For Seattle Southside’s existing companies and growing ranks of entrepreneurs, there are a variety of business resources available that provide networking opportunities, in-depth information and advice, training and research.
Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce
The Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce has a wide and diverse membership of Seattle Southside businesses. By working with the area's cities, the Chamber's mission is to be a leader in the business world and the communities it serves. Through its various events, including membership luncheons, networking breakfasts, golf tournaments, fundraisers, business tradeshows and workshops, orientation programs, and educational opportunities, the Chamber works to enhance the business environment of Seattle Southside. Visit the Chamber website at www.swkcc.org.
Highline Community College
In today's competitive marketplace, businesses need a highly trained and flexible workforce. Highline Community College offers an extensive array of academic, career-related and personal development programs for individuals and companies of Seattle Southside. Highline Community College's Center for Extended Learning offers job skills programs and customized training programs to workers interested in opportunities for professional growth. With a variety of course offerings and certificate programs, Highline provides companies and their employees with first-rate training programs resulting in broad new skill sets. The Center also has qualified staff to engage with those companies and organizations interested in relocating to Seattle Southside and accessing important employee programs. For more information: www.highlined.edu.
Small Business Development Center
Seattle Southside is a place of deep potential for small and growing companies. With a mission to strengthen the local business community and stimulate regional economic growth, the Southwest King County Small Business Development Center at Highline Community College (SBDC) supports local business owners in their efforts to build profitable businesses. The SBDC Business Development Specialists provide small and medium-sized businesses with professional, no-fee, confidential, one-to-one counseling. The SBDC also offers research services, training classes and seminars to help companies in Seattle Southside thrive and grow. In 2008, the Highline SBDC assisted 255 business owners, created or saved 80 jobs in the community, and enabled businesses to bank $2.9 million in new capital. For more information, click here or view the attached PDF file.
StartZone
If you are an immigrant, a minority, a woman or someone with a disability who lives or works in Southwest King County, StartZone can help you start and/or grow your business. StartZone services are provided at no cost to its members and include:
- Assessments
- Referral Services
- Business Consulting
- Loan Packaging
- Workshops
- Networking
- Mentoring
- Peer Support
Whether your business is already established, just starting out, or still a dream, StartZone can make all the difference. For more information on how to become a StartZone member, please visit the StartZone website at: http://startzone.highline.edu.
Washington Cash
Washington CASH was founded in 1995 to transform people’s lives and communities by creating a pathway out of poverty using small loans and business training to build individuals’ businesses, credit, knowledge and confidence. As of August of 2008, approximately 2,500 people with low incomes have participated in its business training courses, more than 800 businesses have been started or expanded, and 331 loans have been made to low income individuals, totaling $700,750. Washington CASH builds “social collateral” among its members through networking events, trainings and peer groups, and thus currently maintains a 96% loan repayment rate. In addition, 89 individuals have built assets through Washington CASH’s Individual Development Account (IDA) program. For more information, visit www.washingtoncash.org.
BuRSST
BuRSST for Prosperity serves as an intermediary connecting the community and its resources to generate prosperity for low-income residents in Burien, Renton, SeaTac, Skyway, and Tukwila. The BuRSST community has identified three strategies to reduce poverty for low-income residents that will design, lead and implement lasting community change, including building community capacity, removing barriers to creating wealth, and overcoming generational poverty through education. For more information, visit www.bursst.org.
Community Capital Development
Community Capital Development (CCD) is a non-profit community development organization and a certified community development financial institution that provides access to capital and business assistance to low-income, women and minority entrepreneurs, and small businesses in distressed and underserved communities in Washington State. CCD's approach to alleviating poverty is through self-sufficiency achieved through entrepreneurialism. To find a CCD office, visit www.seattleccd.com.
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