The Thurston EDC is working closely with the Department of Commerce in order to share with the Thurston County business community the most up-to-date information regarding the disbursement of additional Washington State CARES funding. We hope to have additional information this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Please stay tuned.

We are posting the announcement in its original form with links to specific resource pages: please follow these links on your own in case we don’t receive clarifying info quickly. We will post/email updates to subscribers as soon as we receive them. The new grant application process is expected to start this week.
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This is an update to help businesses prepare for the Working Washington business grant application process that will open early next week.

Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee announced an additional $70 million for business grants. $50 million of that is for a new round of Working Washington business grants. The remainder will go toward funding all qualified businesses that applied in earlier rounds of our resiliency grant program. (NOTE: Businesses who applied for resiliency grant will not need to take any action).

The application portal and additional information will be posted at www.commerce.wa.gov/bizgrants.

Who can apply?
These grants are prioritized for:

• Small businesses with annual revenues of $5 million or less in 2019
• Businesses in sectors most impacted by the recent public health measures as well as businesses in sectors that have experienced significant, cumulative impacts. Examples include full-service restaurants, fitness centers, bowling alleys and music/event venues.
• Certain nonprofits may also be eligible if they have a primary business activity that falls into a similar category as noted above. Example – a nonprofit full-service restaurant or nonprofit music venue.

If the state Department of Commerce is able to fund all the eligible applicants from the priority pool, and funds remain, Commerce may be able to provide grants to additional businesses or nonprofits from other sectors or who have annual revenues larger than $5 million.

What does the grant pay for?

• The maximum grant award will be up to $20,000.
• The grant can only cover expenses or costs incurred due to COVID-19 and that were necessary to continue business operations.

How can I apply?

• The online application portal will open early next week (the week of Nov. 30). The portal link will be available at commerce.wa.gov/bizgrants. Additional information about eligibility and prioritization will also be posted there.
• Priority will be given to applications received by Dec. 10. If Commerce is able to fund all the eligible applicants who submit by that time, we may be able to consider eligible applicants who submit after the 10th.
• Checklist of the information you’ll need to have ready:
• Applicant W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number
• Copy of valid government-issued photo I.D.
• For Tribal-member owned businesses: license or certification if business activity is conducted outside the tribal jurisdiction; letter or certification from the tribe recognizing you as a business if business activity is within the tribal jurisdiction.
• Copy of 2019 Tax Return/ other confirmation of Gross Revenues for 2019.
• For businesses with a physical location, evidence of that location, such as lease, tax statement, utility bill, etc.
• NAICS code or clear description of primary business activity. A NAICS code is helpful, but not necessary. If you have never used a NAICS code, you can learn more here: What is a NAICS Code? and explore NAICS codes to see which one fits your business.