Tools for Business Districts

Create a Thriving Business District Guide

The “Create a Thriving Business Guide” provides business districts with a “one-stop shopping” resource book for business district improvements. Each section provides project ideas, description of products, commonly asked questions, a pro and con list, and City and neighborhood contacts. Topics include beautification, maintenance, parking, signs, traffic control, use of public areas, public safety, and funding.

A new, revised edition of "Create a Thriving Business District Guide" will be available in February, 2007.

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Farmers Markets

Farmers markets in our neighborhood business districts provide access to fresh fruit and produce as well a community gathering place. Markets increase the foot traffic of a business district which results in higher sales for local stores. For more information about the local farmers markets or how to start a farmers market in your neighborhood, please contact the one of the following organizations.

Through the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, OED supports the Neighborhood Farmers Markets. The active Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance is a local non-profit dedicated to supporting Washington 's small family farmers, and to educating consumers about sustainable food and farming practices. The Alliance supports mostly for-profit farmers from throughout Washington State in bringing the best of their harvest into the heart of Seattle 's neighborhoods. All of the markets are certified to accept electronic food stamps and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons. At the end of the day, farmers donate leftover produce to neighborhood food banks.

• Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
• Fremont and Ballard Markets
• Pike Place Market
• Washington State Farmers Market Association

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Demographic Data

Looking for data about your neighborhood?

Check out these resources for demographic and other data:

• Seattle PI Webtowns
• City's Census data by neighborhood planning area
• Puget Sound Regional Council

Create your own neighborhood data profile.
Follow the step-by-step process to gather data for your area. A template is also provided to allow you to easily insert the data to create data profile.

• Neighborhood Data Profile Manual Final (pdf)

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Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)

OED supports current and forming Business Improvement Areas (BIAs).
A BIA provides a source to fund improvements in neighborhood business districts by assessing property and/or business owners who benefit from the improvements. BIA funds can be used for services such as parking, joint marketing, cleanup and maintenance, security, special events, beautification, and management and administration. The City contracts with an agency to manage each BIA and each BIA has a ratepayer's advisory board. The City collects the assessments and reimburses the Agency for BIA expenses.

Current BIAs are Broadway/Capitol Hill, West Seattle, International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square, University District, and the Downtown Seattle Association.

• The BIA Handbook - Provides a reference book for current and potential BIAs
• City of Seattle BIA Directory - Directory of current BIAs in Seattle and City of Seattle staff
• City of Seattle Council Resolution 29706 lays out the City of Seattle's policy to encourage and support the establishment of BIAs.
• Washington State RCW Chapter 35.87A Parking and Business Improvement Areas is the state statue allowing BIAs.

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OED Lending Library

Are you looking for helpful information to help your business district with marketing, design or business recruitment? Business groups can borrow materials from our lending library which includes helpful written and visual materials from the Main Street program and Jon Schallert's retail workshop. Contact Tinná White at 206-684-4008 for more information.

• Lending Library Inventory (xls)
• See also Seattle Public Library – Business Librarian

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Media List

Would you like to contact the local media to send information about a community event or project? This list provides resources for local newspapers, radio and TV contact information.

• Community Media Contacts (doc)

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Internships and Volunteer Program

Internships

• Seattle Jobs Initiative provides training of individuals - internship and long term placement available.

Community Colleges

• Seattle Central Community College
• South Seattle Community College (pdf)
• North Seattle Community College

4 year+ college programs

• University of Washington
• University of Washington's Evans School of Public Affairs internship
• Seattle University
• Seattle Pacific University

Volunteers

• United Way - Sign up to solicit volunteers for your organization
• Seattle Works: Mission is to inform, connect, and inspire people in their 20s and 30s to take action in our community.

Volunteer Project Team Opportunities

• Leadership Tomorrow is designed to help participants acquire an understanding of the critical issues facing the region, and the leadership and stewardship capabilities necessary to resolve them. Each year, projects to assist local non profits are chosen by a group of 8 public and private sector participants. Proposals are due in Summer/Fall, projects are completed by June.
• Evans School Public Service Clinic links second year public policy students with non profits to complete an organization identified project - such as assess a new program, survey how your counterparts are innovating, develop a new system, or explore the feasibility of an untested idea. Proposals are accepted in fall, students work on projects January through June.

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