Tenant Improvement Program

The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development is offering financial support to local small businesses through the 2025 Tenant Improvement Program. This initiative includes two award packages—one for signage and another for commercial equipment. These awards are designed to help businesses alleviate financial burdens related to essential upgrades, enabling them to enhance their operations and better serve the community. All awards are structured as forgivable 0% interest loans, contingent upon meeting contract terms such as adherence to prevailing wage requirements and generating public benefits. Applications are due by Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review eligibility requirements, prepare necessary documentation, and collect vendor quotes in advance. Funding requests can be up to $50,000 and must be substantiated with actual supplier quotes. Each business may apply for only one award package per cycle, and mobile businesses do not count against the two-location cap as long as they are not located in leased commercial spaces. Home-based businesses are not eligible. To qualify, businesses must be for-profit, independently owned, and based within Seattle city limits. Additional requirements include having no more than two operating locations, fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees, and annual gross revenue under $2 million. Applicants must have an active City of Seattle Business License and be in compliance with all applicable tax obligations. Only businesses with at least two years of operations and owners with three years of business or industry experience may apply. Certain categories, such as nonprofit organizations and businesses operating in unincorporated King County, are excluded from eligibility. An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM via Webex. The session will be recorded, and registration is required. This opportunity is funded through Seattle’s Payroll Expense Tax and mandates both compliance with labor standards and demonstrated community impact. City staff are available to support applicants with planning and fulfilling award conditions. Applicants are advised to provide detailed responses to narrative questions, emphasizing current community engagement efforts such as offering sliding-scale services, supporting local hiring, or contributing space or resources to neighborhood groups. For additional help, applicants can email oed_tiprogram@seattle.gov or call (206) 684-8090. The program aims to strengthen Seattle’s small business community by addressing infrastructure challenges and enhancing local economic vitality.