For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
Seattle Office of Labor Standards Announces Request for Proposal for Two Year $2.44 Million Dollar Community Outreach and Education Fund
Seattle, WA (January 6, 2026) – The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces the availability of $2.44 million dollars in funding to expand outreach, education, and technical assistance to Seattle workers about the City’s labor standards. OLS will award 24-month contracts totaling $1.22 million dollars per year for July 2026 – June 2027 and July 2027 – June 2028 to fund local community organizations that assist low wage working communities with the highest rates of workplace violations, including BIPOC workers and immigrant and refugee workers. The 24-month contracting period begins in July 2026.
This cycle, OLS seeks to provide services to more segments of Seattle’s labor sectors. Organizations will be able to select one or more Service Strategies to implement during the funding cycle. These Service Strategies will provide more tailored services to industry sectors and focus on certain sector-specific labor standards including:
- Broad-Based Labor Standards
- Retail & Restaurant Workers
- Hotel Workers
- Domestic Workers
- Construction and Trades Workers
- Arts and Entertainment Workers
- Temporary Workers
First offered in 2015, the Community Outreach and Education Fund (COEF) has supported community-based organizations to educate tens of thousands of workers and provide technical assistance, including intake and complaint resolution services, and deepen partnerships between community organizations and OLS. Since the first COEF cycle in 2015, the Office of Labor Standards has grown from administering four labor standards to administering 16 different labor standards. The growth in our mandate has required a change in approach for our Community Outreach and Education Fund.
“A new year and a new round of funding brings expanded opportunities to support Seattle workers. OLS relies on trusted community organizations to connect with workers and help ensure they understand their rights and have a supportive workplace that is in full compliance with Seattle’s labor laws. The OLS team is grateful for strong community partnerships and looks forward to building new relationships as the department continues to lead the nation in workplace rights,” said OLS Director Steven Marchese.
Application Process:
For more information on the Request for Proposals and application requirements, including optional presentation dates, visit Community Outreach and Education Fund Call for Proposals – LaborStandards | seattle.gov
Important dates for the RFP are noted below. The deadline to submit an application is Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 5:30 pm using the OpenGov portal at Community Outreach and Education Fund Call for Proposals – LaborStandards | seattle.gov.
Interested parties are encouraged to attend our voluntary information session on January 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm. This session will provide an overview of the work and discuss the requirements for a successful proposal.
2026-2028 Community Outreach and Education Fund RFP Online Information Session
Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86362812145?pwd=uvX9QPe66HZke2jpsIPB9c3epnIfmC.1
Accessibility: Spanish interpretation will be provided. Interpretation requests for other languages or other accessibility requests can be made by emailing OLS_RFP@seattle.gov no later than January 13, 2026.
A recording of the workshop will be posted on the RFP website after the session is completed.
Schedule:
- RFP Release – Tuesday, January 6, 2026
- Optional Information Session and Q & A via Zoom – Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1:00pm
- Deadline for Questions – Thursday, February 5, 2026, 11:59 pm
- Response Deadline – Thursday, February 12, 2026, 5:30 pm
- Optional Presentation – February 16 – March 6, 2026; times to be booked after application submission
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