Impact on Local Businesses

We support entrepreneurship in our community, particularly in underserved areas.

Library to Business

We held 260 one-on-one help sessions with local entrepreneurs that gave them free access to market research and business resources.
Of entrepreneurs who accessed one-on-one help, 56% indicated they were starting a business, 69% said their business was a woman- or minority-certified (WMBE) business; 19% said their business was an LGBTQ-certified business; and 19% said it was a veteran-owned business.
We added one-on-one business meetings, already available at Central Library and five branches, to Ballard, Green Lake and Lake City branches.
More than 70 business workshops and networking events drew an attendance of 1,400 people.
40 community partners enhanced the Library’s small business program.
New and enhanced programs and partnerships included the UW Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Workshops and the Islamic Finance Network.