Thursday, March 28, 2024

Emergency grant funds 18 county businesses

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OMAK – Nearly $150,000 in grant funding has been approved to help 18 Okanogan County businesses facing imminent failure resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions.

In a May 19 media release the Economic Alliance announce that Governor Jay Inslee authorized $149,615 through the Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant (WWSBEG) for the 18 struggling business selected from a pool of applicants submitted by the Alliance.

In an interview with The Quad prior to the grant announcement, Economic Alliance Executive Director Roni Holder-Diefenbach said her agency received 118 applications for the $10,000 maximum grants but was only able to submit 32 of those for consideration.

The selected pool of grantees includes five retail establishments, three restaurants, three healthcare businesses, two construction/contractor companies, two home repair companies, one recycling/manufacturing business, one hospitality business, and one dance studio,” said the EA release. “Grantees represent eight women-owned businesses, four minority-owned businesses, one veteran and one tribal-owned business.”

Located in seven different cities across the county, the businesses will use the funds primarily for rent, utilities and related allowable expenses.

The WWSBEG recipients in Okanogan County will employ a total of 91 individuals and it is estimated that this grant will prevent the loss of 79 jobs,” said the EA release. “In approving these grants, Washington State and Okanogan County will be able to support the potential preservation of these businesses and the economic security of both each company’s employees and local community.”

For more information about the WWSBEG program, contact Diefenbach at 509-322-4634 or email rholderdiefenbach@economic-alliance.com

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