From cutting application times by 80% to an ad campaign that quadrupled website visits, Seattle is making great strides to transform how residents apply for benefits and discounts. At the heart of this effort is CiviForm, a one-stop-shop portal makes applying for multiple benefit programs simpler, faster, and more accessible… [ Keep reading ]
This year, Innovation & Performance is working with partners at the City of Seattle, youth and trusted adults, parents, and mental health experts in the community to re-imagine how young people connect with resources. Whether it’s mental health counseling, recreation activities, job training, or other programs, the Youth Connector initiative… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle’s work in data-driven innovation is making headlines. Two recent news stories spotlight the City’s efforts to deliver real solutions and improved services for residents, with partnership from the Seattle Innovation & Performance Team. Driving Change with Data and Digital Tools Innovation & Performance Director Leah Tivoli recently appeared on… [ Keep reading ]
On March 4, 2025, Seattle took an important step to address displacement by launching the Anti-Displacement Work Group, a product of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Executive Order on Strengthening Anti-Displacement Strategies. The Work Group unites key department leaders and policymakers across the City to develop targeted solutions that will help residents… [ Keep reading ]
How do I contract with the City of Seattle? Until August 12, 2024, there was no simple answer to that seemingly simple question. Different departments had different procurement systems for the three main buckets of contracts: public works, consulting, and purchase of goods and services. Those bids were in turn… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle is an increasingly multicultural and multilingual city. More than 150 languages or dialects are spoken by students and their families in Seattle Public Schools. This incredible linguistic diversity presents a logistical challenge for the City government to communicate with all of its residents about everything from notifications on upcoming… [ Keep reading ]
Winning a government contract can be a game-changer for local small businesses. But confusing and inefficient processes can keep new firms, as well as small and BIPOC-owned firms, from being successful as City contractors. These inefficiencies also take up valuable staff time and resources. This is why Seattle participated in… [ Keep reading ]
Many of the City of Seattle’s parks, playgrounds, pools, comfort stations and community centers were built before Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Ever since, local governments around the country have been chipping away at a backlog of renovations to add ramps, widen doorways and install elevators… [ Keep reading ]
Cast and crew of Tagalog sa King Street, 2019. Left to right: Ai Lalo, Leah Mitts, Lorna Velasco, Arlo Magpoc, Nina de Torres Ignacio, Pia Rivera, Andrea Castillo, and Manny Golez. Photo courtesy Velasco Arts. If you squint at the bottom of a playbill or art exhibit description at a… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle is celebrating progress toward making public benefits more accessible for residents since the expansion of the Affordable Seattle program one year ago. Mayor Harrell announced the expansion of the Affordable Seattle initiative on July 12, 2023, part of his efforts to make City discount and benefit programs easily accessible… [ Keep reading ]
