“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?””
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we head into a new week, following a holiday, I came across this quote and it could not ring truer for me. Many of you know that I took a few months off last year to train for a Half Ironman, a challenge I’ve always dreamed of conquering. As a result, my consistent workflow took a bit of a hit. For the first time, in a very long time, I had to put effort into reaching out to my community and networking (see my 2022 blog post for more on this). I went for a walk with a past client, scheduled check-in calls with a few others, and grabbed coffee with another. It was the coffee (only in Seattle) that resulted in one of the most rewarding and exciting projects that I’ve ever been a part of. Thank you, Jennifer (Satsuma Designs) – I will be forever grateful!
Like most paths, the road to this project wasn't straight. Jennifer referred me to a local program called Seattle Made. This organization is a collaboration of over seven hundred urban manufacturers and producers—makers of everything from chocolate to cheese, beer to bicycles, and jewelry to jam—coming together to 'make it' in Seattle. The sense of community within this organization is inspiring.
In turn, the Seattle Made Program Manager connected me with the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development and their Accounting and Business Consulting Program (ABC). This group secured a grant to help support start-up companies whose owners fit into one or more of the following categories: 51%+ woman owned, 51% + BIPOC owned, or 51%+ LGTBQ+ owned, and has a current City of Seattle business license. The ABC program provides FREE one-on-one consulting to Seattle-based businesses seeking to re-establish operations after COVID-related disruption, and businesses wanting to scale and grow. Consulting services provided under the ABC Program will help small businesses implement sustainable financial solutions and assist with operational strategy that include but are not limited to:
Bookkeeping and accounting guidance
Business plan development
Marketing plan assistance and Brand development
Cash flow management
Loan readiness
I was lucky enough to be selected as one of three Marketing Specialists to help support this program and it has been one of the most rewarding opportunities of my creative career. The ability to offer my services to those who could not otherwise afford it, has been incredibly rewarding!
I am currently working with such a wide variety of businesses and clients now as a result – a burger restaurant, a podcast specialist, an event staffing company, and a specialized logbook for sailors, to name just a few. EVERYONE that I’ve worked with so far has been so appreciative and great to work with. I hope to stay in touch with each of these amazing businesses and their owners because I’m excited to see them grow and flourish, all thanks to the City of Seattle and its efforts to support our local economy.
Do YOU know of anyone that could benefit from these FREE services? If yes, please reach out!
Kirsti Rochon is a senior level Brand Designer and Marketing Professional in the Greater Seattle area. For more information, visit KirstiRochon.com