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Are stabilization grants helping? Do you have access to COVID testing? What’s your staffing situation? Answer a short survey with these kinds of questions to help show policymakers and the media what’s happening on the ground in ECE programs right now. All states, roles, and settings welcome! DEADLINE EXTENDED: Please complete the survey by midnight ET on SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 and be entered to win one of ten $100 gift cards! 

The City of Seattle announced that they are extending the application deadline for the Small Business Stabilization Fund until November 14 at 11:59 p.m. In addition, the City of Seattle added $2 million to the Stabilization Fund to support small businesses and organizations impacted by the new vaccination verification requirement. Eligible small businesses and organizations that are required to enforce this policy will receive additional funding of up to $1,000. 
Key information for this new round:  

• The Fund will provide $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 grants. 
• Small businesses with up to 50 full-time equivalent employees can apply. 
• Businesses who received a Stabilization Fund in past rounds can apply. 
• Eligible sectors for the new vaccination verification funding include restaurants, performing arts and cultural institutions, nightlife spaces, and extracurricular/recreational indoor activity spaces (such as bowling alleys, gyms, gaming facilities, etc.).  

Please note that eligible applicants will not be required to submit a separate application to access this additional vaccination verification funding. Applicants who already submitted their Stabilization Fund application do not need to reapply.   

Join subject matter experts from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Seattle District Office — along with special guest speaker Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan — as they share information about various recovery fund programs available to empower small businesses to successfully move forward. 
How to Navigate SBA COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Programs 
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 11 a.m. 
This free webinar will cover a variety of topics including: 

• Small business resources available from the City of Seattle 
• Overview of and recent changes to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and application process 
• Overview of the Targeted Advance and Supplemental Advance grants still available for businesses in low-income areas 
• Tips and guidance for navigating the reconsideration process 

Participants will have the ability to ask questions via the Q&A feature. The webinar will also have closed captioning available in English, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.            

This program offers a one-time payment of $1,000 to individual applicants and up to $3,000 for household applicants. Applicants must be income-eligible and live within the Seattle city boundaries (with a few exceptions). All interested applicants should read the Seattle Relief Fund (SRF) eligibility requirements and Frequently Asked Questions closely.
The review process is NOT first-come, first-served. However, to support those with the most need, the fund prioritizes Seattle residents who have disproportionately experienced the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, which include households that were unable to access state unemployment, had no health insurance, didn’t receive federal stimulus payments, or experienced housing instability or mental health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Seattle encourages residents to apply as soon as possible. The application period is open for three weeks, from Monday, October 25, 2021 to November 15, 2021, 11:59

OED and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle have partnered to connect small businesses with local high school students to develop FREE websites to improve small business’s online presence, marketing, business operations, and expand their customer base. Students will learn professional skills and earn certifications that equip them to design and build professional level websites that accomplish the unique vision and goals of individual business owners  at no cost to the business.   
Apply for the FREE small business website program!   
To learn more and view examples of past websites produced, visit the Youth Web Design program. For questions, please contact Anisa Khoshbakhtian at Anisa.Khosh@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8090.