Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s week of activity marking the end of her first year in office included a Friday executive order she says was shaped by her Small Business Advisory Council to help small businesses get relief from city taxes and fees and efforts to make it easier for entrepreneurs to navigate the city’s bureaucracy.
The executive order includes three elements:
- Direct the City Budget Office to study ways to reduce the impact of taxes and fees on small businesses, explore a possible holiday from the B&O tax, and look for others ways to support small business employees; and,
- Immediately re-establish the Citywide Business Advocacy Team (CBAT) to reduce bureaucracy, increase support for workers, and better help Seattle small businesses navigate government. The CBAT’s first task, in conjunction with SBAC, will be to develop a “Welcome Packet” for new small businesses that provides a comprehensive guide for information on the permitting process, labor standards, taxes and fees, and support resources; and,
- Direct the Office of Economic Development to study options for connecting small businesses with trained Seattle youth seeking employment and adults seeking career development and retraining programs. The study will address eligibility requirements, training resources, and participation incentives for businesses.
“Small businesses are an economic engine for Seattle, and we have a responsibility to break down barriers so they can continue to provide good-paying jobs and thrive,” the mayor said in her statement on the order.
Last week, CHS reported on Mayor Durkan’s “Capitol Hill community celebration” stop at 12th Ave’s Rachel’s Ginger Beer where she addressed a small crowd including many members of the strongly Capitol Hill-represented advisory council like Rachel’s owner Rachel Marshall and Donna Moodie of the Marjorie restaurant and Tracy Taylor of Elliott Bay Book Company.
Beto Yarce, the newly announced candidate for District 3’s city council seat, is also a member of the mayor’s group.
The full advisory council roster is below:
- Co-Chair Joe Fugere, Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria
- Co-Chair Taylor Hoang, Cyclo Corp., Ethnic Business Coalition
- Co-Chair Donna Moodie, Marjorie Restaurant, Mint Holding
- Co-Chair Tracy Taylor, Elliott Bay Book Company
- Maryan Abdulle, Nasib Family Child Care
- Zewditu Aschenaki, Salon Adidez
- Joey Burgess, Queer/Bar, Grim’s Provisions and Spirits
- Shaiza Damji, Hotel Nexus
- Solomon Dubie, Café Avole
- Annette Heide-Jessen, Kaffeeklatsch
- Edouardo Jordan, Salare Restaurant, JuneBaby
- Lacey Leavitt, Electric Dream Factory
- Elise Lindborg, ZippyDogs LLC
- Rachel Marshall, Rachel’s Ginger Beer
- Michael Megalli, indie.biz
- Debbie Millard, Ballard Oil Company
- Molly Moon, Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
- Linda Morton, Terra Plata
- Gayle Nowicki, Gargoyles Statuary
- Kamala Saxton, Marination
- Lei Ann Shiramizu, Momo
- Leigh Stone, Crybaby Studios
- Gail Stringer, Hawaii General Store
- Chuck Wang, Stage
- Edwin Wanji, Sphere Solar Energy
- Beto Yarce, Ventures
- Lara Zahaba, Stoup Brewing
- Councilmember Lisa Herbold (ex officio)
- Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (ex officio)
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