Round three of state-funded business grants opens soon in WashingtonFree

The application period for the third round of state-funded aid grants for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is set to open Tuesday.

An online application portal for the state Department of Commerce’s Working Washington Small Business Grants opened today. Gov. Jay Inslee last month released an additional $70 million of funding for the program, which had already opened for two rounds of applications since the pandemic’s onset in March.

The grants provide up to $20,000 for eligible businesses to cover expenses that were incurred because of the pandemic and that were necessary to continue business operations, according to the Commerce Department website.

Unlike the previous two rounds of applications, which were overseen by local “Associate Development Organizations,” round three applications will be overseen and administered directly by state commerce officials.

The state agency will give priority to applications from small businesses that made $5 million or less in revenue for 2019 and that are in a business sector most impacted by the governor’s most recent public health measures, which prohibit indoor service at restaurants and restrict indoor gyms, bowling alleys, movie theaters and museums from opening. Applications received by Dec. 10 also will receive priority.

Certain nonprofits, such as fraternal organizations with full-service restaurants, may be eligible to apply, according to the Commerce website.

If any money remains after all eligible applicants from the “priority pool” receive their grants, Commerce may be able to provide grants to businesses or nonprofits that submit after Dec. 10, that are not in sectors affected by the new public health measures or that made more than $5 million in 2019.