The Enterprise Nexus event in North Seattle last month brought together a wealth of resources and support for aspiring and established entrepreneurs in the Seattle King County metropolitan area.

Seattle, WA (September 16, 2025) – The Rudd’s Raising Up Black Businesses (R.U.B.B.) Initiative has announced the return of its fourth annual leadership conference, scheduled for Saturday, October 4th, 2025, at the University of Washington Seattle campus.

Seattle, WA – The inaugural Enterprise Nexus event, a collaborative effort by WorkSource Seattle King County and the Seattle Public Library, brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and resource organizations last week. The event, held at the North Seattle WorkSource offices, aimed to provide vital support and connections for Black entrepreneurs and small business owners in the region.

The Community Reinvestment Program (CRP) a City of Tacoma initiative that’s funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce, has listed all funds for Black families and Businesses. The establishments vary in resources that can help the community benefit in more ways than one.

Jenefeness Franke, from Black-Owned Business Excellence, highlights the abundance of available resources and the importance of staying informed. She emphasizes, "We need to be aware that these dollars, these applications, are coming open, and they're short windows because they gotta get the money out."

Small businesses are the heart and soul of Seattle's economy, but they face many challenges in today's economic climate. From rising costs to public safety concerns, these businesses need support to survive and thrive. The City of Seattle's Office of Economic Development (OED) is tasked with confronting these issues head-on and helping provide solutions for distressed small business owners. 

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is currently accepting applications for the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF). NMF is a granting program that consists of two funds—the Community Partnership Fund (CPF) and the Small Sparks Fund (SSF)—which support grassroots projects that build stronger communities.

The Small Business Workforce Accelerator Grant, funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Project, aims to promote equity for businesses in Seattle-King County, with a focus on those 51% or more owned and operated by individuals from Black, urban Indian/Tribal, and Latine communities.