On Monday, Commerce announced local governments would soon receive their portion of nearly $300 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds awarded to the state to address COVID-19-related costs. Funds are flexible, allowing cities and counties to use their allocation for everything from public health and medical expenses to small business and economic support. 

Already, this much-needed funding is making a difference in our communities. A third relief package is now making its way through Congress. 

Read about 14 Kittitas County small businesses in the Daily Record

Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum and Whitman counties advanced to Phase 2 of the Safe Start reopening process this week. County variance applications for several others are currently in process.

Keep track of Safe Start status by county on the County Variance page and visit the state coronavirus web portal often for the most current information and resources to help navigate the impact of COVID-19: www.coronavirus.wa.gov.

Washington's cancer research endowment, the Andy Hill CARE Fund, announced $500,000 in new grants to address the impact of COVID-19 on cancer research. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on cancer patients and survivors. Additionally, access to cancer prevention and screening services may be limited or unavailable due to the pandemic. To help address these issues and find solutions, the CARE Fund seeks to support research that can be immediately initiated and that focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on outcomes, research, risks, or well-being for cancer patients.

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Career-connected learning strengthens communities by helping address employer needs for skilled workers and providing people with education and training to qualify them for existing and future job opportunities.

This week, Commerce awarded $65,000 in matching grants to three programs aimed at helping increase Washington’s skilled workforce and provide opportunities in construction, aerospace, chemical dependency and medical assistant careers. 

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Childcare is a challenge for working parents even in good times, but will become even more crucial as we begin to reopen our state and safely restart our economy. Over $4 million in grants announced this week, in partnership with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, to nine early learning providers across Washington will help ensure all of our children are ready to enter kindergarten.

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