For more than 45 years, the Phinney Neighborhood Association has worked to support the people, programs, and small businesses that make PhinneyWood a vibrant and connected community.
From neighborhood events like the Winter Festival to the programs offered through the Phinney Center and Greenwood Senior Center, along with services like the Hot Meal Program and memory loss support, the PNA has long played a role in strengthening the fabric of this neighborhood. Supporting local businesses has always been part of that work—through advocacy, partnerships, and direct engagement with the business community.
That includes the work of Chris Maykut, who has served as a dedicated advocate for small businesses in PhinneyWood, helping connect business owners with resources, support, and opportunities to grow.
The PhinneyWood Business Initiative builds on this long-standing commitment.
At its core, this effort is about creating a more structured and sustainable way to support the neighborhood’s business district over the long term. While the PNA already provides programs and resources that benefit the community, this initiative is designed to establish a framework that allows for greater coordination, consistency, and local guidance focused specifically on the business district.
Across Seattle, many neighborhood business districts have adopted similar structures to help ensure they remain vibrant, welcoming, and resilient as conditions change over time. The goal is not to replace what already exists, but to build on it—bringing additional organization and long-term support to the district.
The Phinney Neighborhood Association is leading this effort as a trusted, community-rooted nonprofit, with decades of experience working alongside residents, businesses, and community partners. That history matters. It means this work is being shaped by people who know the neighborhood, understand its character, and are invested in its future.
At the same time, the PhinneyWood Business Initiative is still in its early phase. The district has not yet been formed, and if it moves forward, decisions about priorities and programs would be guided by a local committee made up of property owners and business owners within the district.
Our goal is to bring the community along with transparency and visibility as we continue sharing information and answering questions about how this initiative could take shape.
If established, the PhinneyWood Business Initiative would be designed to support small businesses and commercial properties, helping strengthen the neighborhood’s business district and the community that surrounds it for years to come.
We have been sharing information as this effort progresses and will continue to provide updates throughout the process.
Questions can be sent to [email protected]. This helps ensure you receive a direct response and allows us to better understand what information the community is looking for as we continue this work.
Past articles:
What Business Improvement Areas Could Mean for PhinneyWood (3/23/26)