Commerce Awards funds for BIPOC Homeownership Equity
Last week, the Washington State Department of Commerce announced the awarding of $39.8 million in grants to 19 organizations and institutions that provide financial support to communities through the Community Reinvestment Project (CRP). This community-designed initiative aims to uplift those disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs and foster equitable economic development.
Commerce Director Mike Fong says that the initiative will support the four key pillars of the project—reentry legal services, violence prevention, economic opportunity, and equitable development—and will promote economic growth, wealth, and the long-term financial goals of the impacted communities.
“Access to capital opens doors to economic opportunity and generational wealth-building, but many communities face historic and systemic barriers,” said Fong. “We are proud to stand with community partners throughout the state who are promoting equitable access to financial resources that help individuals, families, and businesses get ahead and grow.”
With nearly $40 million in funding, hopes are the program will drive tangible progress in areas like first-time homeownership and overall homeownership rates.
“The challenges and the inequities in the working capital space are very real for BIPOC-owned businesses, and it’s time to really be intentional about how we can lift up community and be able to find creative ways to leverage different potential revenue sources and capital revenue streams, to be able to get those resources in people’s hands so that we can really thrive, create jobs, and build community.”
This latest investment funds two CRP programs: the Loan Guarantee Program and Blended Capital Investments.
The Loan Guarantee Program is a pool of resources that provides funding and loan loss reserves to lenders across the state, including Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), local municipalities, and non-profit organizations. These organizations can then offer financing and financial services to underserved communities, small businesses, and startups that traditional banks often overlook.
The Blended Capital Enhancements Program aims to assist people in securing and building assets. The program will help fund programs that make it easier for people to buy or expand a home, commercial property, business asset, or vehicle; reduce debt; build credit; save more using matching funds; and obtain other financial support and services.
Darryl Smith, Executive Director of HomeSight, a non-profit organization invested in helping community members purchase homes, said that racial disparities in homeownership weren’t created by accident, and it won’t be fixed by accident. He believes that Commerce’s efforts to support intentional solutions to a deeply rooted inequity in homeownership through this program will help close the racial wealth gaps that exist in homeownership.
“Commerce’s investment will expand the scope for Black and BIPOC developers, through Field Order 15, which is an innovative strategy to lower barriers for our builders who are invested in the goal of improving homeownership rates for the BIPOC community,” says Smith. “Launched in January, this program provides upfront grant money, eligibility for low-interest loans, and technical support for Black developers who are building affordable homes in the communities that are most needed.”
Smith highlighted two major problems that impact the homeownership rates of Black people in Western Washington—the short supply of housing and the lack of Black developers working in the community.
“There is an incredibly short supply of housing that disproportionately affects the BIPOC community; there are gigantic shortages, and that does nothing else but make it more difficult for people to purchase,” says Smith. “The second major problem, which is a really important point, is that we have an incredible lack of Black developers working in the community, and we need to improve that because we need to have their voices at the table.”
Mike Skinner, Executive Director with the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE), says that his organization will utilize the resources from Commerce to support their work in marginalized rural areas with BIPOC emerging entrepreneurs.
“Thanks to support from Commerce, we are grateful to launch our Matched Savings program, which provides $4,500 seed grants along with free training and technical assistance to help emerging entrepreneurs get their business started,” said Skinner.
Reggie Brown with Rudolph Homes describes the funding from Commerce as unprecedented and is thankful for the State of Washington for having the courage to do something about racial equity.
“A special thank you to Commerce for listening and executing a great plan. This is a historical moment for us all,” said Brown. “We believe that we have a fantastic strategy for these funds, and that it will have an immediate impact in our communities and all over.”
When asked about what success for the program looks like, Fong responded, “When we start seeing the disparities across the board not just move but lead to outcomes for future generations that are entirely different than what we are seeing now, that is success.”
Do You Qualify for Free College or Career Training?
Families that receive food benefits, for example, have already provided income verification. Starting in 2026, the state will use their eligibility for one income-based program to guarantee access to another.
This new automatic eligibility should help more students access college and career training.
Students will need it. According to the Washington Student Achievement Council, 70% of jobs within the state require some form of education or specialized training after high school. Post-secondary training / education yields bigger incomes that those who only hold a high school diploma. The Washington College Grant can be used for full- or part-time programs, including registered apprenticeships and technical college. The amount you receive depends on family size, income, and the cost of your school or program.
For example, in 2024-25, if your family of four makes:
$78,500 or less, your college or career training could be free.
Up to $120,500, you could get some money for college or training.
Scam letters, designed to resemble official government communications, are demanding excessive payments and threaten serious consequences, including fines, business dissolution, or even jail time.
Since early November, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office has received at least 40 complaints about fraudulent letters demanding money from state businesses. The letters, falsely claiming to come from the Secretary of State’s Office, request payments to an entity called “State of Washington Business Entities," feature the Washington state seal and mimmick official government formatting. These letters are designed to mislead business owners into thinking they are legitimate.
One of these fraudulent letters included a “billing summary” exceeding $200 for filings that are either unnecessary or available directly through the Secretary of State’s website at a much lower cost. In addition to these inflated demands, the letters threaten late fees, penalties, or other consequences for failing to comply.
The letters are tailored to appear personal, often addressed directly to businesses and including their Unified Business Identifier (UBI).
