Resource Guide
Looking for help growing a food business or working in the food industry? Use this guide to connect with the right resources.
Step 1: Select your goal.
Step 2: Click on the category that matches your needs.
Step 3: Read through the results and choose a local organization to help you.
Step 4: Call, email, or visit the organization for assistance.
Results
Alliance of Angels
We are a group of 140+ active angel investors. Each year, we invest $10M+ into 20+ startups and provide mentorship to help them succeed.
Community Sourced Capital
We use new financial tools to help local businesses access capital. We provide loans to small businesses using funds sourced from people in their community.
Craft3
Craft3 is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) lender with a mission to strengthen economic, ecological and family resilience in Pacific Northwest communities.
Evergreen Business Capital
Evergreen Business Capital is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Certified Development Company (CDC), dedicated to offering business capital services that enhance small business growth in our region.
Express Credit Union
Our mission is to provide affordable financial services to low- and moderate-income people; and in doing so, help them build assets and achieve financial stability.
Harborstone Credit Union (Kent)
Harborstone is a member-owned, not-for-profit organization offering members more than financial services. We help the community by helping members save and borrow.
Harborstone Credit Union (Seattle)
Harborstone is a member-owned, not-for-profit organization offering members more than financial services. We help the community by helping members save and borrow.
Harborstone Credit Union (Tukwila)
Harborstone is a member-owned, not-for-profit organization offering members more than financial services. We help the community by helping members save and borrow.
Highline College – Small Business Development Center
The SBDC at Highline specializes in providing business and training services to entrepreneurs and existing businesses in order to be successful in today’s economy.
Highline College – Small Business Entrepreneurship Program
In this program you will develop the practical skills you need-including management, marketing, retailing and accounting-to effectively plan for and operate your small business.
Jump $tart Fund
The JumpStart Fund, a non-profit microenterprise development program, was formed by the Refugee Resettlement Office in 2003 with funding from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. JumpStart has provided over $550,000 in micro-loans to more than 200 Puget Sound area refugees and asylees.
Mercy Corps Northwest
Non-profit organization assists low-income entrepreneurs with starting or expanding a small business or self-employment.
North Seattle Community College
North Seattle College provides learning opportunities for a diverse group of over 14,000 students each year.
Pinchot University – Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship
CIE's vision is that through entrepreneurship and community wealth building strategies, participants in our programs are empowered to build resilient, sustainable, and equitably shared community wealth.
Puget Sound Venture Club
PSVC was founded with the simple mission of creating a small, focused community of accredited investors who represent themselves or their organizations while providing access to the experience and insight of other investor members.
Restaurant Success
The City of Seattle, King County, State of Washington and the restaurant community are working together to improve the regulatory experience of starting and operating restaurants in Seattle. This guide clarifies the city, county, state, and federal requirements you’ll face as you prepare for your first customers.
Seattle Pacific University – Center for Applied Learning
Seattle Pacific University’s Center for Applied Learning has built strong ties to the Puget Sound business community. Its Mentor, Service Learning, Internship, and Entrepreneurship programs each provide a unique opportunity for both graduate and undergraduate students to put faith into practical action within the business world.
Seattle University – Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center
At the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center we build and nourish the entrepreneurial spirit. That means linking students with the business community.
Self-Employment Assistance Program
SEAP is a unique opportunity for you to enter into self-employment entrepreneurial training and receive business counseling while you collect unemployment benefits.
Social Venture Partners Seattle
Seeks to develop philanthropy and volunteerism to achieve positive social change in the Puget Sound region. Offers grants, portfolios, partner opportunities,
StartZone/Highline
StartZone believes in providing reality-based, individualized services to put members on the path to owning a business that can grow and be profitable.
U.S. Department of Commerce – Minority Business Development Center Agency
MBDA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that helps to create and sustain U.S. jobs by promoting the growth and global competitiveness of businesses owned and operated by minority entrepreneurs.
University of Washington Consulting and Business Development Center
Through the center’s programs, students build skills and gain experience in consulting and solving business challenges. The students provide valuable consulting to small businesses and non-profit organizations in underserved communities. Business owners and non-profit leaders gain access to business education that creates jobs and changes lives.
Ventures
Ventures Food Business Incubator Program empowers individuals with limited resources and unlimited potential to improve their lives through small business ownership.
Veterans Business Outreach Center
VBOC is committed to providing training and financing opportunities to entrepreneurs from the U.S. Military community. In partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, VBOC equips veteran and active duty service members and their families with the resources to successfully start and run their businesses.
Washington Small Business Development Center (Everett)
SBDCs have been helping Washington businesses achieve their full potential for more than 30 years through expert business advice, comprehensive research, and reliable assessments.
Washington Small Business Development Center (Seattle)
The Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC) is a network of business advisors, trainers, and support staff who operate from Washington State University, Western Washington University, several of the state’s community and technical colleges, and selected economic development agencies.
Washington Small Business Development Center (South Seattle)
The Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC) is a network of business advisors, trainers, and support staff who operate from Washington State University, Western Washington University, several of the state’s community and technical colleges, and selected economic development agencies.
Washington State Department of Revenue
The Washington State Department of Revenue's mission is to fairly and efficiently collect revenues and administer programs to fund public services and advocate sound tax policy.
Washington State Microenterprise Association
The Washington State Microenterprise Association’s mission is to strengthen economic development systems that support the growth of strong and effective Microenterprise Development Organizations.
Washington Women’s Business Center
The Washington Women's Business Center offers business counseling, technical assistance, and training on a wide variety of topics.