass Program by emailing WPrecinctTrespassProgram@seattle.gov.


Neighborhood Advocacy


Partner Efforts

  • The Mayor's Office is partnering with Goodwill Industries, Labor union partners, Public Health--Seattle & King County, and the Washington State Department of Health to coordinate the collection of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for distribution to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak. A survey site has been set up to solicit donations--supplies needed at this time include new and unused N95, P100 and surgical masks, gloves, disposable gowns, eyewear, and more. 

  • The City of Seattle, Greater Seattle Partners, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday they are distributing an Economic Impact Survey to further capture the effects of COVID-19 on businesses and non-profits in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties.

Additional Resources


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