By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
As part of an initiative to help revitalize Seattle neighborhoods with creativity and commerce, the city of Seattle launched Seattle Restored, a community-driven program designed to breathe new life into neighborhoods by activating vacant storefronts while empowering local entrepreneurs and artists, particularly those from marginalized communities.
The program, which allows local artists and entrepreneurs to get a foot in the door in starting their business journey, has four distinct pathways for participation, each tailored to meet the unique needs of budding entrepreneurs and artists. From art installations to pop-up shops, art residencies, and to establishing a long-term business presence, the options are as diverse as the individuals they aim to support. The application portal, which opened on May 1, will be open until 8:00 p.m. on Thurs., May 30.
By activating dormant spaces, the program looks to create vibrant and engaging streetscapes that encourage the public to visit downtown Seattle, support local businesses, and support local artists – particularly Black, Indigenous, and other entrepreneurs and artists of color.
Developed in partnership with the Seattle Office of Economic Development, the Seattle Good Business Network and Shunpike, the program also offers financial support, technical assistance, and marketing for participants in the program.
“We helped create Seattle Restored because we are dedicated to helping small business owners and artists access resources to help start or accelerate their business ventures,” says Heidi Hall, Community Wealth Building Manager of the Seattle Office of Economic Development. “The program matches small business owners and creative entrepreneurs with vacant commercial storefronts to host pop-up shops and art installations. Seattle Restored is fulfilling Mayor Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan by creating a unique Downtown retail experience and making Downtown a top destination for Seattleites and visitors year-round.”
Gabriel-Bello Lawrence-Diaz, Program Director at Shunpike, says that the program gives a much-needed boost to entrepreneurs by providing access and support to resources that can help them build a solid foundation for their business.
“Through financial support and resource access, Seattle Restored empowers participants to advance their careers while enriching the cultural and economic fabric of our city,” says Lawrence-Diaz
For Blake Burton, a Black Entrepreneur and Owner of NAST Studios, Seattle Restored has been a game-changer.
“Impact-wise, Seattle Restored has helped me jumpstart the next chapter of my podcasting career,” says Burton. “I have a legitimate studio, where I have a studio room for my podcast clients to record as well as my own studio room solely for the NAST Podcast. I am exactly where I feel I need to be at 23 years old, financially, and physically in Downtown Seattle. I used to work for a podcast studio, now I own my own studio.”
NAST Studios is a podcast production studio where clients pay Burton to produce their podcasts. The NAST Podcast typically focuses on interviewing established artists, comedians, and business owners. The Seattle Restored program has been very instrumental for Burton as he begins to grow as a young entrepreneur.
“This program has given me complete control of my life, I don’t have to work a 9-5, I don’t have any bosses and I can choose when and if I want to put myself in certain situations,” says Burton. “I am creating my own media lane in Seattle. I feel that I’ve been given an opportunity to grow a thriving podcast community and inspire others, which is very important to me.”
Participants in the program must have a City of Seattle Business License and Washington State Business License, and comply with other program requirements, including:
• Have storefront or residency open for a minimum of 24hrs/week
• Participate in art walks (windowfront install participants only)
• Host a launch party (pop-up participants only)
• Attend a program orientation session
• Complete monthly sales reports
• Create and maintain a participant profile page on the Seattle Restored website
A community advisory panel will review and score the applications based on their evaluation criteria. But based on the selection of previous cohort groups, the panel appears to select participants who are ready to make the most of the opportunity and bring a valuable perspective to the decision-making process.
“Seattle Restored has allowed the ‘hungry’ creatives to prove what creatives would do if they were given money and space to jump-start their career,” says Burton. “I think Seattle Restored has done a great job choosing participants. Every participant I’ve interviewed for NAST has gone on to continue their creative journey and not have to look back.”
Seattle Restored not only benefits small businesses, but the program seeks to encourage the public to visit our city and engage in all that the entrepreneurs and artists have to offer to the Seattle community.
“Beyond merely occupying empty storefronts, our program contributes to street beautification, enhances safety, and reduces barriers to entry in the local economy. By collaborating with the city, landlords, property managers, community organizers, and Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), we are not only transforming physical spaces but also fostering a sense of community pride and connection,” says Lawrence-Diaz.
Seattle Restored allows local artists and entrepreneurs to get a foot in the door, in starting their business journey. With Seattle already being one of the toughest cities to live in, financial-wise, many struggle with the initial start-up of their business and engaging with the community.
While many entrepreneurs and creative find the financial constraints of doing business can limit their ability to be successful, the Seattle Restored program provides many of them a great opportunity to stabilize, grow their businesses while also helping to revitalize a culture that is critical when it comes to the economic foundation of the city.
“Seattle Restored allowed us to have a brick-and-mortar presence without the overhead costs typically associated with renting commercial property,” says Natassja Schulz-Uraine, Rescue Vintage Owner. “This allowed us to reach new and different customers, test out space configurations, and dream about having a storefront of our own, which is something we hadn’t previously thought possible. After participating in Seattle Restored, we have a clearer vision for our business’s future and growth goals.”
“Seattle Restored has emerged as a beacon of hope and renewal, especially in the wake of the challenges posed by COVID-19. It has served as a unifying force, bringing together diverse stakeholders who share a common goal of seeing Seattle thrive. As we continue our journey, we remain committed to amplifying the voices of artists and entrepreneurs and championing the vibrant tapestry of Seattle’s cultural landscape,” says Lawrence-Diaz.
Disclaimer: This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBC Universal.