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 June 09, 2022
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COVID-19 Update
Case Numbers as of 11:59 pm on May 31, 2022:
- Confirmed Cases: 1,583,206
- COVID-19 Deaths: 12,876
For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's COVID-19 Data Dashboard.
If one of your employees has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19:
- Employers are required to notify other workers within 24 hours of potential exposures when a co-worker has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.
- Employers should notify the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of any cases of COVID-19 in the workplace and are required to notify their LHJ within 24 hours if the employer suspects COVID-19 is spreading in the workplace or if the employer is aware of two or more employees who developed confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period.
- In worksites with 50 or more employees, employers must report outbreaks of 10 or more confirmed cases to the state Department of Labor & Industries.
Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 information
We encourage you to continue to visit the following web pages for the most up-to-date COVID-19 information: Washington State Coronavirus Response (COVID-19), Governor's Office, Department of Health, and the Dept. of Labor & Industries, Division of Safety and Health (DOSH).
Please note that due to the evolving nature of the pandemic, the information found on these sites is subject to change. Stay safe!
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Dept. of Labor & Industries (L&I)
Hiring Teens for the Summer?
Many teens will be looking for work as the school year comes to an end. There are specific laws and rules for employers hiring anyone under the age of 18.
Before hiring a minor, an employer must have the following:
Additionally, there are specific work restrictions for teens regarding job activities, meal & rest breaks, and hours of work limitations.
Learn more about hiring minors
Increased Protection for Outdoor Workers
Employers will be required to monitor temperature & air quality to protect workers from heat & smoke hazards. These rules take effect from June 15, 2022, through the end of September.
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Dept. of Enterprise Services (DES)
Seeking Vendor Feedback for IT Contracts Re-Bid
Enterprise Services has posted a Request for Information (RFI) for IT Development and Information & Cybersecurity Services as part of the updated statewide master contracts for Information Technology Professional Services (ITPS).
The RFI is available for vendors to respond to until June 17, 2022
DES is revamping the contracts to make them efficient for purchasers and to increase opportunities for more businesses, including small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses. DES is restructuring the contracts from a two-tier contract structure to a multiple-award contract. Under the new structure, purchasers will be able to select a vendor directly after requesting quotes.
Learn more here
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Department of Commerce
New! Festival & Events Grant Program
The Washington Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Washington Festivals and Events Association (WFEA) and ArtsWA, announced a $3.5 million grant program to help established, small-community festivals and events across the state with relief disruptions caused by COVID-19.
The application portal will open at 8:00 am on June 8, 2022, and close at 5:00 pm on July 1, 2022.
Need technical assistance? WFEA and ArtsWA are conducting a series of informational seminars on how you can best apply to receive funds from this grant program.
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Office of Minority & Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE)
2022 Regional Contracting Forum
This free in person event is taking place on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Muckleshoot Casino Resort. Attendees will learn about doing business with the government, get information about upcoming contracting opportunities and network with contracting representatives.
Disadvantaged, Minority, Women and Veteran business owners are encouraged to attend. Register Here
View upcoming events calendar
WEBS Portal Assistance
The Department of Enterprises Services provides a WEBS Vendor User Guide and WEBS Vendor Training. If you experience any problems or have questions with using WEBS, you can email WEBSCustomerservice@des.wa.gov or call (360) 902-7400.
76 Businesses Obtained OMWBE Certification in April!
Each month a list of newly certified firms is shared with contract and procurement contacts of State Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education.
View new certified firms
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Employment Security Dept. (ESD)
Employer Newsletter
Are you in the know about the Employment Security Department programs? ESD publishes the monthly Employer Newsletter which is focused on the WA Cares Fund, Family & Medical Leave and Unemployment Insurance.
View the current edition
Subscribe Here
Dept. of Revenue (DOR)
Doing Business on the Go?
The tax rate lookup app finds Washington sales tax rates quickly and easily from anywhere using GPS at a current location, or by searching for an address. Wherever you are, you can use the app to verify that the correct sales tax rate is being charged. It can store rates for multiple locations and organize your information for effortless reporting. You can download the app from our website or from your app store.
Learn more about the Tax Rate Lookup App
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Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance (ORIA)
Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR)
Starting a Business in Washington? This free, one-hour webinar will provide a strong foundation of registration, licensing, and other regulatory requirements to start your business. You'll connect with the Small Business Liaison Team who will also provide information about many free or low-cost assistance programs.
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Tips & Reminders
Center for Women in Business (WCWB)
WCWB offers entrepreneurial training programs, workshops, one-on-one counseling, coaching, and special events to those in all stages of business development.
Upcoming classes:
Access the online teaching platform for more opportunities!
What is the SCORE Business Learning Center (SBLC)?
SBLC provides aspiring and existing small business owners an online learning platform for in-depth, specific business topics. They also have mentors to work with you to help apply the learning to your business.
The interactive programs include topics such as:
- Simple Steps for Exiting your Business
- Finance Basics
- Managing Your Cash Flow
- Marketing Basics
- Management Basics
- Online Marketing
Explore SBLC
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Newsletter Team
This newsletter is a collaborative effort by the following state agencies:
Our mission:
- Preserve the connection to businesses that have been established as a resource for future emergencies.
- Make it easier for businesses to access the state services they need.
We intend to provide a newsletter that caters to businesses by providing multi-agency content related to doing business in WA. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be a special focus on the impacts the pandemic has on businesses. This Newsletter is not intended to replace agency newsletters, instead, it will aggregate cross-agency business-related information.
This Newsletter is published by the Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA). Content contributors are limited to state agencies we do not accept content from other sources.
Feedback
Please let us know how we did with this issue of the Newsletter.
We appreciate your feedback!
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