Community Business Connector

A Hub of Small Business Support Liaisons in King County

The Port of Seattle and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce are excited to launch the Community Business Connector Program in January 2023. The program is aimed to help small businesses tap into business resources to ensure economic recovery.

The overall goal of the Connector program is to make our small business support ecosystem more supportive and inclusive by building relationships with businesses facing challenges due to linguistic, cultural, and geographic barriers, including economic impacts because of COVID-19.

Connectors will receive a one-time funding award from $30,000 to $40,000 over 12 months as part of the pilot program.

Connectors serve small businesses, Chamber members and non-members, including those located in unincorporated King County. Seattle is not currently a designated service area.

Community Business Connector Partner Organizations Selected

Connectors will serve small businesses in five geographic hubs in King County through a targeted outreach program. 

Connectors will provide access to available business resources to help them sustain and grow their enterprises. A review panel selected the Connector finalists following a competitive application process. 

The following organizations will serve as Community Business Connectors:

1.  Lake City Collective
2.  OneEastside Spark
3.  Growing Contigo, LLC
4.  International Rescue Committee
5.  Indian American Community Services
6.  Kent Chamber of Commerce
7.  SnoValley Chamber

The team of Connectors will utilize an online ticket system to connect with business owners directly. Connectors provide referral options to lenders, small business development centers, and other helpful resources.

“The Port of Seattle invested $650,000 in community-based partnerships to open doors for ethnic businesses that anchor our communities and neighborhoods,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed. “Helping small companies tap resources is vital as the region grows amid uncertain economic conditions locally and globally.”

Connectors will make the region's small business support ecosystem more accommodating and inclusive by building relationships with businesses facing challenges due to linguistic, cultural, and geographic barriers, including economic impacts because of COVID-19.

Visit the Community Business Connector website for more information. 

Thank you for Taking the Business Survey

Thank you to the businesses who took the business survey earlier this Spring 2022. We look forward to sharing with you the findings from this survey effort. 

Read the Executive Summary of the Community Business Connector Survey.