Business Resources

Get Certified With PRIDE!

Washington’s new LGBTQ Certification program is here—and open for business.

The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE), in partnership with the Washington State LGBTQ Commission, is proud to announce the launch of its newest certification category: LGBTQ-owned small businesses. This important milestone expands Washington’s commitment to inclusion by formally recognizing businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Starting July 2025, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs can apply to get certified with OMWBE in our State Certification program. Businesses may be eligible for multiple state certifications. Learn more on our website, and get ready to apply in July!

Regional Contracting Forum 2025
Register Today!

The Regional Contracting Forum celebrates 22 years of collaboration and leadership among Puget Sound Region government entities.

This forum is an opportunity for small, minority, women, disadvantaged and veteran-owned businesses to meet purchasers at all levels of state and local government, including school districts, transportation agencies, Tribal governments and other organizations.

Attendees will have the chance to register for one-on-one sessions with prime contractors and consultants. One-on-one registration begins August 12, 2025.

When: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Where: Muckleshoot Events Center | 2402 Auburn Way S, Auburn, WA 98002

Tabor 100 Business Showcase

Tabor 100 is proud to host its First-Ever Business Showcase. The event is dedicated to highlighting the amazing businesses, consultants, and innovators who have been part of Tabor 100's Technical Assistance Programs throughout the years!

• Meet local entrepreneurs
• Shop and support small businesses
• Discover innovative services and products
• Be inspired by success stories from your community

When: Friday, June 20, 2025 | 9AM - 4PM
Where: Tabor 100 | 7100 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila, WA 98188

Best Practices in Form I-9 Compliance

The Washington State Microenterprise Association, in partnership with Washington State Department of Commerce Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) and the Governor's Office For Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA), is presenting a follow up to our April webinar, which was intended to strengthen our ESOs understanding of I-9 compliance. Our upcoming webinar will focus on best practices for small businesses in understanding, compliance, and completing of I-9 forms.

Our returning speaker, Kripa Upadhyay, Attorney at Law, will cover:

• Basics of the I-9 and how to complete it
• I-9 audits and best practices
• E-Verify and how to comply with “Social Security No Match” letters.

Kripa Upadhyay’s practice intersects Immigration, Corporate/Business Law, Foreign Direct Investment, and International Trade Compliance. She has expertise in guiding corporate clients and individual investors through the complex web of laws and regulations related to immigration to the United States.

• When: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Ι 1:00 PM
• Where: Via Zoom |  Register Here

Power Your Profits: Energy Savings

Wattsmart Business Program Info Sessions

Discover how Pacific Power’s Wattsmart program helps businesses:

• Cut energy costs with cash incentives for upgrades
• Improve efficiency in lighting, HVAC, refrigeration and more
• Access financing for energy-saving projects

Learn about the services provided by SBDC and OMWBE and how they can benefit your business. Choose the best time and date to attend this workshop.

Option 1: June 26, 2025 | 8:30am to 9:30am | Register Here

Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce
29 E Sumach St, Walla Walla, WA 99362

Option 2: July 9, 2025 | 5:00pm to 6:00pm | Register Here

Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce
29 E Sumach St, Walla Walla, WA 99362

FIFA World Cup - RFP is Open for Small Business Megaevent Playbook

Curious about how to get involved with the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Seattle? The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has an exciting opportunity for you!

The Seattle Metro Chamber launched a national Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select a contractor to design a statewide Small Business Megaevent Playbook in 2025.

This playbook will:

• Offer guidance on business readiness
• Share real-world case studies
• Outline strategies to help small businesses tap into FWC26 economic opportunities—and thrive beyond the event

Apply by July 1 and don’t miss your chance to learn how your business can get in the game. Watch the webinar for tips and tricks on how to apply for this RFP.

Virtual Small Business Lending Series: Session 2

This series is an on-going effort to address access to capital for small businesses. Explore the areas small business lenders evaluate to make loan decisions.

Why should you attend?

• Learn about the 5 Cs of financing.
• Learn where lenders typically can and cannot be flexible.
• Learn about the documents most lenders need to make loan decisions.

