Seattle Good Business Network

In 2024, our Good Food Economy initiatives continued to strengthen the local food chain by creating spaces for connection and collaboration across the Puget Sound, engaging 1,253 businesses and organizations thorugh 1,593 individuals over the course of the year. Our flagship event, Good Food Connections, brought together over 300 producer, buyers, and community food stakeholders. The impact was immediate and tangible, with 84% of participants anticipating sales resulting from 1,595 meaningful connections made and over $27,900 invested directly with local producers. We elevated community voices through focused listening sessions like Nourishing Local Connections, where, with partner organizations, we created a vital bridge between 195 food access organizations and 47 government representatives. This work led to policy recommendations?including farm to-food assistance investments and flexible grants for innovative new models?to strengthen regional food security programming. Through ongoing Food Business Roundtables and our growing online Good Food Forum?934 members strong?we continue to nurture a vibrant ecosystem where all food businesses and organizations, including producers, chefs, and food security organizations, can find support, share resources, and collaborate on solutions that advance our regional food system. Through connections made on Good Food Exchange, Cascadia Produce redistributed 4.5 million pounds of rescued good food and farm surplus to over 70 food assistance organizations. These sales and donations guaranteed this good food was diverted to its highest use to people (95%), animals (5%), and compost (just 0.25%), ensuring no good food goes to the waste and producers are paid for their food. Good Food Kitchens directed $101,179.13 to 22 community kitchen partners, sourcing from 55 local farms and producers, to prepare 9,491 nourishing, cultural meals for 26 organizations to distribute.

In 2024 Seattle Good Business Network's programs also included Sustainability & Circular Economy, Seattle Made, Seattle Explored and Northwest Sewn. Sustainable Business & Circular Economy programming connects businesses with resources and technical assistance to operate more sustainably and conserve resources. We served over 800 through communications, workshops, and one-on-one technical assistance. Seattle Made is a collaboration of hundreds of urban manufacturers and producers who are united to ?make it? in Seattle. These makers help expand opportunities for local ownership. Through an online community, makers share resources: production space & funding opportunities, pop-up sales events, wholesale and retail connections, and more. In 2024 the Northwest Sewn website and directory were relaunched as a resource hub for textiles and sewn-trade businesses looking to collaboratively advance the sector, operate more sustainably, and develop the infrastructure for a more vibrant textiles economy. We also hosted our first Northwest Food & Fiber event, celebrating the businesses built on what is grown and sewn in the PNW. Seattle Explored provides pathways for locals and visitors alike to take advantage of the unique businesses and experiences Seattle has to offer?in a handy digital format available via smartphone.

Youth Program: Youth Workforce Development connects youth (18-24) to meaningful career and leadership opportunities, including internships, job shadowing, and mentorship opportunities. In 2024, this program served 10 youth and 10 local businesses. SGBN works to expand and support quality and emergent career and experiential learning pathways (internships, mentorships, and career-exposure opportunities) for youth.