ABOUT

The Small Business & Community Alliance is a coalition of diverse businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, and local chambers of commerce that works to advocate for good governance and responsible public policies in Seattle.

Seattle’s business community makes up an ecosystem, comprised of different-sized shops, restaurants, cafes, innovative entrepreneurs, products and services, and the people who make it all possible.

We can only succeed as a city with sound public policies informed by the diverse perspectives and voices of this community.

We envision a Seattle that is clean and safe with a buzzing downtown and vibrant city neighborhoods.
We hold elected leaders accountable to judiciously spend every public dollar to solve our greatest challenges including enhancing public safety, addressing our city’s greatest needs, and getting results.
We advocate for policies that grow or sustain our businesses without unnecessary barriers.
We stand up for each other. Our members are diverse and include restaurant and boutique owners, Business Improvement Districts, community groups and neighborhood chambers. While our businesses are unique, we are united in our vision for a Seattle that would allow ours and future businesses to prosper.

SBCA Guiding Principles

Advocate throughout the city’s budget process for sound spending decisions, transparency, and good stewardship of public dollars.
Promote the city implementing accountability measures into all new spending and existing spending over a certain threshold.
Engage with the City to communicate on the ground challenges for our businesses that could be helped by a more comprehensive approach to crime and safety.
Oppose any proposal that would harm Seattle’s business ecosystem and build political and community support for alternative solutions.

SBCA Objectives

Advocacy Priorities:

Governance & Accountability

Ensure fair, transparent, and effective governance to maximize the benefits of public investment and hold government leaders accountable to results.

The SBCA will advocate for the best use of every public dollar to build trust between elected officials and the people and businesses they represent.

The City of Seattle collected and spent hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue in recent years, yet public safety issues persist, homelessness is up 23% from 2022, and economic growth remains stagnant.

For too long, city leaders promised to solve the city’s most intractable problems but are not held accountable for actually solving them nor are they transparent in how that money is spent or the return on investment.

Public Safety

Increase the safety of every neighborhood and create a welcoming environment for businesses, workers, and visitors.

The SBCA will also advocate for additional resources to make sure businesses are protected from vandalism, entrances remain clear, retail theft rings are dismantled, and employees can focus on their work instead of acting as first responders to some of our region’s pressing challenges.

Seattle must address crime and ensure there is a sufficient police presence, but also adequately manage mental health response services, drug treatment and help people who are homeless and too often the victims of crime as well.