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Begin your application for a Washington Hospitality Grant! Restaurants, bars, caterers, food trucks, bakeries, lodging businesses and other small hospitality organizations are eligible to apply for a one-time grant award.  Use the application checklist to guide you through the application process and APPLY NOW.  Download flyer WA Hospitality Grants Program: Lodging Focus March 23, 2023  1:00 pm This informational webinar will focus on the Lodging Establishments funding set aside. The webinar will cover program details, eligibility requirements, and application questions. Q&A will be addressed by the panel and presenter...

Rep. Kilmer and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are inviting local small business owners to participate in a virtual federal funding workshop  Wednesday February 22nd, 2023 11:30AM to 12:30PM Pacific Time. Topics: Small business funding for small businesses, particularly those owned by members of the BIPOC, Women, Veteran and rural communities.   Please RSVP to emma.abraham@mail.house.gov Virtual link: Will be sent out to RSVPs prior to event. The virtual workshop will cover SBA funding opportunities including: The 8(a) Business Development program for small disadvantaged businesses; The HUBZone program for small businesses in urban...

Application portal will open in March 2023. This grant program will provide assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic. This program will also provide assistance to “lodging establishments” taxable by the state under chapter 28.08 RCW with 40 or more lodging units affected by the Governors moratorium. Hospitality/restaurant industry Grantees must use the funding for losses accepted between March 3, 2021 and October 21, 2021, as required by federal ARPA regulations and in accordance with the governor’s eviction moratorium end dates. Recipients/ Grantees will have until December 31, 2024 to...

Inclusive Backing - Small Businesses The Inclusive Backing program builds on American Express' ongoing "Backing Small" initiative to provide economically vulnerable small businesses with financial support and other resources to address their critical needs and challenges.  These $5,000 grants can be used for anything from physical improvements to the business space to meet relevant reopening requirements brought on by COVID-19 to payroll and other operating expenses.  The fourth grant cycle is open to eligible small business owners who identify as Native or Indigenous, Hispanic or Latinx, LGBTQ+ or as immigrants, refugees or forcibly displaced. As small...

Emergency Grants | Washington State Department of Commerce (commercegrants.com) The Washington State Legislature has allocated a new round of grant funding for small businesses affected by the pandemic. $70 million was appropriated by the legislature for the next round of Working Washington Grants: Round 5, with $45 million of the appropriation directed to eligible businesses and nonprofit organizations in the arts, heritage, and science sectors, including those that operate live entertainment venues. $25 million will be directed at most other sectors, including hospitality, fitness and personal services.   Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria, with additional...

COVID-19 Emergency Funding for Small Businesses Over the last year, Washington State has provided small businesses throughout the state with more than $500 million in grants to address the economic outfall of COVID-19. This effort continues as we look to new funding strategies for businesses in the process of rebuilding and recovering. COMING – Working Washington Grants: Round 5 The Washington State Legislature has allocated a new round of grant funding for small businesses affected by the pandemic. $70 million was appropriated by the legislature for the next round of Working Washington Grants: Round 5, with $45 million...

Do you recieve WWU SBDC's newsletter? If not you missed may have missed this important information. (Sign up here) Equitable Innovations Accelerator (EIA)   The EIA is a great new program supported by the Washington State Department of Commerce. This program is focused on providing funding for tech start-ups, with a priority to entrepreneurs from "historically marginalized communities". The next Q&A session will be held on Jan 14th. Find more information or sign up for the Q&A with the link below: Equitable Innovations Accelerator   Washington State...

Joe Morrison (morrison@kitsapeda.org) is the Executive Director of the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. Shoot him an email for feedback on the predictions, or join KEDA for our Kitsap Digital Hour at 11 a.m. on January 13, on the topic of Business Credibility and Credit with Jenefeness Tucker. Sign up at http://kitsapeda.me/KDH 

BY MONICA BLACKWOOD reposted from West Sound Workforce Employers and company leadership groups across the United States have spent the last two months waiting for this. Speculating on what would be included. Listing out question after question. Implementing their own company policies based on the announcement from President Biden on September 9, 2021 when he issued a vaccine mandate on all companies with 100 or more employees. Yesterday was the day the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) dropped, providing more insight into what employers need to do to help make sure they provide a safe workplace with...