Round 3 APPLICATIONS CLOSED.

Applications will not reopen. New opportunities will be posted as funds become available.

Applications for up to $20,000 in emergency funds opens the week of November 30 

Governor Jay Inslee announced an additional $70 million for business grants. $50 million of this is for Round 3 of the Working Washington Small Business grants. The remainder will go towards funding qualified businesses that applied in earlier rounds of our resiliency grant program.

NOTE: Businesses that applied for the resiliency grant program will not need to take any action.

When the application process opens early this week, a link to the application and additional information will be posted on this page as well as Commerce's Round 3 webpage.

Who can apply for Round 3?

According to WA Commerce, these grants are prioritized for:

• Small businesses with annual revenues of $5 million or less in 2019 AND
• Businesses in the sectors that are most impacted by recent public health measures as well as businesses in sectors that have experienced significant, cumulative impacts. Examples include full-service restaurants, fitness centers, bowling alleys, and music and event venues.
• Certain nonprofits may also be eligible if they have a primary business activity that falls into a similar category as noted above. Examples include a nonprofit full-service restaurant or nonprofit music venue.
• If Commerce is able to fund all the eligible applicants from the priority pool, and funds remain, they may be able to provide grants to additional businesses or nonprofits from other sectors or who have annual revenues larger than $5 million.

What does the grant pay for?

• The maximum grant award will be up to $20,000.
• The grant can only cover expenses or costs incurred due to COVID-19 and that are necessary to continue business operations.

How to apply?

• Unlike WWSBEG 1.0 and 2.0, Round 3 will be administered through the Washington State Department of Commerce
• The link to the application portal is here and can be found on Commerce's Round 3 webpage.
• Priority will be given to applications received by December 11, 2020. If Commerce is able to fund all applicants who submit by that time, they may be able to consider applicants who submit after the 10th.

Here is a checklist of the information you will need to have ready to apply:

• Applicant W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number
• Copy of valid government-issued photo I.D.
• For tribal member-owned businesses: license or certification if business activity is conducted outside the tribal jurisdiction; letter or certification from the tribe recognizing you as a business if business is within the tribal jurisdiction.
• Copy of 2019 Tax Return or other confirmation of Business Gross Revenues for 2019.
• For businesses with a physical location, evidence of that location, such as a lease, tax statement, utility bill, etc.
• NAICS code or clear description of your primary business activity. A NAICS code is helpful, but not necessary. If you have never used a NAICS code, you can learn more here: What is a NAICS code? and explore NAICS codes to see which one fits your business.

Need Technical Assistance?

The WWU SBDC is ready to provide no-cost assistance to businesses in Whatcom County. To set up an appointment, please register here. Once registration is complete, the SBDC will contact you to coordinate an appointment that works well for your schedule.

For those that need assistance in language other than English, Commerce has a network of Business Resiliency Partners who can help you with the application process.