Get to know Danah Abarr, our new SLU Chamber Executive Director

What was your background prior to joining the Chamber?
Prior to taking the role as Executive Director, I served on the SLU Chamber’s Board of Directors for 3 years and before that oversaw membership and business development for Washington State’s biotechnology and biomedical industry trade association. I am also the founder of a small local nonprofit and understand the struggles of entrepreneurship and a small business.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time and what is that people would find most surprising about you?
Like many Seattleites, I love being outdoors. One of my favorite past times is hanging off the sides of cliffs – rappelling, rock climbing, canyoneering . . . show me a canyon or rock face and I’m there:)

What do you love most about being involved in South Lake Union?
The energy in this neighborhood is electric. I love being surrounded by such smart, motivated, and passionate individuals. It feels great to help individuals achieve their business goals and the Chamber plays a part in making that happen.

What's on your to-do list as the SLU Chamber ED?
What isn’t! This is such an exciting role in which I get to wear many hats. My first priority is always our members – connecting with them, understanding their businesses and what unique challenges they face. This building of partnerships helps the Chamber to better engage with local stakeholders and better understand their needs so we may advocate on their behalf.

What do you see as some of the goals and opportunities for the Chamber in the coming year?
The Chamber is excited about the growing opportunities to partner with its members to support and get involved in community events and activities. We are working with City officials on improvement projects and economic development opportunities for our local businesses.

Why should someone join the SLU Chamber?
The Chamber offers individuals and businesses great benefits like access to networking and business connections, free business consulting, 401K programs, free marketing and brand visibility. Through the Chamber you are supporting projects like transportation initiatives, construction mitigation and advocacy for neighborhood improvements!

What events do you have coming up?
Summer is just around the corner and we are celebrating with some fun after hours social events! Join us on June 4th at Art Marble 21 for a fun mixer and don’t miss out on one of our most popular events, the Summer Celebration aboard the Virgina V docked in Lake Union on June 17th! I hope to see many of you there!

Ride Transit Month

Ride Transit Month is a month long celebration of transit riders, whether you ride a bus, train, light rail, ferry, water taxi, or van pool, we are in this together! Just keep track of your trips to trips work, school, the museum, farmer’s market, and everywhere in between. 

As you log trips each day with Ride Transit Month, you’ll gain motivation to keep going, not only in reducing your carbon footprint, and increasing your health, but you’ll be eligible for prizes just for riding!  Prizes will be awarded to top riders in the following categories: Overall Ride Leader, Overall Team Leader, Largest Individual Team & Largest Organizational Team. In addition, one daily prize will be awarded randomly! Examples of the daily prizes include: Experience Music Project Tickets, Zipcar Driving Credit, SIFF Cinema tickets, Pronto Annual Membership, Aveda Gift Box, Poquitos Gift Card, and more! And our grand prize winner will receive a $1500 travel voucher to use as they see fit. 

Who can participate?
Everyone! Participate as an individual or as a team, each team has a captain who recruits, leads and keeps tabs on each team member to make sure they’re staying on track, offering assistance with trip planning and being a cheerleader for the group. Each captain who recruits 5 or more team members will receive a free Ride Transit Month T-Shirt.  While we encourage users to join or create a team, you are welcome to log trips as a solo rider.

We make it fun and easy to log your trips:

·         Tracking trips online is easy and a great motivator!

·         Simple registration using Facebook or email

·         Fun transit oriented events all month long

·         Compete for daily prizes and a grand prize drawing if you log 4 or more transit trips.

Learn more: http://www.ridetransitmonth.org/

#2HoursinSLU - Immanuel Community Services

The offices for Immanuel Community Services (ICS) are located upstairs in the Immanuel Lutheran Church, which has been standing on the same ground in SLU for over 100 years. 

Today, Patty Turnberg, Executive Director of ICS, is helping set up the twice-monthly food bank that is held downstairs in the church the last two Mondays of every month. 

"It’s hard to see hunger," she says of the need for such a service. "You can assume that a homeless person is hungry; you can’t assume that a senior that’s living in a building is skipping meals to pay for their medical bills. That’s happening all the time, but it’s not advertised."

The ICS food bank regularly benefits from the fresh food grown just across the street at the Cascade P-Patch, offering fresh and healthy foods for those in the community that depend on the food bank to help feed themselves or their families. It also happens to be one of Patty’s favorite places in South Lake Union.

"I love being across from the park – it’s beautiful. I love walking through the park, going to the p-patch."

For the first time this year, the Immanuel Lutheran Church has a garden plot of their own. Patty is excited to work with ICS volunteers and members of the residential rehabilitation program to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables.