When: July 29, 2025 | 10-11:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual on Zoom

The New Ephrata Service Center Project One-on-One Networking Event

General Project Info: The New Ephrata Service Center will replace the existing service center in Ephrata, WA, which has reached the end of it useful service life, possessing inadequacies that cannot be mitigated with facility renovations or upgrades. The new, roughly 240,000 square foot Center will be comprised of multiple facilities housing the following functions: Warehouse, Substation and Line Crew Shops, Electronics and Meter Relay Shops, Maintenance Bays, Administration Offices, Data Center, Vehicle Wash and Fuel Island. It is anticipated that the Center will require development of approximately 34 acres. The project scope will also include all required infrastructure and offsite improvements necessary to support a fully functional Service Center.

Delivery Method: Progressive Design-Build

Scopes: Polished concrete, finish carpentry, insulation, roof accessories, joint sealants, doors & hardware FOB, tile, resinous flooring, painting, visual display surfaces, signage, toilet partitions, corner guards, toilet and bath accessories, lockers, fire extinguishers & cabinets, casework, roller shades, site furnishings, asphalt & striping, site concrete, landscaping, fencing

Registration Required: Please email Stephanie Caldwell, Absher Small Business Program Administrator at Stephanie.Caldwell@Absherco.com

When: Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 9AM - 3PM
Where: Absher's Wenatchee Office | 123 Easy St, Suite 3A, Wenatchee, WA 98801

Powered by SBA, Seattle District

Powered by SBA is a quarterly roundtable meeting hosted by SBA's Seattle District (serving Washington and northern Idaho). Each calendar quarter we convene our district-wide network of organizations and resource providers that are "Powered by SBA," including traditional SBA Resource Partners and local grant recipients.

The objectives of Powered by SBA Roundtables are:

1. To better inform the small business ecosystem of the programs and resources available, and
2. To create a space for connection and collaboration among small business ecosystem stakeholders.

Please join us to learn more about local resources and bring your questions, requests, and ideas for future collaborations to better serve your small business community.

When: Thursday, July 24, 2025 | 10-11:30 a.m.
Where: In-person at Evergreen Business Capital / Washington SBDC
13925 Interurban Ave. South, Tukwila, WA 98168

L&I Business Owner and Employer Survey

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is excited to share the Business Owner and Employer survey (also available in Spanish).

L&I would love to hear from you about how we are doing! In this brief and confidential survey, you’ll have the chance to share your experiences and feedback with L&I. Your input helps the agency understand what we’re doing well and what we can do to better serve you.

L&I thanks you for your participation!

Legislative Corner Update

Washington State Juneteenth Events

Join in celebration of Juneteenth - Freedom Day as cities throughout Washington state commemorate the ending of slavery. Learn more about Juneteenth here.

Juneteenth Parade and Festival
Pasco, WA | June 14th | 11:00 a.m.

4th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
Vancouver, WA | June 14th | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Yakima County NAACP Event at MLK Jr. Park
Yakima | June 14th | 12 – 5 p.m.

24th Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Seattle, WA | June 18th | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Black Business Marketplace, Free Soul Food Dinner, and Live Music
Shoreline, WA | June 19th | 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Inland Northwest Juneteenth Coalition
Spokane, WA | June 19th | 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Juneteenth WA Celebration – The Road to Economic Freedom
Tacoma, WA | June 19th | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

YWCA of North Central Washington
Wenatchee, WA | June 19th | 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

A Moment of Unity, Reflection & Joy
Kennewick, WA | June 21 | 10 a.m.

Olympia’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Rebecca Howard Park
Olympia, WA | June 21 | 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

The Brotherhood RISE Center - Tacoma Juneteenth Celebration
Tacoma, WA | June 21 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Washington State PRIDE Events

Celebrate PRIDE in Washington state throughout the month of June and beyond! Use these resources to find local events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

Washington State LGBTQ Commission - Calendar of PRIDE Events

ACLU Washington - Pride Across Washington

New Certifications

79 businesses obtained OMWBE certification in May! We share these monthly lists of newly certified firms with our contract and procurement contacts at State Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education.