Small Business Funding
Over the last two years Washington State has provided small businesses throughout the state with more than $500 million in grants to address the economic outfall of COVID-19 and its derivatives. This effort continues as we look to new funding strategies for businesses in the process of rebuilding and recovering.
Important notice to grant applicants!
The federal government recently changed its requirements for businesses and organizations receiving federal funds in the form of grants. It no longer uses the DUNS (Data Universal Number System) and has shifted to a new system known as the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier).
As of April 2022, recipients of grants using federal funds are required to have a UEI, which replaces the DUNS Number. If you don’t have one yet, you may want to apply now. You may apply for grants without one, but cannot receive funds until you have an UEI. Click here to apply now.
LEARN MORE…
Closed – Working Washington Grants: Round 5
The Washington State Legislature has allocated a new round of grant funding for small businesses affected by the pandemic. $70 million was appropriated by the legislature for the next round of Working Washington Grants: Round 5. In this round of Working Washington grants, available funds are set aside for specific targeted groups or sectors:
- 60% is identified for the arts, heritage, and science sectors, including those that operate live entertainment venues
- 40% is identified for most other sectors, including hospitality, fitness and personal services
General Timeline:
- August 17 – September 9: Application portal will remain open for 24 days
- Mid – Late September: Review of applications
- Early October: Commerce will notify grantees and disburse funding
Technical Support Center:
Email and phone support is offered in English, Spanish, Russian and Chinese (Mandarin) and is managed by our partner, Submittable. The public can access it by calling (888) 242-0169 or emailing commercegrants@submittable.com. We encourage applicants to email for the quickest response.
The hours are as follows:
September 9 – December 21, 2022
- 8 AM – 5 PM Pacific Monday – Friday
- Email & Voicemails: Response provided within 8 business hours
Translated materials are available for download in the following 15 languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Somali, Korean, Arabic, Punjabi, Amharic, Khmer, Chinese (Mandarin), Lao and Marshallese.
Closed – Convention Center Grants
The Washington State Legislature has allocated $5 million for a grant program to assist businesses and nonprofits that are dependent to maintain their operations on the economic activity created through conventions hosted in Washington state.
General Timeline:
- August 17 – September 9: Application portal will remain open for 24 days
- Mid – Late September: Review of applications
- Early October: Commerce will notify grantees and disburse funding
Technical Support Center:
Email and phone support is offered in English, Spanish, Russian and Chinese (Mandarin) and is managed by our partner, Submittable. The public can access it by calling (888) 242-0169 or emailing commercegrants@submittable.com. We encourage applicants to email for the quickest response.
The hours are as follows:
September 9 – December 21, 2022
- 8 AM – 5 PM Pacific Monday – Friday
- Email & Voicemails: Response provided within 8 business hours
Translated materials are available for download in the following 15 languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Somali, Korean, Arabic, Punjabi, Amharic, Khmer, Chinese (Mandarin), Lao and Marshallese.
Go Global Web Grants
Commerce is offering a limited number of grants to help businesses that need a new website, update an existing one, add e-commerce or improve search engine rankings. Grants of up to $4,000 are available and paid to approved contractors who perform the work on behalf of the successful applicant. The small business is responsible for any additional costs above the grant limit.
Learn More…
OPEN – Small Business Flex Fund Loans
Small businesses and nonprofits can apply for a low-interest loan of up to $150,000 to finance expansion and growth as well as recover from the pandemic and subsequent economic slowdown.
These grants are managed by the Washington State Department of Commerce and are meant to provide relief to organizations that have been severely impacted by COVID-19.