You’ll soon see some new promotional banners coming to street poles in Madison Valley and street furniture on 12th Ave, all courtesy of the city Office of Economic Development.
Mayor Nickels awarded a total of $128,384 in funding to twenty-two different neighborhood business districts in a ceremony earlier this morning. Winners were chosen by the city from a pool of economic-development proposals submitted by the business groups.
Among projects that were funded around the Central District:
- Business Owners of Madrona (BOOM) received $5,000 to design a logo and help market their neighborhood businesses
- Madison Valley Merchants Association received $4,200 to install banners on street poles throughout their business district
- Capitol Hill Housing received $5,000 to install street furniture along 12th Ave to create gathering places at key locations near businesses. The furniture is proposed to be carved stools made of wood, permanently affixed to the sidewalk
We’re told by city officials that the Central District Chamber of Commerce did not submit a proposal this year. Last year they applied and won $6,000 for a series of business workshops.
there was a grant submitted by Feet First, BALLE Seattle and Sustainable Central District to implement a Central Area buy local program that was denied.
It would have produced 10,000 walking maps (based on the Feet First CD walking map) listing all central area businesses, provided up to 300 Central Area businesses promotional materials, including community outreach and education related to the benefits of supporting the local economy.