SEATTLE – Today the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, King County, and Port of Seattle announced an award from the International Economic Development Council for their partnership to launch the Community Business Connector program. This is the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s first Excellence in Economic Development award, and will be presented to Vaughn Taylor, Seattle Metro Chamber’s vice president of economic development, on September 16 at the 2024 IEDC Annual Conference in Denver, Colo.

The Community Business Connector bridges gaps in a regional ecosystem by providing equitable access to business assistance and technical support and is specifically designed to address the identified needs of BIPOC-owned businesses in King County. Through community liaisons known as Connectors, the Community Business Connector is designed to make it easy for businesses to ask for help through an online registration, and matching businesses to trusted organizations rooted in local and cultural communities who understand what small businesses need. The Seattle Metro Chamber manages the program, while the Port of Seattle and King County contributed public funding for the two-year pilot.

The award recognizes the program’s success in:

  • Facilitating over 800 business interactions to triage essential technical assistance needs such as access to capital, business planning, marketing, assistance with government forms and grants and language interpretation services.
  • Reaching small businesses in 31 King County jurisdictions of which 78% were BIPOC-owned. Top industries served were food establishments, personal services, and trucking/warehousing.
  • Sponsoring $100,000 for partner network building and business assistance events with local chambers and partners reaching Shoreline, Skyway, Tukwila, SeaTac, Kent, Snoqualmie Valley and Vashon Island.
  • Paying out 92% of $450,000 in contracts to BIPOC and women-led organizations for services such as small business outreach, a regional business expo, expanding micro-loan assistance, and language interpreters.
  • Managing the distribution of more than $700,000 to businesses of all sizes for manufacturing growth assistance and weather-related disaster relief.
  • Enhancing regional collaboration and establishing a support network to reach up to 1,800 small businesses annually and monitor job creation, capital investment, and growth plans.

“The innovative work of our economic development team, in collaboration with our regional governmental partners, is serving as a welcome catalyst to businesses eager to grow or expand, or who simply need supports in what we know can be a challenging business environment,” said Rachel Smith, president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “This program creates meaningful connections and support for small businesses throughout King County – especially for small businesses owned by people of color and in rural areas. We are grateful for the recognition from the International Economic Development Council and look forward to growing this program from a pilot to a fixture for our region’s businesses, allowing them to reach their full potential.”

“King County is pleased to be part of the regional partnership that launched the Community Business Connector program. Small business owners and operators, especially those in historically marginalized communities, have faced many challenges in recent years. Helping these enterprises navigate a rapidly changing landscape is critical for their ability to thrive, and imperative for our region’s long-term economic health,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We’re excited to be recognized and look forward to continuing this successful partnership.”

“We at ORIA know that small businesses are the cornerstone of Washington State’s economy, and we understand the importance of their needs, and the challenges that come with owning a small business. Thousands of entrepreneurs in the Seattle area reach out to our information center daily, looking for personalized solutions to their business needs. That is why we are so grateful for our partnership with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Community Business Connector program.” Said Director Dan McConnon of the Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance “ORIA would like to congratulate the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce on their excellent work, and this well-deserved award.”

“The Community Business Connector program has been an invaluable resource for small businesses like ours. As a family-run business in Seattle’s International District for 19 years, we’ve experienced firsthand the program’s commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of our business growth,” said Phuong Q. Hua and Rayment Wong, owners of Spring Roll House Deli. “The culturally sensitive support and guidance offered have been crucial in helping us navigate challenges and explore new opportunities. We’re grateful for this initiative that strengthens not just individual businesses, but our entire community.”

The Community Business Connector previously received the 2023 Washington Economic Development Association Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In November 2023, the Community Business Connector introduced an online platform, supported by Qwally, for assigning Connectors to offer personalized support and matching connections between small businesses and service providers.