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Empowering Skyway Businesses: King County Partners with Shop Skyway to Revitalize Local Commerce

Updated: 2 days ago

Skyway is a vibrant, culturally diverse community located just south of Seattle. Historically, it has been home to a wide array of residents, with a rich cultural mosaic that includes Black, Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous, and White communities. Skyway Business Revitalization Project, also known as Shop Skyway, is an exciting community-driven initiative supported by King County’s Department of Local Services through its Participatory Budgeting Program.


Skyway is a vibrant, culturally diverse community located just south of Seattle. Historically, it has been home to a wide array of residents, with a rich cultural mosaic that includes Black, Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous, and White communities. Skyway Business Revitalization Project, also known as Shop Skyway, is an exciting community-driven initiative supported by King County’s Department of Local Services through its Participatory Budgeting Program.

A Community with a Rich History

The median household income in Skyway is lower than the King County average, highlighting the economic challenges many families face in this area. This diversity shapes the character of Skyway and makes initiatives like The Skyway Business Revitalization Project, affectionally known as Shop Skyway, vital to nurturing equitable growth and opportunity for all residents.


A Commitment to Community Investment

Over the past year, King County has dedicated more than $10 million to empowering urban, unincorporated communities, such as Skyway. This innovative Participatory Budgeting approach involves residents directly in budgeting decisions, ensuring that funding serves projects that truly matter to their neighborhoods. Skyway businesses are now benefiting from this collective vision.



What is Shop Skyway?

Shop Skyway is a business consulting program established by King's Dream Business Consulting to help local businesses modernize and thrive. Running from April 21 through September 30, 2023, this program offered:

  • Technical assistance through workshops, webinars, and personalized consultations

  • Audits and financial analysis to identify challenges and opportunities

  • Custom consulting plans tailored to each business’s unique needs

All services are provided at no cost to participating business owners.




How We Served Skyway Businesses

Our team of expert consultants from King’s Dream Business Consulting dedicated over 130 hours to supporting businesses, assisted by a business development associate who provides an additional 80 hours of free support. Together, we helped homegrown companies to gain access to essential services like:

  • Marketing and branding (website design, logos, graphics)

  • Financial consulting and cash flow analysis

  • Operational improvements and feasibility studies

Participating businesses access a user-friendly website that serves as the communication hub. Through it, business owners can register for programs, receive a free business newsletter, and enjoy promotional opportunities such as branded merchandise that fosters community pride.



Skyway is a vibrant, culturally diverse community located just south of Seattle. Historically, it has been home to a wide array of residents, with a rich cultural mosaic that includes Black, Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous, and White communities. The median household income in Skyway is lower than the King County average, highlighting the economic challenges many families face in this area. This diversity shapes the character of Skyway and makes initiatives like The Skyway Business Revitalization Project, affectionally known as Shop Skyway, vital to nurturing equitable growth and opportunity for all residents.

Real Impact in the Community

Following the launch of Shop Skyway, 27 small businesses applied for assistance. Examples include:

  • Funtastic Ice Cream — complete brand redesign

  • Double Dutch Divas — website overhaul to boost visibility

  • Angel City Deli — human resources consulting to reduce staff turnover

Our support extends beyond consulting to raising awareness through newsletters and social media, spotlighting local businesses and their unique stories.


Voices from the Community

Here’s what some participants have shared about their Shop Skyway experience:

  • “Kate was really great. She designed a new logo and created marketing materials for us.” – I Am M3.

  • “Your advice has been immensely helpful! The business plan you provided is a great framework to move forward.” – Ma & Pops.

  • “Looking forward to future partnership opportunities. The website is awesome!” – Double Dutch Divas




Looking Ahead

The need for accessible business support in Skyway remains strong. Shop Skyway plans to continue this work by registering as a nonprofit and building partnerships—such as joining the Renton Chamber of Commerce—to expand resources and reach.

King’s Dream Business Consulting is honored to contribute our expertise to this transformative effort. If you are a Skyway business owner interested in learning how consulting support can help your business grow, visit www.shopskyway.org or contact us to get started.


Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected Skyway business community.

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