Application portal opens Monday
Working Washington grants for businesses impacted by US-Canadian border closure
Commerce announced a new grant program launching Oct. 4 to help certain small businesses hurting due to the U.S.-Canada border closure. The border has been closed to most travelers since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Working Washington Grants: Border Business Relief Program will focus on customer-facing businesses that have experienced hardship specifically as a result of the COVID-19 border restrictions. Businesses must have reported annual revenues of $5 million or less in 2019 to the Department of Revenue and be located in Clallam, Jefferson, San Juan, Island, Skagit, Whatcom, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens or Pend Oreille counties.
Information and a preview of the application is available now at commercegrants.com. The application portal will be open Oct. 4 – 18. Customer support is available in English and Spanish.
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Broadband Updates
The Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Broadband Benefit program provides a monthly discount on services and a one-time discount on a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers to eligible households. So far, nearly 100,000 Washington residents have enrolled in the program. Learn more about this and other broadband initiatives at broadband.wa.gov.
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In the first of two funding rounds, the Washington State Broadband Office is making $25 million in matching funds available for local partners who are applying for federal broadband infrastructure grants and loans. Priority will be given to projects that have received funding from the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) or the Public Works Board (PWB) for a previous phase of the same project or a related project. The application closes Nov. 15. Learn more
Earlier this month, I was pleased to announce that Dawn Eychaner will serve as acting director of the Washington State Broadband Office effective Sept. 30, when current director Russ Elliott leaves the position to serve as Chief Executive Officer of a California telecommunications carrier. Dawn has served as deputy director of the office since June this year. Read more |
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Since my last update, rural broadband projects were approved for over $22 million in funding from the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). In late July, the board awarded over $14 million in grants from the CERB coronavirus capital projects fund, enabling an estimated 3,858 high-speed internet connections once completed. Projects are located in Asotin, Clark, Cowlitz, Columbia, Garfield, Kitsap, Lincoln, Walla Walla and Whitman counties. This month, five rural broadband projects were approved for nearly $8 million, enabling an estimated 3,362 high-speed internet connections once completed. Projects are located in Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Mason, Skagit and Thurston counties. The Port of Skagit County project was also approved for a $1 million CERB loan.
New task force report emphasizes urgent need to support child care workforce
Washington state’s Child Care Collaborative Task Force released a comprehensive new strategy that emphasizes the urgency of bolstering the child care workforce amidst a staggering turnover rate of 43 percent, with 4 out of 5 providers reporting staff shortages.
The new Washington State Child Care Access Strategy makes clear that supporting and growing Washington’s child care workforce is essential for ensuring families have access to high-quality care.
Among the recommendations in the report is a call for a financing model to support higher child care wages. Read more
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Commerce wins $2 million SBA grant to boost small business exports
Nearly $760 million in sales can be attributed to Washington's State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) since 2010
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) this month awarded the Washington State Department of Commerce a tenth year of funding to help small businesses grow through exporting. The $2 million grant is part of the SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).
More than 1032 unique small businesses around the state have benefited from STEP-funded support since the program’s inception through the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. They have achieved nearly $760 million in sales, creating an estimated return on investment of nearly 100:1.
As global travel opens up again, Commerce has a number of trade shows and missions coming up to help small businesses access new opportunities.
Read more
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Riding a wave of clean energy innovation
Oscilla Power is harnessing the energy of ocean waves to provide a clean energy technology solution to help Washington reach our carbon reduction goals. We appreciated the opportunity to share in a milestone celebration with them recently, and so proud to see another innovative project that received support from our state's Clean Energy Fund.
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All aboard! AWB Manufacturing Week 2021
 I was pleased to join in the Association of Washington Business annual bus tour to kick off Manufacturing Week 2021. We started with a hangar tour of our hometown airline, Alaska Air. I enjoyed talking with Alaska COO Constance von Muelen and touring a new Boeing 737 MAX. It's the quietest, most fuel efficient passenger aircraft out there, and built right here in Washington.
AWB is showcasing Washington’s makers, highlighting the importance of manufacturing to our state’s economic recovery and calling attention to ways policy makers and others can support manufacturers.
Learn more
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