Our Vision: Seattle is a vibrant, innovative, diverse city with an inclusive economy that ensures all Seattleites can thrive and share in the new opportunities of the future.

The Office of Economic Development (OED) is committed to an building an inclusive economy in the City of Seattle. OED works at all levels of our local economy to:

• support small and micro-businesses,
• partner with neighborhood business districts,
• support creative business sectors and workers,
• partner with key industries that drive innovation, job growth and global competitiveness, and
• invest in our local workforce with an emphasis on young people, low-income, as well as un-and under-employed adults

Seattle--like all other cities and communities across the country experienced significant impacts from COVID-19 on our small businesses, workers, industries, neighborhoods, individuals and families. Our Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, LGBTQ+, immigrant, refugee, and low-income communities were disproportionately impacted as existing inequities were exacerbated by the pandemic and ongoing institutional racism. As the city transitions from emergency COVID-19 response, OED will play a leading and critical role in near and long term economic recovery and community resilience efforts. Through collaborative partnerships, our investments, strategies and programs will work to achieve our population results for an inclusive economy and resilient communities:

• Neighborhood Recovery Result: Neighborhoods and communities rebound from the impacts of COVID-19 and thrive.
• Downtown Revitalization Result: Businesses, employees, residents, visitors and cultural institutions in downtown neighborhoods are revitalized after COVID-19 and thriving.
• Small Business Support: Entrepreneurs and small businesses can recover from the impacts of COVID-19, stabilize and grow their businesses.
• Education and Workforce Development: Current and future worker are employed and trained in opportunity sectors that are resistant to automation and have middle and high-wage earning potential.
• Targeted Investments in BIPOC Communities: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and generate positive long-term outcomes.
• Access to Resources: Individuals and families recover from immediate economic and social impacts of COVID-19