ICS is fortunate to partner with other service organizations located nearby - food donations for the ICS food bank are stored adjacent to the church at the Cascade Women’s Shelter, which provides another vital service to the SLU community by offering a place for homeless women to live and access vital resources, and the Y at Cascade People’s Center opens its doors to people waiting in line for the food bank, serving them coffee and giving them a place to get out of the elements on rainy days.

But it’s not just access to these organizations that makes Patty love her location in the South Lake Union community. The Row House nearby has plenty of cozy rooms where she can get a great meal and host committee meetings without disturbing other guests. She also loves Paddy Coyne’s reubens, or Caffè Torino for lunch because of their great soups and salads.

If you want to volunteer or make a donation to Immanuel Community Services, visit www.icsseattle.org or call 206-622-1930.

LINC up with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Regional Administrator Calvin Goings

There’s a hunger among entrepreneurs to find financing to get their business off the ground or take the next big step in their expansion plan. Across the country, thousands of small businesses are searching for term loans, equipment financing, lines of credit, invoice financing and real estate loans to help them start, hire and expand. Too often, they spend time they don’t have, cold-calling and door-knocking their way to a lucky break, to find the money they need.

Technology is the answer. Entrepreneurs and lenders now have the option to use online matchmaking services. Pairing lenders with prospective borrowers comprises a multibillion dollar industry. Using the power of the Internet, commercial lenders are finding creditworthy small business borrowers and entrepreneurs are finding loan officers who are ready to sit down and talk.

SBA not only supports this concept, we’re implementing it.  A new SBA initiative called LINC (Leveraging Information and Networks to access Capital (LINC (Leveraging Information and Networks to access Capital)) has just been announced. LINC is a matchmaking service to help entrepreneurs get a date with a lender.

We spent months surveying our lending partners to discern what information they require before they’re ready to receive a loan pitch. Based on those talks, we’ve developed a simple online form that takes only minutes to fill out. Once completed, the form is sent to participating SBA lenders in an applicant’s county, as well as financial institutions with a statewide or national reach.

While a positive “hit” won’t ensure entrepreneurs will receive a loan, it will put them on a fast track, because they will have been pre-screened. If LINC doesn’t produce an immediate match, entrepreneurs will be directed to their local SBA adviser, for additional assistance with their loan application.

We’re rolling out LINC in two phases. First we’re connecting small business owners with nonprofit lenders that offer free financial advice and specialize in microlending, smaller loans (SBA’s Community Advantage program) and real estate financing (SBA’s 504 program).  Phase 1 is off to a strong start. We have participating LINC lenders in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These lenders have made a combined 42,000 loans totaling more than $17 billion since 2009.   In phase 2, we plan to add more traditional banks that offer an even wider array of financial products.

In the longer term, we believe LINC can be modified to facilitate government contracting by connecting eligible small businesses with procurement officers, prime contractors, and federal buyers. The future is upon us, and the SBA is proud to be leading the way.

LINC is expanding small business lending options beyond someone’s local bank. Technology is assisting with getting entrepreneur’s feet in the door, based on their merits. SBA is committed to becoming as innovative, as the small businesses we serve. LINC is paving the way.  For more information about LINC or other SBA programs, contact a local SBA District Office at https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/wa/seattle.

Taking advantage of SLU Chamber’s 401(k) member benefit program

The best part of walking into Oculus Eyecare is the immediate sense of style.  

Owner Jeff Woerner works hard to curate an incredible selection of eyewear.  Come to find out, representatives fly directly from Europe to deliver Jeff’s exclusive selection.  It’s amazing what you find out when visiting members!

Jeff is also one of the first members to vet and ultimately adopt our exclusive 401(k) program.  As a business owner in a bustling local economy, he wanted to enhance employee benefits to reward and retain staff while helping them save for retirement.  “After researching all of the 401(k) options, the SLU Chamber’s plan made the most sense for my growing business.

In 2014, the Chamber introduced an exclusive 401(k) Plan enabling members to offer a retirement plan built on a model of services that includes a local, boutique financial service provider.

“It had everything I wanted,” says Mr. Woerner.  This includes best in class investment options and risk based portfolios.  “And it came with an on-site small business financial advisor!”

Starting today, you can expect to see and hear more about our 401(k) benefit program via active chamber outreach.  We’re excited to provide the opportunity for you to tell your story and take advantage of this exciting new member benefit.

In the meantime, visit Jeff and his friendly staff on the corner of Denny and Dexter.  

“We were met with open arms right from the start.  SLU is a great place to have a business.”

To find out more today, you can call the Chamber office directly (206) 547-2577, or email director@SLUchamber.org.  You can also reach out to the program’s financial advisor, Jason McKinney with your detailed questions - (206) 271-9917, jmckinney@ifclegacy.com.

