Governor Sets Aside Up to $5 Million to Fuel Local Economies

Working Washington grants available to small businesses impacted by COVID-19

Governor sets aside up to $5 million to fuel local economies

OLYMPIA, WA – Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that he is setting aside $5 million of the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund for a new emergency grant program that offers small businesses up to $10,000 to offset losses caused by the COVID-19 public health crisis. The Working Washington Small Business Grant program is open to any Washington state company that has been in business for at least one year, has up to 10 employees and is in good standing with state agencies. The program guidelines and application are available at coronavirus.wa.gov

“Small businesses are the engine of Washington’s economy,” said Gov. Inslee. “Many had to close unexpectedly to reduce community spread of COVID-19. Others had to severely reduce the scale of their operations to comply with social distancing and public health mandates. These Working Washington emergency grants are just one way we are working with the business community to address the impact of COVID-19 on struggling small companies and help our economy recover.”

Commerce Director Lisa Brown said, “Small businesses employ tens of thousands of workers in communities large and small throughout the state, many who have been unexpectedly furloughed or laid off. The Working Washington Small Business Grant program is the first of many steps to keep Washington businesses open and keep people working.”

Applications are reviewed locally by the state’s network of local associate economic development organizations (ADOs), listed here, and forwarded to Commerce and the Governor’s Office for final approval.  Working Washington grants can be used to reimburse a business for qualifying expenses such as consulting, marketing and training or for operational expenses including rent, supplies/inventory and utility bills.

Commerce is also providing business resiliency assistance by partnering with organizations that serve disproportionately or historically disadvantaged communities across the state. Community partners include the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma Urban League, Spokane’s Inland Northwest Business Alliance and Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority. Several of these partners are translating information that will help people complete application materials that are required in English for the Working Washington Small Business grant and other programs in development at Commerce.