Individuals age 12 and older are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test in order to enter certain events and establishments in King County. Learn more below. Additionally, face coverings or masks must be worn at all times while indoors or outdoors where social distancing may not be maintained.
Our (re)Startup425 business response team helps Eastside businesses:
- Prepare materials for forgiveness of loans, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), and FlexFund
- Learn about and apply for other financial assistance.
City Response
To help local businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak and social distancing orders, the City of Bellevue has taken a number of actions. Among them, we have:
- Created temporary curbside food pick-up zones and on-street dining spaces in certain areas of downtown Bellevue
- Adapted our Eastside Arts Partnership and Special Projects arts programs to allow for early invoicing and payment.
- Awarded more than $1.1 million in relief grants for Bellevue's small businesses and nonprofits.
We continue to monitor the situation, and are continually developing additional resources and tools. Most importantly, document the impacts of COVID-19 on your business or nonprofit as the situation is unfolding. It will assist with relief efforts by local, state and federal agencies.
Vaccine Verification
People ages 12 and older are required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter the following indoor and outdoor events and establishments in King County:
- Restaurants and bars (not including outdoor dining, takeout, or places such as grocery stores which aren't primarily used as indoor dining locations)
- Gyms and exercise facilities
- Performance arts or live music venues, movie theaters and indoor sporting events
- Conferences and conventions
- Outdoor events with 500 or more people, such as professional and collegiate sports and entertainment events.
Public Health - Seattle & King County has additional information on vaccine requirements. The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce offers compliance resources for businesses.
What businesses need to know
If your business falls into one of the categories above, you must request that patrons provide verification of full COVID-19 vaccination (or a recent negative COVID-19 test). This order is meant to keep businesses open and protect employees, customers and community members.
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has developed a toolkit to help businesses implement the order. This includes signage, technical assistance, and a QR code verification app.
What residents need to know
You need to show proof of vaccination (or a recent negative COVID-19 test) to enter the venues listed above, including restaurants, bars, gyms, performing arts venues and movie theaters. Please be kind and patient as businesses and employees adapt to this new guidance. Your proof could include any of the following:
- CDC vaccination card or a photo of your CDC vaccine card
- Documented proof of vaccination from a medical record or vaccine provider
- Printed certificate or QR code from MyIRMobile.com.
- Print or digital documentation from a pharmacy, laboratory or testing provider of an FDA-approved PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours.
You do not need to show identification with your proof of vaccination.
People who are unvaccinated or cannot prove their vaccination status will be required to show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test in the last 72 hours or a rapid test result from a test performed by a testing provider on the site of the event.
- Find a vaccine
- Find a COVID-19 test
Masking Requirements
There are no state restrictions on capacity for restaurants, bars, stores, businesses and theaters (except large indoor events), but face coverings or masks are required in all indoor public settings and outdoors where social distancing may not be maintained, regardless of vaccination.
Businesses must enforce this masking rule, under state Department of Labor and Industries guidance.
Curbside Pickup, Patio Dining and Park Space
Given masking and vaccine verification requirements for indoor spaces, some businesses may be interested in modifying their operations. For example, restaurants may want to offer some form of patio dining, and fitness studios may want to offer classes in Bellevue parks.
The city is committed to supporting businesses making these adaptations. We've developed guides for a variety of business uses of public and private spaces:
- Retail curbside pickup (both in-street and parking lot)
- Patio dining and retail (both in-street and parking lot)
- Rental of park space
- Drive-in cultural events
Need more information? Call 425-452-4114 or email bizresources@bellevuewa.gov, and we will walk you through your options.
Loans
PPP Forgiveness: The federal Paycheck Protection Program ended May 31, 2021. Businesses that received a PPP loan should immediately start planning for the forgiveness process. OneRedmond offers an on-demand webinar to walk you through the process.
Washington FlexFund: Provides loans of up to $150,000 to small businesses and nonprofits, with interest rates as low as 3%. Learn more by reaching out to our small business advisor or by visiting Washington FlexFund.
Business Impact NW: Provides low-interest loans to community-based nonprofits and small businesses, with more flexible criteria than traditional financial institutions. Additionally, it has compiled an outstanding set of COVID-19 resources, including free, one-on-one business coaching.
