Alliance for Pioneer Square

Mission

The Alliance for Pioneer Square is devoted to the betterment of Pioneer Square through advocacy, programming, marketing, and community action.

Description

The Alliance for Pioneer Square works to help preserve what makes Pioneer Square the most authentic, engaging, and dynamic neighborhood in Seattle. By fostering pivotal new programs and facilitating crucial neighborhood action, our district will continue moving towards a more vibrant and better place for everyone to work, live, and visit.

The Alliance is committed to upholding Pioneer Square’s economic recovery and facilitating future growth. We are dedicated to implementing programs that spur the neighborhood through the COVID-19 pandemic into a future abundant with public and private investments. We are not backing down from this once-in-a-lifetime challenge. Our businesses need us, and the support of the community, now more than ever.

In the past 12 months, we immediately adapted and successfully integrated the following into our efforts to serve our community:

1. Northeast Pioneer Square Framework Plan We completed the first phase of the Northeast Pioneer Square Framework planning process, aligning public and private investments to articulate a shared vision for the future of Northeast Pioneer Square with the goal of a high-quality public realm experience for all.
2. Facade Repair Improvement Fund We continued the Facade Repair Improvement Fund to provide financial support to fifteen Pioneer Square businesses and property owners to replace broken windows and repair or improve the appearance of 20 building facades or storefronts. in April 2022, we announced an additional $100,000 in additional funding for the program.
3. BIA Inspiration Fund We allocated $10,000 in 2022 to two cultural and creative community projects selected by the Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area Stakeholder Board which will be completed in summer 2022.
4. Public Space Beautification We commissioned public space beautification projects to enrich the public realm and liven spaces across the district, including a mural at 4th Ave and Yesler Way, illuminated holiday wreaths along 1st Ave, and live garland and string lights on the Pioneer Park pergola. We also led a green space improvement project along the streetscape of Occidental Ave. S, and a planned street mural along Occidental Ave.S., and several storm drain stencils across the district. 
5. Welcoming Returning Markets We welcomed the returning upper floor workforce to Pioneer Square after nearly two years of remote work through extensive outreach to large employers and providing incentives and information for their staff to engage with neighborhood businesses.
6. Events and Activations We activated public spaces with events including a summer busker series and holiday market in Occidental Mall, Coffee Break events in Occidental Square, two First Thursday activations and Pioneer Square Howlidays in Nord Alley, several maker pop-ups in Pioneer Park.
7. Marketing and Communications We developed a robust marketing and communications campaign entitled “This is PSQ” to highlight the neighborhood’s small businesses, in addition to promoting holiday programming, and neighborhood events such as First Thursday Art Walk.
8. Public Relations We extended our public relations initiative in collaboration with Allison + Partners to re-invigorate how the story of Pioneer Square is told to the broader community resulting in coverage in the Seattle Times, Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle Magazine and Daily Journal of Commerce.
9. Connecting Neighbors We encouraged neighbors to connect by launching a gift card matching program and distributing one thousand “grit kits” thanking neighborhood employees for their community support. We also partnered with the Pioneer Square Residents’ Council for a coat and supply drive in support of the Purpose Dignity Action’s JustCare program.
10. Technical Assistance Support We assisted business owners in navigating City and State resources to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptions while also providing a Commercial Tenant Improvement and Design workshop to develop small and micro businesses.
11. Advocacy We consistently and directly voiced our businesses’ needs to the Seattle City Council and Mayor’s Office as well as King County Council and the County’s Executive Office to unwaveringly advocate for Pioneer Square. The Alliance and Other Neighborhood Business Districts participated in a Small Business Panel Hosted by Councilmember Sara Nelson to review and discuss public safety concerns, ongoing challenges to economic recovery and potential solutions the ongoing business disruptions being experienced across the city.

Please consider a gift to the Alliance for Pioneer Square, and help us to ensure Pioneer Square remains a strong, vibrant neighborhood. We cannot do it without you.