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Earth Day is this Saturday, April 22! Ahead of Earth Day, Snohomish County is proud to highlight its ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. This year, we invite residents to join in the celebration by volunteering for various Earth Day events across the county hosted by County departments, cities, utilities, and other partners.
“While Earth Day is a yearly reminder that our environment is the bedrock of our quality of life, we must make decisions every day of the year to protect our natural resources. We are already seeing the impacts of climate change, and Snohomish County will continue to lead regional efforts to invest in sustainable solutions. The health of our economy and community depends on us never becoming complacent,” said Executive Somers.
 Snohomish County’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is hosting Earth Day events at five County parks and the public is invited to sign up to volunteer and/or participate in these or other opportunities. Choose from several volunteer work parties to help clean up a beach or remove invasive species from natural areas. Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather including sturdy shoes, long sleeves, and pants. Participants can bring their own gloves and any small hand tools. Other local events include Snohomish PUD’s Energy Block Party, City of Snohomish’s Earth Day event and more. View the full list here.
This week, Executive Somers announced that the County is partnering with Ventures to launch the Small Business Innovation Assistance (SBIA) program. SBIA will provide a full toolkit of technical assistance services coupled with microgrants to help Snohomish County-based small businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic as well as incentivize new, innovative ideas from start-ups and entrepreneurs. The program is funded by the County’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation.
“Our small business community is the backbone of our main streets and local economy. They provide the goods and services that make our communities thrive,” said Executive Somers. “The Small Business Innovation Assistance program will boost economic growth and innovation across our county and help business owners and entrepreneurs build long-term resiliency.”
 As part of SBIA, Ventures is hosting an eight-week Business Basics Course for Snohomish County small businesses and entrepreneurs. Ventures is hosting initial information sessions for the Business Basics Course in English on Thursday, April 27 and June 22 and in Spanish on Wednesday, April 26 and June 21. At the free information sessions, interested small businesses and entrepreneurs can learn more about SBIA, including how to apply. Individuals can register for upcoming information sessions in English and Spanish here.
Anyone interested can find more information on SBIA, including eligibility, how to apply, and other components of the program on this website (available in English and Spanish).
Snohomish County’s Energy Assistance Program is now accepting applications for all programs. This includes L.I.H.E.A.P., PSE HELP, CNG WEAF and the Water Assistance Program. Help will be available for those with PUD bills as well as all other types of heating, PSE and CNG natural gas, propane, wood, oil, and for water and sewer bills.
You can apply online, over the phone, or in-person at the County Campus in Everett. For more information, visit the Energy Assistance Program website: https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/552/Energy-Assistance.
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