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The City of Kirkland, the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, and Banner Bank announced the creation of a Kirkland Small Business Relief Fund, a new program intended to provide immediate grants to qualifying small businesses and small nonprofits in Kirkland impacted by COVID-19. The Relief Fund received initial seed funding of $250,000 from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, and is open to additional contributions.
The Chamber will act as the fiscal agent for the Relief Fund and will manage all contributions. A committee comprised of members from the Chamber and Banner Bank will review all applications and make all decisions regarding dispersal of grant funding. Eligibility criteria and application process are expected to be available in a matter of days.
“The Small Business Relief Fund is an extraordinary example of creative collaboration between the public and private sectors to bring immediate support to our Kirkland business community,” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “I’m so grateful for the generous seed funding from Google and the incredible leadership of the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, Banner Bank, and economic development staff at the City. We’re all in this together, and this fund demonstrates that.”
The Kirkland Small Business Relief Fund aims to provide immediate financial assistance to Kirkland’s hardest hit small businesses and small nonprofits in the form of unrestricted grants to support rent, employee salaries, and operating costs as a stop-gap relief pending the release and distribution of anticipated federal and state aid. It is expected that the Relief Fund will disperse grants to applicants in successive funding rounds, as contributions allow.
“COVID-19 and social distancing measures from the state and county have created many challenges for our local businesses,” said Samantha St. John, CEO of the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce. “Although we should all still be supporting our local businesses in any way we can while following required social distancing, I invite all those in our community that are able to contribute to this fund to support Kirkland businesses. These are challenging times, but we can get through them together.”
For more information, including details on contributing to the fund, please visit: https://kirklandchamber.org/relief/.
Any pet owners that license their pets during the COVID-19 emergency proclamation will have all late fees waived.
Pet owners will also not have to provide proof of rabies vaccination if they do not have it available at the time of licensing. These temporary changes are to help make it easier for people to license their pets during this challenging time.
“We want to make sure that pets are licensed so that they can be returned to their family if they get lost, and so that we can continue to support important animal control efforts during this pandemic,” said Police Chief Cherie Harris. “To make it easier on all of our residents with pets we have temporarily removed barriers to pet licensing including waiving late fees and the requirement to show proof of rabies vaccination.”
Visit http://www.kirklandwa.gov/petlicense or https://www.petdata.com/for-pet-owners/kld to license your pet.
By law, all dogs and cats twelve weeks old and older owned by Kirkland residents must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. One and two-year licenses are available. Licenses must be renewed on or before the date of expiration.
If a pet owner needs to renew a license but is experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact Animal Control Officer Jennifer Matison at 425-587-3414. The Kirkland Police Department will work with you to get your pet licensed.
Pet licenses provide identification if a family pet is lost and allow a quick reunification once the animal is found. If your pet is found and has a license, our Animal Control Officer will attempt to reunite you with your pet immediately, so you don’t have to go to the animal shelter to pick it up. The fees collected from pet licenses go directly into Kirkland’s Animal Services Program to provide service, education and enforcement.
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The Seattle Office of Economic Development, Greater Seattle Partners, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce are coordinating a regional effort to assess the economic impacts related to COVID-19. We strongly encourage Kirkland businesses to take the survey. The information will inform strategies to speed recovery and may lead to emergency relief programs and support. The survey window closes March 31. |
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Under Governor Inslee's Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, only essential businesses are allowed to operate between tomorrow, Thursday March 26, and midnight on April 8.
The Governor's order helps facilitate more social distancing while still maintaining important access to essential goods and services. Under the order you will still be able to access businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants that provide takeout and delivery orders. Retail stores that supply essential needs are still open, such as pet supply stores, auto supply, and hardware and home improvement, office supply stores, and garden stores. Please be sure to strictly follow physical distancing requirements of 6 feet when visiting these locations, and please limit your trips.
If your trip is not essential, please save it for later.
The post office and delivery services will continue to operate. Buses and ferries are running (though may be at reduced schedules – see https://kingcounty.gov/…/schedules-ma…/reduced-schedule.aspx). Construction work continues for essential projects and residential work needed to make structures safe and habitable.
If you are able to work from home, even in an essential role, we encourage you to do so. And for those whose roles are not considered essential during this emergency, please stay home and stay healthy. Thank you to everyone for doing your part to slow the spread of COVID-19.
A full list of essential businesses as defined by the Governor is available at:
https://coronavirus.wa.gov/whats-open-an…/essential-business
If you have questions about enforcement, please contact coronavirus@kingcounty.gov.
108th Avenue Northeast water and sewer upgrade
A Kirkland contractor plans to begin the eight-month process March 30 of upgrading an aging water and sewer main along 108th Avenue Northeast.
Marshbank Construction is delaying its start date by one week.
Marshbank Construction is replacing the two systems—both more than five decades old—to increase their capacities to serve Kirkland’s growing population and to reduce the systems’ needs for maintenance.
That need is most urgent in the sewer line, which runs from Northeast 68th Street to Northeast 53rd Street. Settling soil has created a sag in the sewer line, allowing sewage to accumulate there and requiring maintenance crews to periodically flush the line.
The contractor is also replacing the water main between Northeast 68th and 60th streets.
Marshbank expects to complete the upgrades by December.
For more information, visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/108thavewatersewer
Totem Lake Boulevard
Northshore Utility District's contractor closed a short section of Northeast 124th Street March 24 through March 25 so its crews could complete the installation of a force main that will make the Totem Lake area's sewer system more reliable.
Razz had originally planned to close Northeast 124th Street Wednesday, March 25 through March 26. The contractor expedited the closure, however, after Gov. Jay Inslee issued a stay-at-home order that begins this week.
The Northshore Utility District is applying to the state for essential project status, which would return Razz Construction to work during the week of March 30 on Totem Lake Boulevard, north of 120th Avenue Northeast.
If Northshore’s project is not considered essential, district managers will suspend the project until Gov. Jay Inslee lifts the order.
Meanwhile, Marshbank Construction continues its closure of three of Totem Lake Boulevard’s five lanes between 120th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 124th Street until May while its crews rebuild the road and install a new retaining wall that will help support the road. To build that wall throughout the next few weeks, Marshbank Construction continues its closure Bank of America’s Totem Lake Boulevard entrance.
As such, drivers will have access to one northbound and one southbound lane. A pedestrian detour is in place along the southwest side of Totem Lake Boulevard. King County Metro has temporarily relocated the northbound bus stop along Totem Lake Boulevard to 120th Avenue Northeast.
Marshbank's crews are also closing two lanes along 120th Avenue Northeast and Totem Lake Way while they rebuild the sidewalk and roadway. The sidewalk on the southeast side of the road is closed as well.
For more information, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector or www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlake
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Because physical distancing is critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19, the following events are cancelled:
StyroFest: Styrofoam + Electronics Recycling Event
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 4
Kirkland Maintenance Center
For more information, visit the Kirkland Calendar.
The Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce
All Chamber events through the month of April are cancelled
For more information, visit: https://kirklandchamber.org/
Kirkland Performance Center
All Kirkland Performance Center shows through April 30 are postponed
For more information, visit: http://www.kpcenter.org
The Kiwanis Club of Kirkland's 46th Annual Easter Egg Hunt
1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 12
Peter Kirk Park
For more information, visit: https://kirklandkiwanis.org.
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