Established under the American Rescue Plan, and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides a total of $28.6 billion in direct relief funds to restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments that have experienced economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program…

In a recent study by WalletHub, the City of Lacey is ranked 138 out of 1,300 U.S. cities and is the top small city in Washington state to start a business.  To determine the best small cities to start a business, WalletHub compared 20 key metrics ranges from average growth in the number of small…

Expected to open in late April/early May, the Food Truck Depot Pilot Program is a project led by the city of Lacey, this upcoming food truck spot is an initial step toward a wider revitalization effort at the intersection between Pacific Avenue Southeast and Lacey Boulevard Southeast. Located in an area dubbed as the “Depot…

Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday (March 31st, 2021) announced that everyone 16 years and older can go for a dose starting April 15. It would make an additional 1.2 million Washingtonians eligible for a dose by April 15, opening vaccines to the 6.3 million state residents ages 16 and older. Folks searching for vaccine appointments…

The Washington State Department of Commerce will open applications for Working Washington Grants: Round 4 on March 29. Business owners can find information about the program and a link to the application portal at commercegrants.com. This is the fourth round of the Working Washington grant program. Legislators approved $240 million for the current round as…

March 11, 2021 – Governor Inslee announces statewide move to Phase 3 of recovery plan, return to spectator events and Phase 1B, Tier 2 vaccine eligibility Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery will be transitioning from a regional approach to a county-by-county evaluation process. The governor also announced a new…

The City of Lacey is making available to the public four (4) Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU). The options range from a 480‐square‐foot studio or one‐bedroom model to an 800‐square‐foot, two-bedroom, two‐story home. These small homes can be used for multi‐generational living or to bring in cost-effective rental income for the owner. Lacey is the only…

Small businesses are the backbone of Washington’s economy and many have been devastated during the pandemic. Many have closed, others are barely hanging on. Small businesses owned by people of color have been particularly impacted. In response, Congress has passed several aid packages and the State of Washington has provided relief, along with many local…

February 1, 2021 – The City Council recently approved Ordinance 1581 which establishes the Commission on Equity. The Commission will focus on the improvement of equity through inclusion activities, education, and policy initiatives. The Commission will address barriers and constraints that limit the full potential of Lacey community members. More information and the application to…

January 28, 2021 – The City of Lacey have been investing in the ScaleUp Trainings to assist small business owner/operator to grow their business. It is a comprehensive 3-part training series designed for established business owners who want to achieve stronger results for their efforts and to grow their businesses, provided at the Center for…