Key red flags to watch for include mismatched addresses or websites that do not correspond with the real Secretary of State’s website. For example, one letter submitted to the Attorney General’s Office listed a Sacramento, California address on letterhead purporting to be from the Washington Secretary of State. A QR code included in the letter redirected recipients to a website ending in “.org,” rather than the official state domain ending in “.gov.”
The Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities division has created resources to help businesses identify and avoid scams. Business owners can visit their “Misleading Notices & Solicitations FAQ” webpage to see examples of fraudulent communications and tips for recognizing scams. To confirm the legitimacy of any communication related to a business or nonprofit, the Secretary of State’s factsheet is another valuable reference.
If business owners receive a suspicious letter, they are encouraged to contact the Secretary of State’s office to verify their filing status. Those who have already acted on fraudulent solicitations should immediately contact their financial institution to stop payments.
Protecting small businesses from deceptive practices is a key focus of the Attorney General’s office.
Any small business or nonprofit that believes it may have been targeted should file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. Call 1.800.551.4636 or 1.800.833.6388 (Washington State Relay Service for the hearing impaired).
Tacoma Tenant Legal Aid is a new program to help tenants whose rights are violated to sue their landlords.
Thanks to the Landlord Fairness Code passed into law last year, Tacoma tenants have stronger rights than ever before—and landlords who violate the law could owe you thousands in damages. If you or someone you know have had your rights violated, fill out the online intake form at https://www.tacoma4all.org/legalaid or leave a message at 253-279-5244.
Landlords must now give you notice between 210 and 180 days before they plan to raise the rent. They have to give you a 2nd notice between 120 and 90 days before the rent increase takes effect.
If your rent is raised 5% or more and you decide to move, your landlord is required to pay you relocation assistance
Landlords must comply with all tenant protection laws and code requirements.
Landlords in violation of these laws may not increase rent or evict a tenant
Excessive late fees are illegal. The total for all move-in costs (deposit and other fees) can’t be more than the amount of one month’s rent. The pet damage deposit can’t be more than 25% of the first month’s rent and must be refundable if the unit has no pet damage. Landlords can’t charge other non-refundable fees, except as specifically allowed under state law.
Landlords in violation of these laws may not increase rent or evict a tenant
Tacoma Tenant Legal Aid is a partnership between Nexus Legal Counsel and Tacoma for All. Find more information at the webpage.
Hams for the Holidays - December 19th between 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Commencement Bank and Nourish invite you to come to the Tacoma Dome and pick up a ham or turkey for your holiday meal. Quantities are limited so please register online at https://ow.ly/V3Gz50Usbco
Are You a New or Expecting Mom? Do you need support for your postpartum, prenatal, and overall wellness journey?
The Shades of Motherhood Network are here to walk alongside you with:
Culturally competent care
Lactation and nutrition support
Emotional and mental health resources
Doula services and education
Prioritize your health, healing, and happiness during this beautiful (but sometimes challenging) season of life. Visit the website and DM to learn more about how we can support you. You are not alone!
Food as Medicine Community Event
Leaders in Women's Health at the Tacoma Urban League presenta a fun and informative event all about the power of food as medicine!
Saturday, January 25, 2025 - 10am - 12pm Tacoma Urban League, 2550 South Yakima Ave Tacoma, WA 98405
Learn how to make delicious and nutritious meals that can help boost your health and well-being. Expert speakers will share tips on incorporating healing foods into your daily diet. Don't miss out on this opportunity to discover the amazing benefits of using food to nourish your body and soul. See you there!
The Black/African American and other communities of color have long been disproportionately affected by diabetes and hypertension. Despite healthcare professionals recommending weight loss, reduced salt and sugar intake, and healthier lifestyles, individuals are often left without the necessary tools to implement these changes. Furthermore, a lack of education on what options are available to promote these changes. Please join - subject matter experts, Karol Brown MPH, Registered Dietitian and Debbie Saint RN, BSN, will attempt to interrupt generational diabetes and hypertension cycles. Theses series of workshops will be taught with a cultural lens for and by people who look like us. Learn more about diabetes, how and why you are at risk, but most importantly, what you can do to stop or prevent Diabetes from happening to you.
The University of Washington Tacoma Black Student Union is excited to bring the community together at its 17th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast. It is a celebration that honors the contributions offered and inspired by Dr. King and provides an opportunity to bring our diverse communities together around a common goal of healing, hopefulness, equity, and justice.
Please attend a memorable morning filled with amazing speakers, live dance performances, and — best of all — a welcoming community striving to attain Dr. King's dream in our personal and professional lives! We look forward to seeing you there! Tickets are $25 per person and include breakfast. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.; program starts at 9 a.m. *Note: This year's breakfast is on the Saturday before the holiday*
Tri-Cities Diversity & Inclusion Council MLK Day of Service 2025
MLK Day of Service 2025 —a day dedicated to building community and creating lasting impact. Help the Tri-Cities Diversity and Inclusion Council in their effort!
Here’s how you can make a difference:
Give a Helping Hand: Lend your support to those in need and VOLUNTEER: https://tinyurl.com/25u8dyjw or make a contribution. Share this post! Help TDIC honor Dr. King’s legacy by making a positive impact in our communities.
Students - The House and Senate Page programs for high school students between 14 and 16 is open now. Get paid to work. Program runs January through April.
HASCO Administrative Services Supervisor and Housing Program Manager recruitments. Details can be found at HASCO.org.
