- Home
- Our Community
- COVID-19 Updates
- Small Business Resources
Resources for Kennewick Businesses
Updated 7/15/2020
CARES Act Community Support Grant Program
Benton County Commissioners have designated $3.5 million for the CARES Act Community Support Grant Program, which will provide local businesses grant assistance, with no repayment requirements. Read on...
Temporary Restaurant/Retail Outside Expansion
To assist businesses and facilitate the safe restart of our local economy, City Council unanimously passed an ordinance temporarily waiving minimum off-street parking requirements for restaurant and retail uses in commercial zones. Read on...
Information from regional partners
Information on COVID-19 resources is rapidly changing. Subscribe for email updates.
- Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC)
- Tri-City Regional Chamber
- Visit Tri-Cities
- Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership
- Para obtener ayuda en español, comuníquese con la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Tri-City, por correo electrónico a info@tchispanicchamber.com, o en (509) 542-0933.
Manufacturers needed
If you are are a company willing to shift gears and re-purpose manufacturing operations to help with the COVID-19 crisis, fill out this form and email covidmanufacturing@commerce.wa.gov to provide details on what you can offer.
- Can I apply for both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program?
- Where do I submit an application for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)?
- How do I check the status of my Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and/or my EIDL Advance application?
- Do religious organizations qualify for SBA funding programs related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) relief?
- Grants, loans & debt relief
- tax relief
- Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD)
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Grants
Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant (WWSBEG): $5 mil. of funds to eligible small businesses throughout the state, providing up to $10,000 to eligible applicants who have been in business for at least one year; employ no more than 10 individuals (part-time or full-time, including the proprietor); can show the specific way(s) in which their business has been impacted by one or more executive orders; and are vital members of their local community.
Artist Trust: COVID-19 Artist Trust Relief Fund: Rapid response grants supporting critical needs of artists in Washington State whose livelihoods have been impacted by COVID-19.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA Paycheck Protection Program:
- Primarily for payroll expenses, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides up to $10 million per small business in loan forgiveness for retaining employees. The loan forgiveness portion is dependent on keeping and paying employees or rehiring employees laid off in response to the COVID-19 national emergency
- Small businesses and sole proprietors apply starting April 6, 2020. Independent contractors and self-employed people apply starting April 10, 2020.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program:
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
- Click here to apply.
SBA Express Bridge Loans:
- Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork.
- These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loans or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan.
SBA Debt Relief:
- The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.
- The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
SBA Local Offices:
- Seattle District Office (Spokane Branch Office): 509-353-2800
- Seattle District Office: 206-553-7310
- COVID-19: Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Bank/Financial Institution Programs
Consult with your bank or financial institution to determine if you are eligible for any deferment or loan programs personally or as a business. Check the U.S. Small Business Administration for additional local lenders. Some institutions offering business programs are:
|
Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR): Business relief, including excise tax filing extensions and late payment penalty waivers during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://dor.wa.gov/taxrelief
Internal Revenue Service (IRS):
ESD can provide support in the form of unemployment benefits. For employers that want to keep from losing highly-trained employees, these unemployment benefits can be received through, or while covered by, Shared Work, Partial Unemployment and Standby (which allow certain workers to collect unemployment while remaining with their employers and not actively seeking other jobs). Visit: https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19 | ESD’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program can provide paid leave benefits for Washington workers who need to take time off from work due to a serious health condition or to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Certification by a healthcare provider is required for applications for Paid Family and Medical Leave due to a serious health condition. Visit: https://paidleave.wa.gov/ |
If COVID-19 disrupts a Washington business and causes a mass layoff or closure, ESD and its local workforce development board partners can respond with Rapid Response services and funding to help impacted workers get connected to unemployment benefits and re-employment services, including re-training, worker support services, and referrals to other social services. Visit: https://www.esd.wa.gov/newsroom/layoff-assistance | The Employment Security Department has new emergency rules in place. For example, workers who are ill with COVID-19 can qualify for benefits. Also, workers that are exposed and quarantined while the business remains open can now qualify for unemployment insurance. This ESD Unemployment chart can help determine which benefit applies to your situation. This FAQ page for workers and businesses answers questions and gives resources to help relieve the burden of temporary layoffs. Sign up for action alerts to be notified as rules change and expand to include more workers soon! |
| Employment Security Department (ESD) Resources: COVID-19 Scenarios & Benefits Available (PDF) |
|
| ESD has created a Q&A for Workers and Employers to help answer questions about COVID-19 impact. |
|
| Employee Security Department Shared Work Program |
Congress recently passed the CARES Act, a more than $2 trillion funding package to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation provides financial support for health care providers, small businesses and nonprofits, families, workers, farmers, fishermen, and Tribes. Among other benefits, the legislation includes expanded unemployment insurance for workers, cash payments for individuals and families, and loans, grants, and debt relief for small businesses.
Information has been acquired from Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC), Tri-City Regional Chamber, Visit Tri-Cities