Quick Links

• Starting a Business
• Business Financing
• Create a Thriving Business District
• Workforce Development
• SODO Action Agenda
• Neighborhood Business Districts RFP
• Real Estate Financing
• Site Selection Assistance
• Pioneer Square
• City Business Casual
• Mayor's Small Business Awards
• Newsletter Archive
• Office of Film + Music






Sign Up for OED Email Updates Email:


For Email Marketing you can trust




City of Seattle
Office of Economic Development
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5752,
PO Box 94708
Seattle, WA 98124-4708

Phone: 206.684.8090
Fax: 206.684.0379

Stephen H. Johnson,
Acting Director

Welcome to the Office of Economic Development. Our mission is to create a robust economy and broadly shared prosperity in Seattle. As advocates for industry, we provide core services for Seattle's businesses and organizations.
Contact us today for assistance.

Find out why Seattle thrives.

What's New at OED

Integrated Business Retention and Expansion Services Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

The City of Seattle's Office of Economic Development (OED) currently seeks partners with strong industry expertise and the capacity to support the retention and growth of Seattle businesses in targeted sectors.

The ultimate goal of this solicitation is to create new and innovative partnerships that integrate the business retention, expansion, and attraction services of our economic development partners with OED's direct services. These new partnerships will allow us to better leverage the capabilities and resources of our economic development partners. Proposals are due by 5:00pm on Friday, March 5, 2010.

• Download the complete Request for Qualifications (PDF)

• To learn more, visit OED's Business Services RFQ page.

Please direct all questions on the RFQ to oed@seattle.gov.

January 27, 2010

Mayor recognizes OED-supported weatherization program

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn today recognized the innovative work of a city-supported weatherization training program designed to prepare local workers for employment in the energy efficiency sector.

"Workforce training that emphasizes green jobs is a great example of Seattle's commitment to environmental and social justice," McGinn said. "Weatherization reduces Seattle's carbon footprint, and this training provides low-skilled workers with a concrete career pathway into a good-paying job."

Mayor McGinn joined Office of Economic Development Acting Director Steve Johnson, Chancellor of Seattle Community Colleges Jill Wakefield, and President of South Seattle Community College (SSCC) Gary Oertli at the SSCC weatherization lab in Georgetown to recognize the accomplishments of the program's inaugural graduating class.

January 27, 2010

OED releases final Rainier Valley retail report

The Office of Economic Development is pleased to share the final Rainier Valley retail development report. This report supports OED's current revitalization work in Rainier Valley business districts.

OED looks forward to working with community based and neighborhood business district organizations in implementing these recommendations and increasing the availability and diversity of retail goods and services in Rainier Valley.

Click here to download the final report (PDF).

January 21, 2010

City announces additional financing to help local businesses

Accepts $40 million federal New Markets Tax Credits

City Council president Richard Conlin signed legislation today authorizing the city's Office of Economic Development to accept an allocation of $40 million in federal New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs).

"In this economic downturn, all businesses are having a hard time accessing capital, and we recognize that the growth of businesses is the key to achieving economic recovery," said Conlin. "This allocation gives the city another tool to directly help business and real estate projects in our community find funding that otherwise would not be available."

The NMTCs allocation is an important resource to help businesses and real estate projects access capital. These tax credits will help five to ten business and real estate projects attract outside investors to obtain financing which would otherwise not be available. Investors will be encouraged to invest because they will receive a credit against federal income taxes for making equity investments in low-income areas.

Click here to read the full press release.

For more information about the New Markets Tax Credits, the Grow Seattle Fund or the CDBG small business loan fund, please contact Ken Takahashi in the city's Office of Economic Development at 206-684-8378 or ken.takahashi@seattle.gov.

November 17, 2009

Mayor announces new financing for Seattle businesses

$1.4 million in stimulus funds; $8 million 'Grow Seattle Fund'

This week, Mayor Greg Nickels and city of Seattle lending partners announced the launch of new city programs to help businesses access credit. The announcement took place at the new home of Alpha Cine, a local motion picture laboratory and one of the first businesses to receive a loan from the newly established "Grow Seattle Fund." In response to the tight credit market for businesses, Nickels and the City Council have worked together to launch three new financing programs to help provide access to much-needed capital for a range of Seattle businesses, from small to large.

October 8, 2009