Seattle Accepting Proposals for Neighborhood Recovery Fund Projects

"The Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) announced the debut of its Neighborhood Economic Recovery Fund, which will support community-led strategies such as public and commercial space activation, digital equity, outreach and other economic recovery projects that respond to the specific economic and community needs of neighborhoods across Seattle." As reported by Natalie Bicknell Argerious, the fund "will invest over $6 million through direct grants to neighborhood business district organizations and other community-based organizations," $1.2 million of which will be awarded through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. According to a press release from Pamela Banks, Interim Director of OED, "[t]he Neighborhood Recovery Fund is aimed at 'partnering with our organizations already doing this work and welcoming the new ideas of others that are willing and ready to contribute to our collective recovery efforts.'"

In Seattle, "lower-income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) residents have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, a trend that extends to the small businesses they own. Experts fear that the pandemic recovery is exacerbating income inequality — similar to what occurred after the Great Recession." In addition to public space activation and digital equity, the grants will focus on communications infrastructure development, physical improvements, community safety, and outreach projects. "According to the OED, eligible applicants include business, community, cultural or arts organizations, cultural districts, and small businesses such as community event producers, artists, consultants or a collection of individuals supporting neighborhood strategies with broadly shared benefits."