Resources for Kennewick Businesses

Updated 1/22/2021

Open Air and Outdoor Seating Requirements

As of January 19, 2021, there are new guidelines for dining establishments wishing to resume seated service, Indoor dining is not allowed, but there are four (4) "Open Air" scenarios that a food service business may use to resume "outdoor" service. 

View this graphic describing the different schematics and the 2-page guidance paper from the Governor's Office. 

Healthy Washington Plan for Recovery (effective 1/11/2021)

New State Reopening Plan – Last week Governor Inslee released a new reopening plan that goes into effect today. The new “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” plan has grouped Washington’s 39 counties into eight regional groups, largely based on health-care resources. Currently there are only two phases to this plan with future phases and details to be announced later. Our region, South Central, is comprised of Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Kittitas and Yakima counties.

All regions start in Phase I and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced late Friday that no counties have met all of the metrics and will remain in Phase I until at least January 18. There will no longer be an application process to move to the next phase. Instead, it will now be based on the region meeting ALL 4 of the following metrics: 

•    10% decrease in disease rates trend (cases per 100K population) over previous 14 days – compared to the prior two weeks.

•    10% decrease in new Covid-19 hospital admission rates over previous 14 days (per 100K population)

•    Less than 90 % ICU occupancy (both Covid-19 & Non Covid-19 patients)

•    Less than 10% test positivity rate over a 7-day period (calculated using the most recent complete data for a single Sunday-Saturday week).

For more detailed information on the current metrics for each region, please visit the DOH website.

The DOH will be announcing each Friday which regions have met the metrics for that week and can move to Phase II and which regions are required to move back to Phase I. Any movement would be on the Monday following the Friday announcement. To remain in Phase II, regions must meet three of the metrics or go back to Phase I. The disease rate trend is a bit more flexible in Phase II and that it needs to remain at least flat or be declining. The Governor and the DOH have indicated that the Roadmap plan may be adjusted as the science of the pandemic evolves. 

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.


SBA Logo
  1. Grants, loans & debt relief
  2. tax relief
  3. Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD)
  4. 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:

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:

  • Bank of America - provides several resources for COVID-19.
  • Gesa Credit Union - offering a variety of personal and commercial resources.
  • LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation) small business resources.
  • Numerica Credit Union - offering a variety of personal and commercial resources.
  • STCU - resources for business owners.
  • Umpqua Bank- providing resources for business and individuals.
  • US Bank - resources provided for a variety of issues related to COVID-19.


Information has been acquired from Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC), Tri-City Regional Chamber, Visit Tri-Cities