It’s been a long and difficult year, but the City of Burien has been working hard to help our community make it through the pandemic, guide Burien businesses to reopen safely, and secure the right resources to support local recovery.
We’re helping Burien neighbors make it through by:
- Delivering almost $1 million to nonprofit organizations supporting community members who are seeking help paying for rent, utilities, food, childcare, and other essential needs.
- Supporting the statewide eviction moratorium.
- Passing a law requiring grocery stores provide hazard pay to their workers during the pandemic.
- Installing public restrooms and wash stations for people experiencing homelessness.
- Participating in Co-LEAD, a program to connect people experiencing homelessness to safe shelter in hotels.
- Partnering with the Highline School District to pay for free internet access for students in need.
- Developing virtual recreation programs and events to support physical and mental well-being.
- Maintaining parks for healthy outdoor recreation.
- Sharing resources and information through our website, social media, and email newsletters.
- Advocating for policies and funding that can help our most vulnerable community members.
- Continuing to provide essential government services using safe public health standards.
We’re supporting our local businesses by:
- Offering the City of Burien Small Business Relief and Recovery Grant Program. 169 businesses received $5,000 grants totaling $845,000 in funding to help mitigate economic impacts of the pandemic.
- Adjusting permit requirements for outdoor dining and waiving permit fees for restaurants.
- Deferring B&O tax payments for 90 days during the first two quarters of 2020 o offer flexibility to businesses managing their finances during this crisis.
- Delaying implementation of the plastic bag ban and compostables ordinance to make it easier for businesses to follow public health guidelines.
- Sharing information about grant and loan opportunities, state industry guidelines, reopening strategies, how to access to free personal protective equipment, and connections to partner organizations for support and guidance.
- Supporting shop local marketing efforts, including the creation of the online Burien restaurant directory, “Burien Eat Streets”.
- Advocating for Burien businesses with King County and the State of Washington for resources and inclusion on recovery planning efforts.
- Creating new communications channels to disseminate timely information to our businesses including: Economic Development E-Newsletter, Facebook, and Instagram channels.
- Collaborating with community groups to organize the 2020 “It’s a Wonderful Burien” event series to encourage more local shopping and dining.
- Partnering with Discover Burien to provide more opportunities for microenterprise development via the Burien Winter Market in Town Square Park.