Mercy Corps Northwest: Offering clients loan payment deferrals.
Artists and Cultural Nonprofits
Funding programs for the arts are changing quickly. Please sign up for our weekly COVID-19 resources newsletter and visit the Bellevue Arts Program's Instagram page for the latest information about available relief funding.
- American Guild of Musical Artists: temporary financial assistance to members in need.
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts: Emergency Fund for eligible visual and performing artists. Average grant award totals about $1,600.
- Recording Academy MusiCares: short-term financial assistance for personal needs due to unforeseen circumstances
- Sweet Relief: donor-directed assistance fund for short-term financial support for musicians and music industry workers
Resources and Surveys
- Artist Trust: financial assistance resources for artists, cultural and community organizations. Join Artist Trust's COVID-19 Response for Washington State Artists Facebook Group.
- Americans for the Arts: impact survey and resources
- Artwork Archive: financial assistance for artists affected by COVID-19
- COVID-19 Freelance Artists Resources: List
- Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Arts: resources for the performing arts
- Artist Resource List: Google doc from Le Weatherman Sekuler
Marketing and Business Development
Marketing Tools
What's Open Eastside: As we work through the phases of the state's "Safe Start" plan, many businesses will be adapting their operations to serve their customers through curbside pickup, takeout and delivery, and/or reduced hours. Several Eastside cities have joined together to promote local businesses, restaurants and cafés, and nonprofits, which are open with adapted operations. Join the list to promote your business to tens of thousands of Eastside residents.
Business Development
Startup 425 is offering online workshops this summer on topics like starting a business, refining a business plan, managing finances and selling products online. These workshops are held in partnership with Greater Seattle SCORE, and are suitable both for current business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
REACH King County provides SizeUp, an online market research and business intelligence tool, free to local business owners and operators. The service can assist you in comparing your business to competitors, identifying demographic and psychographic information, and selecting the best places to target your marketing and promotional efforts. Reach out to REACH King County to begin using the SizeUp tool.
Leases and Legal Help
Commercial Leases
Communities Rise has established a Commercial Lease Amendment Toolkit, designed to assist small businesses and nonprofits as they negotiate with landlords for rent relief and extensions.
Legal Help
Communities Rise is providing a virtual legal clinic to help small businesses and nonprofits navigate the issues they might experience as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers a free, 60-minute phone or video call consultation with a lawyer which can meet each specific business' needs.
Employment, Recovery and Employer Health Guidance
Employment
Unemployment Benefits: Temporary rules expand unemployment benefits to cover more people, including many sole proprietors, contractors, artists and gig workers.
Recovery
The state is helping businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic.
The Office of Gov. Inslee has established a detailed list of financial, export, insurance and workforce assistance which may be available for businesses and nonprofits.
The Washington Department of Commerce is providing small business resiliency assistance to women- and minority-owned businesses through organizations such as Ventures and Tabor Business Hub.
The Washington Small Business Development Center has developed a detailed Business Resiliency Toolkit to help businesses plan and adapt to disasters. Additionally, the center is running resiliency webinars.
Health Guidance
- COVID-19 resources and information (Greater Seattle Partners)
- Planning for a Coronavirus Pandemic: A Guide for Businesses (Public Health - Seattle & King County)
- Business resources and checklist (Centers for Disease Control)
- Model employer policies and resources (Business Health Trust)
Resources for Childcare Providers
The Imagine Institute
The Imagine Institute's professional development supports are culturally-responsive, respectful of provider skills and knowledge, and accessible to those already working long hours, often for low pay.
The Imagine Institute staff speak Spanish, English and Somali and 50% of our employees have worked as licensed family child care providers or lead teachers in child care centers. Our goal is to elevate the conditions of this profession while maintaining its incredible diversity.
Child Care Resources
Child Care Resources works with families, child care providers, community organizations and advocacy groups in order to improve the quality of early childhood care in our region. We support families in their search for child care, assist families experiencing homelessness with child care costs, coach and provide resources for child care professionals, and train and empower low-income and refugee women pursuing careers in early learning.
King County Resources
King County Resources include guidance documents, fact sheets, and letter templates to support COVID-19 prevention and response within child care. Translated resources are available in up to nine languages.