The Only in Seattle Initiative provides funding and support to help business districts in Seattle organize and implement plans to improve their areas. There are six tiers of funding available for activities like developing action plans, creating business improvement areas, enhancing cultural spaces, and infrastructure projects. Districts can receive up to $50,000 for organizing, $200,000 for transforming, or $50,000 if already established. The funding process involves applying in fall 2016, committee review in November, and award announcements in December/January. Support is also provided through networking, staff liaisons, and business assistance.

1. Only in Seattle Initiative
Request For Proposals
October 14, 2015
Seattle Office of Economic Development

2. Why this model?

3. Empowering business owners to organize around a
common vision and attract investment to their district.
• Business and Retail Development
• Clean and Safe
• Streetscape and Appearance
• Marketing and Promotion
• Organizational Development

4. Clean and
Safe
Business
Development
Streetscape
and
Appearance
Marketing
and Events
Organizational
Development
Leadership Group
Businesses
Property Owners
Nonprofits
Residents
Step 1:
A district forms a leadership
group and structure
Step 2:
The group develops an action
plan with priorities in the five
core strategy areas.
Step 3: Start working
Only in Seattle provides a framework and funding that helps business district leaders
agree on a common vision and set priorities for their district.

5. 2016 Only in Seattle Initiative Program Components
Tier I: Action Plan Grants for Organizing, Transforming or
Established Districts
Tier II: Business Improvement Area Support
Tier III: Racial Equity in Business Districts
Tier IV: Façade Improvements
Tier V: Enhance Cultural Place-making
Tier VI: City Infrastructure Improvements ($500,000 available)

6. Organizing District
•Have a stakeholder group
•Have a Vision
•Developing a plan
•$50,000 maximum
Transforming District
•Have a structure
•Implementing a plan
•$200,000 maximum
Established District
•Lead organization
•Financially stable
•Ongoing implementation
•$50,000 maximum
Tier I: Action Plan Grants

7. Organizing Transforming Established
Business
Organization
 Stakeholder Group
 Action Plan
 Implementing plan
 Building org.
revenues
 Financially sustainable
Marketing &
Promotion
 1-2 events
Marketing Plan
 Signature event
 Active brand
 Strong online/web
Ongoing marketing &
events
Appearance
& Enviro.
 Design for physical
improvements
Implementing
improvements
 Visible design
elements
Business &
Retail Devel.
 Database of
businesses & properties
 Relationships with
businesses
Market analysis
 Business recruitment
plan
 Connect to TA
Clean & Safe
 Clean & safe issues
identified
 Implementing clean
& safe plan
 Scheduled cleaning
 Ongoing safety plan
Tier I: Action Plan Grants

8. Support Available to All Districts:
• Peer Networking
• Staff liaisons
• Business retention and
expansion
• Business advocacy

9. Committees for Each
Action Plan Element
Implements Action Plan
Develops/Oversees
Action Plan
Steering
Committee
Organization
1
Business &
Retail
Development
Marketing &
Promotion
Business
Organization
Organization
2
Appearance
& Pedestrian
Environment
Clean & Safe
Typical Implementation Structure

10. • Building a coalition of organizations and
community members to support economic
development.
• Creating a common agenda and taking
action.
• Funded through Only in Seattle and
Community Cornerstones
On Board
Othello
Only in Seattle CDBG $ &
Cornerstones $
24 Member
Coalition
City Staff - DPD,
DON, OED, OH
Marketing
and
Promotion
Business
Attraction &
Retention
Clean and
Safe
Real Estate
Development
District branding & Events
Business TA with language
support
Community engaged with
developers
Façade project & Clean ups

11. What’s New in 2016?
• City Infrastructure Improvement Projects
• Open to business districts with paid on-street parking OR have majority
low-moderate income residents and significant impacts from construction
• Cultural Place-making funding
• Business Districts can apply for technical assistance to organize a festive
gathering of business district leaders and artists/arts organizations/cultural
organizations to meet and explore possibilities for collaboration.
• Façade program
• $50,000 available to fund 1-3 projects

12. Go Grants

13. Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan
Nov. 3
Applications
due
Oct. 2
Request for
Applications
Released
Public Meetings
Oct. 7 & 14
November 13,
16, 17
Committee
Presentations
Dec/Jan
Investments
Decided and
Announced
Request for Application Timeline

14. Facebook.com/OnlyinSeattle
Twitter.com/@OnlySeattleGems
Contact us
Theresa Barreras, Business Districts Manager
Theresa.barreras@seattle.gov
206-684-4505
Heidi Hall, Business Districts Advocate
Heidi.hall@seattle.gov
206-733-9967
Mikel Davila, Business Districts Advocate
Mikel.davila@seattle.gov
206-386-9748
Bottomline.seattle.gov