For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
Seattle Office of Labor Standards Announces Recipients of $1.1 Million Funding for Business Outreach and Education
SEATTLE, WA (May 9, 2025) – The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) names six recipients of $1.1 million in business outreach and education funding to facilitate labor standards outreach, education, and compliance assistance for small businesses operating in Seattle.
“I’m pleased that the City can partner with these trusted organizations to reach more small business owners in our diverse communities and give them the knowledge and tools they need to support their employees and comply with our labor standards,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Working together with OLS and community-based partners, we will continue to build a city where all small businesses and workers can succeed.”
The organizations will receive funding for a 24-month contract period, beginning May 1, 2025, and ending April 30, 2027. Total funds available for the first and second 12 months of the contract are anticipated to be $550,000 contingent upon sufficient appropriation by the City Council in the 2026 and 2027 Adopted Budgets.
The organizations to receive funding include the following:
Business Impact NW – $120,000
Ethnic Chamber of Commerce Coalition – $200,000
Growing Contigo – $176,000
Latino Community Fund – $234,000
Somali Independent Business Alliance – $180,000
Tabor 100 – $190,000
“This was the most competitive request for proposals since the Business Outreach and Education Fund’s (BOEF) creation. After careful review, we are proud to welcome these six new and returning partners. Together, we will empower small business with the information they need to apply Seattle’s labor standards effectively – ensuring stable, healthy workplaces that support both workers and employers so we can continue to build a culture of economic dignity,” said OLS Director Steven Marchese.
“Business Impact NW provides business coaching, classes, workshops, and access to capital to community small businesses, with an emphasis on working with socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in the financial and business sectors. BOEF funding from the City of Seattle has been instrumental in helping us reach a wider audience, providing invaluable education to help entrepreneurs stay compliant with the necessary rules and regulations of the Office of Labor Standards,” Business Impact NW Senior Business Consultant and Special Projects Lead Darren Guyaz.
“The Somali Independent Business Alliance (SIBA) empowers immigrant, refugee, BIPOC, and other community-based small businesses to thrive by providing essential knowledge, technical assistance, and training. BOEF funding will enable us to reach more businesses with multilanguage outreach, training workshops, and one-on-one support, helping them to better understand and comply with Seattle’s labor laws,” President and Executive Director, Somali Independent Business Alliance Nafiso Samatar.
The BOEF partners will assist OLS with targeted labor standards outreach, education, and compliance assistance to Seattle businesses, with an emphasis on small businesses representing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The Business Outreach and Education Fund (BOEF) is designed to:
- Increase knowledge of and compliance with Seattle’s labor standards,
- Develop new partnerships and build capacity among community organizations serving the business community to expand labor standards compliance; and
- Build trust and collaboration between OLS, the business community, and organizations serving the business community.
Please visit http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards for more information about the Office of Labor Standards and the Business Outreach and Education Fund webpage here https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/funding/business-outreach-and-education-fund for further details on the fund.
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