Press Releases & Media Events

December 2, 2019

CONTACT
Kelsey Nyland, Office of the Mayor
Email: kelsey.nyland@seattle.gov

OED Launches First Annual Seattle Legacy Business Program

Nominations open until February 14, 2020

SEATTLE (December 2, 2019) ­Today, the Seattle Office of Economic Development opened nominations for Seattle's first annual Legacy Business Program. The Legacy Business Program will recognize small, local businesses that have made significant cultural contributions to their neighborhoods and communities for ten years or more.

One Legacy Business will be selected from each of the seven council districts. These businesses will receive public recognition at an awards ceremony in May, in recognition of National Small Business Month. Winners will also receive access to a variety of small business support services through the Office of Economic Development, including a commercial lease and succession planning toolkit, marketing and legal consultation.

"Legacy Businesses give our neighborhoods character and face the same displacement pressures as many Seattle residents, said Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1, West Seattle - Southpark), who has worked on creating a Legacy Business Program since 2016. "The nomination and designation of Legacy Businesses is one way to honor the resilience of these beloved businesses and recognize their contribution to the city's cultural vibrancy, our local economy, and our sense of place. I'm hopeful the city will continue to develop resources and tools -- such as succession planning, marketing consultations, and incentivizing the development of affordable commercial space -- so our Legacy Businesses can continue to thrive."

Nominations are open to the public. Nominated businesses must then apply to be considered for selection. Winners will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of business district representatives from each of the seven council districts. In-language support is available for the application process. Nominations are open until February 14, 2020 and can be submitted at seattle.gov/oed/legacybusiness.

Seattle receives $28 million New Markets Tax Credits

Mayor Ed Murray announced today that the city's Office of Economic Development has received a $28 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation from the US Department of Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) to leverage additional financing in projects located in under-invested communities in Seattle.

"This allocation gives the city an additional tool to work with developers to bring community benefit to neighborhoods in Seattle," said Mayor Ed Murray. "These tax credits will help spur additional private investment in neighborhoods that haven't seen much investment since the recession. My appreciation goes out to Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray for their ongoing support of this tax credit program and the city's economic development work." 

New Markets Tax Credits ("NMTCs") attract private investment to important projects benefitting low-income neighborhoods. These developments and business expansions create healthy, vibrant, mixed-income neighborhoods, and provide residents with job opportunities, quality health care and human services, arts and cultural opportunities, and affordable housing. 

"We work hard to ensure that NMTC projects create good paying jobs for Seattle residents," said Councilmember Sally J. Clark, chair of the Committee on Housing Affordability, Human Services, and Economic Resiliency Committee, and co-chair of the Seattle Investment Fund LLC. "Projects like Stadium Place, Retail Lockbox and INSCAPE have put people to work and benefited Pioneer Square, South Downtown and the Central Area. I look forward to expanding these benefits to our city with additional projects thanks to this new allocation."

Full Press Release here.

June 11, 2014

Mayor announces Only in Seattle $2 million investment in neighborhood business districts.

Mayor Murray joined neighborhood business district leaders and local business owners in Seattle's Ballard business district to announce a $2 million investment in 18 neighborhood business districts as part of the Only in Seattle Initiative. 

"This investment in neighborhood business districts is critical to our city," said Mayor Murray. "Healthy business districts equate to thriving businesses, stable jobs and overall success for our city."

Small businesses employ 72 percent of Seattle's workforce and contribute 35 percent of the city's business tax revenues, totaling $55.4 million. Our local neighborhood business districts serve as the location and incubators for many of the city's small businesses. 

"The Only in Seattle Initiative is a great complement to the city's neighborhood planning efforts that have happened throughout the years," said Seattle City Councilmember Sally J. Clark, chair of the Committee on Housing Affordability, Human Services, and Economic Resiliency. "These investments help the major players in neighborhood business districts execute concrete steps towards a common vision."

Full Press Release here. 

April 1, 2014 

Mayor recognizes Zombie Orpheus Entertainment for their innovative business model, commitment and engagement of their audience, and their support of Seattle's local film industry

Mayor Mike McGinn recognized Zombie Orpheus Entertainment for their innovative business model, commitment and engagement of their audience, and their support of Seattle's local film industry. 

Zombie Orpheus Entertainment (ZOE) is a local multimedia production company dedicated to developing and producing fantasy, science fiction, and horror films that are accessible to all audiences. They strive to produce fun and original shows while creating a long-term sustainable film community with monthly production, able to pay cast and crews livable wages. 

As an independent production company, ZOE utilizes alternative methods of funding for their productions, opting to crowdfund projects through Kickstarter. In doing so, they have grown their business every year by giving fans control over the direction and success of their shows, such as JourneyQuest and The Gamers Trilogy. 

Full Press Release here.

October 31, 2014

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