Business Development Grant Program.

As Chair of the Planning and Business Development Committee for two years, Joe organized round-table discussions between City Council members and local business owners to better understand how we can support the growth of small businesses in Sedro-Woolley. We heard from a wide range of stakeholders and found that the top priority for many was improving the visual appeal of our city. In response, we began exploring ways to promote pride in the appearance of our community, eventually leading to the creation of the Business Development Grant Program.

Metcalf Street in Sedro-Woolley

This program offers reimbursement grants for locally owned businesses and nonprofits with storefronts in Sedro-Woolley. To qualify, applicants needed prior approval for their improvement plans, and all upgrades had to be exterior improvements. Business owners would complete and pay for the work up front, then apply for reimbursement. The entire City Council helped shape and approve the program. We voted on each project to ensure accountability and shared decision-making.

We funded the program using federal ARPA funds, specifically intended to help businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic. The results have been very successful, not only has the program improved the look of our city, but it has also encouraged many other businesses to invest in their storefronts as well. Joe believes in listening to a broad range of ideas, studying what has worked in other communities, and making thoughtful, effective use of public funds to maximize success.

You can see some of the improvements at places like the Sedro-Woolley Museum, Cascade Fabric, Bonnie Jo's, and Schaffner's Pharmacy to name a few.