The Washington State Department of Commerce has announced the availability of $9.7 million in disaster relief grants for eligible small businesses. Applications are due March 31. The grant limit is $75,000 per business.
Eligible small businesses are those with annual gross receipts of $5 million or less that have sustained a reduction in business income or activity as the result of:
- Natural disaster such as flood, earthquake, or a comparable event.
- Human-caused disaster such as a major utility disruption resulting in property damage or prolonged outages.
Funds may be used to reimburse the following eligible expenses:
- Payroll
- Utilities and rent
- Marketing and advertising
- Building improvements and repairs
- Replacing damaged inventory and equipment
- Other operational and business expenses related to a qualifying disaster
How to Apply
Businesses need to first identify and contact the Associate Development Organization representing their county. They will need the name of their local ADO and a representative’s name and contact information to complete the online grant application. In addition to the ADO information, eligible businesses must provide all of the following in the application:
- Washington State Business License
- Proof of address
- W-9 and 2019-2021 tax returns
- Documentation of receipts
Once businesses have gathered the required information, they can visit the application portal here.