#2HoursinSLU - MOHAI

MOHAI or the Museum of History & Industry, located directly on the south end of Lake Union and in the center of the beautiful Lake Union Park, is the premiere location to spend an exciting day learning all about the history of Seattle. It is a fun, educational environment for all ages and Amanda McDougal, the K-12 and Youth Program Educator for MOHAI, will typically conduct programs for 15 to as many as 120 children on a daily basis.

MOHAI currently has a special exhibit until August 23^rd entitled:  American Spirits, The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, entailing the history of the United States prohibition era, along with great programs, such as Speakeasy Saturdays. Speakeasy Saturdays will occur on Saturdays in June and July in which visitors of the exhibition can sample, and learn about, Puget Sound made craft beers, ciders, and liquors for a small additional admission.

Amanda McDougal sat down with me to share some of her favorite things to do in South Lake Union, when she’s not spending time checking out the endlessly entertaining exhibits at MOHAI. Considering the current special exhibit at the MOHAI, we found it only appropriate to meet over happy hour. Over drinks at a local favorite just across from MOHAI, Cask & Trotter, Amanda let me know how she would typically spend #2HoursinSLU.

Amanda’s favorite pastime in the neighborhood, aside from people watching and the occasional happy hour, would have to be taking a run on the Chesiahud Lake Union Loop, a 6.2 mile run that circles around Lake Union. Her typical #2HoursinSLU would involve running the trail before meeting up with friends at the German restaurant Feirabend for happy hour and an order of their delicious pommes frites.  

Afterwards, she would spend some time people watching at the outdoor seating in front of Whole Foods. Finally, to end her South Lake Union visit, she might stop by Kakao, for a delicious sweet treat.  For breakfast, Amanda’s favorite spot is Portage Bay Cafe for their exceptional berry breakfast bar.  She also enjoys having lunch or happy hour at Row House Café and her go-to gym in the area is Soul Fitness on Terry Avenue.

Overall, Amanda still stands by the fact that one of her favorite places in South Lake Union to spend her time is browsing the exhibits at MOHAI. She definitely would say that it’s an excellent way to spend #2HoursinSLU.

WorkSmart to the Traffic Rescue

If you sat in the traffic back-up for hours last week after the semi-truck crash on SR 99, you know firsthand how one bad accident can tie up traffic around downtown Seattle. Drivers literally couldn’t get from here to there. Add that to the city’s plan to reduce traffic lanes in the South Lake Union neighborhood to make way for streetcars, plus the frustrating search for on-street parking in that neighborhood, you can already start to see the advantages of a reduced commute – either through teleworking, a compressed workweek, or a flexible work schedule.

King County Metro is partnering with the Seattle Department of Transportation and Commute Seattle to provide the free WorkSmart program, all to help businesses be more productive, recruit and retain employees, and improve productivity, not to mention lessen the traffic impact on the environment. (Driver sanity might count for something, too).

Again, did we mention that the WorkSmart program is free to employers?

The WorkSmart team of experts has over 30 years of experience working with private, public and non-profit businesses from across the country. If you run a business, you might be thinking, ‘How can I possibly allow employees to work at home? They’re part of a team and we need to see each other face to face.’ The WorkSmart team has heard and seen it all when it comes to addressing concerns. They want to make it work for your company and your employees.

WorkSmart’s free services include one-on-one consultation for customized programs to:

·         Assess potential and necessary steps for a customized plan

·         Assist with overcoming concerns

·         Lead you through every step to put a program in place

·         Develop custom presentations and marketing materials to present the plan

·         Consult on technology needs

·         Develop policies, procedures and agreements

·         Train managers and employees

·         Provide evaluation guidelines and strategies

If you WorkSmart, what do you gain?

For employers, your employees are more productive, by 10-20%. Morale often improves, since employees haven’t battled lousy traffic to get to work. You can save on real estate costs, upwards of 25-90% in overhead, in situations where employees don’t need permanent office space. It helps you recruit and retain top employees. It can even ensure you won’t lose business in the event of construction projects, traffic accidents or emergencies. Planning to WorkSmart can also help your company meet CTR goals through reduced trips.

For employees, workers gain flexible schedules and the ability to work at a home office or location closer to home. It cuts commuting costs, plus you save anywhere from an hour to three hours a day on commuting time. WorkSmart surveys show improved morale and increased job satisfaction.

The community and environment benefit by more forward-thinking companies doing what they can to lessen the number of commuters on the roads. That means reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and often, credit towards LEED certification.

Here’s who to call if you’re interested in moving forward with a WorkSmart program:

Elham Shirazi, Lead Consultant

worksmart@kingcounty.gov

206.909.3498

www.kingcounty.gov/telework