Business grants are available!

City of Kent sent this bulletin at 12/08/2020 02:28 PM PST

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Office of the Mayor

December 8, 2020

 Small Business Grant Opportunity
Now Available

Dear Business Community,

Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that the current COVID restrictions will be extended an additional three weeks through January 4, 2021.

In addition to closing indoor areas of restaurants and bars, the ongoing restrictions keep many businesses such as movie theaters and gyms closed throughout the state. Retail establishments and grocery stores can continue to operate at 25% capacity, as can personal service businesses such as barber shops and nail salons.

He acknowledged the challenges this will bring to small businesses and made an additional $50 million in business grants available, on top of the $50 million he announced a couple of weeks ago.

Priority will be given to applications received by Dec. 11, 2020. If Commerce can fund all the applicants who submit by that time it may be able to consider applicants who submit after the 11th, so please get your applications in right way.

Round 3: Working Washington Small Business Grant Open Now

  • Applications for up to $20,000 in emergency funding
  • Priority will be given to applications received by Dec. 11, 2020

APPLY ONLINE HERE

Who can apply for Round 3?

These grants are prioritized for:

  • Small businesses with annual revenues of $5 million or less in 2019. Businesses in the sectors that are most impacted by the recent public health measures as well as businesses in sectors that have experienced significant, cumulative impacts. Examples include full-service restaurants, fitness centers, bowling alleys and music and event venues.
  • Certain nonprofits may also be eligible if they have a primary business activity that falls into a similar category as noted above. Example – a nonprofit full-service restaurant or nonprofit music venue.
  • If the Department of Commerce can fund all the eligible applicants from the priority pool, and funds remain, they may be able to provide grants to additional businesses or nonprofits from other sectors or who have annual revenues larger than $5 million.

What does the grant pay for?

  • The maximum award grant will be up to $20,000.
  • The grant can only cover expenses or costs incurred due to COVID-19 and that were necessary to continue business operations.

How to apply:

  • Apply using the online application portal.
  • Priority will be given to applications received by Dec. 11, 2020. If Commerce can fund all the applicants who submit by that time, they may be able to consider applicants who submit after the 10th.

Here is a checklist of the information you’ll need to have ready:

  • Applicant W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number
  • Copy of valid government-issued photo I.D.
  • For tribal member owned businesses: license or certification if business activity is conducted outside the tribal jurisdiction; letter or certification from the tribe recognizing you as a business if business activity is within the tribal jurisdiction.
  • Copy of 2019 Tax Return or other confirmation of Business Gross Revenues for 2019.
  • For businesses with a physical location, evidence of that location, such as lease, tax statement, utility bill, etc.
  • NAICS code or clear description of your primary business activity. A NAICS code is helpful, but not necessary. If you have never used a NAICS code, you can learn more here: What is a NAICS Code? and explore NAICS codes to see which one fits your business.

Need Technical Assistance?

For those that need assistance in languages other than English, the Department of Commerce has a network of Business Resiliency partners who can help you with the application process.

I know these continue to be extremely challenging times for many of us. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything the City might do to assist. You can always contact me directly at dralph@kentwa.gov or Bill Ellis, Chief Economic Development Officer at 206-573-6890.

My staff is keeping this list of available business resources current as new information becomes available. I hope you find it useful.

Kent’s Chamber of Commerce is also sharing resource information during this crisis.

Stay safe,

 

Dana Ralph, Mayor