​City Of Bellevue Announces Plan To Support Reopening Businesses

BELLEVUE, WA — Some businesses in King County are now allowed to reopen in Washington's modified phase one of the Safe Start plan, and the City of Bellevue has a plan to ease the process and bolster businesses working to accommodate restrictions.

In a release Thursday, the city said it's allocating resources to support businesses and nonprofits working through the phased reopening.

City staff will be available to help businesses adapt to evolving requirements by clarifying regulations, offering up step-by-step guides and quickly processing permit requests for things like outdoor dining space expansions.

The city said it's working to expedite requests for restaurants hoping to expand patio space onto sidewalks or into parking lots, cultural nonprofits hoping to convert a parking lot into a drive-in event and retail businesses needing curbside space for order pickup.

“Our small businesses and nonprofits are a crucial part of what makes Bellevue a great place to live,” Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson said in a statement. “We are working hard to provide business owners with every opportunity to succeed during this challenging time through flexible support options that meet their needs in each phase of recovery.”

The city is also looking forward and planning for future reopening phases. The release states the city will allow gyms and fitness studios to rent park space for outdoor services in Phase 3, and it will reevaluate support programs as needed throughout the entire reopening.

“We can’t underestimate the importance of hearing from our business and nonprofit community as we navigate this unprecedented time together and work to support each other through recovery,” Bellevue Chief Economic Development Officer Jesse Canedo said in a statement. “Their input helps us assess, plan and evolve our range of support actions to best capitalize on the opportunities offered at each stage of reopening.”

A number of services are available to assist small businesses in Bellevue, a list of which can be found here.

Visit the city's website to learn more about its reopening efforts or to request assistance.