The Washington State Department of Commerce announced that the first group of grants approved for 501 very small businesses impacted by COVID-19 through the Governor’s Working Washington Small Business emergency grant program.
Businesses with up to 10 employees in Adams, Asotin, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, Pend Oreille, San Juan, Skamania, Stevens and Walla Walla were awarded grants ranging from $566 – $10,000 to cover allowable costs including rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory and other operating expenses.
Locally, this includes nearly $340, 000 between Grays Harbor and Pacific County, assisting 77 local businesses and leading to over 225 retained jobs.
Total Grants: $184,300
Total Businesses: 31
Grantees Included:
Jobs Retained: 93
Total Grants: $154,555
Total Businesses: 46
Jobs Retained: 134
The grants are funded with $10 million from the Governor’s Economic Development Strategic Reserve Fund – $5 million from the Working Washington strategic reserve fund and an additional $5 million from the state’s $200 million COVID-19 emergency response package approved by the Legislature in March.
Businesses may use this money to pay for rent, utilities, supplies and inventory, and other non-payroll related expenses.
The next wave of Working Washington Small Business Grants will be announced in the coming weeks.
Gov. Inslee’s statement on the grants: https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-expanded-county-variance-criteria-and-working-wa-small-business-grants-5a82a43f3c8b
From Washington State Department of Commerce: Commerce awards first 500 Working Washington small business relief grants in 20 counties