Small Business Advisor for the Seattle Office of Economic Development Domonique Meeks joined Trae Holiday to talk about his work with the department and the ways small business owners can get involved.

Meeks said he works with a team of five people who’s goal it is to support small business owners on their journey towards success. The department works with both new business owners who are looking for support on how to get started as well as with legacy businesses looking to expand or make changes.

“I take it upon myself as a small business advocate to make sure I’m sharing with business owners all the ways we can help them.”

Some of those ways include the Digital Sales Access Program, which provides businesses with a free point of sales system, as well as the Urban League’s Youth Website Development Program, which connects business owners with web designers.

He also spoke about the availability of data around the programs, saying that with these types of programs transparency is important.

“I think that transparency is necessary not just for this office but for all government offices to really get to a point of success,” Meeks said. “It’s also important to do outreach.”

Meeks asked listeners to share the information with their neighbors or business owners they know who could benefit from any of OED’s programs.

“We know that our impact in community is best when it’s relational,” Meeks said.

The Storefront Repair Fund application is open now, and Meeks said there is nearly $2 million to be dispersed. You can find more information about that here.