April 6, 2021
2021 Economic Update
This Friday Steve Scranton, Economist at Washington Trust Bank, will be taking center stage to talk about the economy! Steve is one of the most brilliant economic minds this city has and will be providing his extremely valuable insights, including what the economic data is telling us vs. what social media and news headlines may be saying.
Meet the Presenter:
Steve Scranton, CIO and Economist,
Washington Trust Bank.
Major Sponsor:
Event Sponsor:
Friday, April 9
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Have a schedule conflict? If you still register then you will receive a post-event recording link.
Round Four of Working Washington Small Business Grants Now Open
Business owners can find information about the program and a link to the application portal at commercegrants.com. This is the fourth round of the Working Washington grant program. Legislators approved $240 million for the current round as part of an early action bill that also provided additional funding for rent assistance and other COVID-19 response efforts. 

Some of the criteria outlined in this legislation include:
  • Businesses must apply the grant award toward expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 through June 30th, 2021.
  • Commerce must take into account previous Working Washington awards distributed by the agency or affiliated partners. This means grant awards will vary. The maximum grant award will be $25,000.
  • Grants must be equitably distributed statewide and to historically underserved and disadvantaged populations.

Deadline to apply is April 9 at 5:00 pm.
Looking for an Intern?
Need some help at your business but don’t want to hire a full-time employee? Consider hiring an intern! April is National Internship Awareness Month and is a great time to start looking for interns to work at your business over the summer. No matter what type of business you own, you can provide a great career building opportunity for students looking to gain experience while gaining much in return.

GSI and AWB institute are piloting a Workforce Portal which can help in your search for the perfect intern. Visit the Washington Workforce Portal for more information and post your position today!
Using Disc Behavioral Profiles in Business
Have you ever struggled to understand your employees and why they do what they do? Have you ever become frustrated with a customer who didn't understand what you thought were basic instructions?

Join Kevin Weir, Business Coach with ActionCOACH Business Coaching, as he shares how to use the DISC Behavior Profile to help you, the business leader, to strengthen your communication techniques with people in your business.
Wednesday, April 28
8:30 am - 9:30 am
Ready For Business Fund
The Ready for Business Fund, created in partnership between GSBA and Comcast Washington, is intended to support small and micro-businesses that are severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
 
Applications are open until April 9, 2021.
  • Grants will be offered based on available funds.
  • Grant amount is $2,500 per selected business.
  • Grant recipient may also be selected for a video PR campaign by Comcast.
  • Submissions will be reviewed by a committee of diverse volunteers from the GSBA and at large community members.
 
Eligibility:
  • Business must be located and licensed in Washington State.
  • Business must be established on or prior to March 2, 2020.
  • Priority given to LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and woman-owned businesses.
  • Priority given to businesses disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
 
If you have applied for a Ready for Business grant in 2020, you DO NOT need to reapply. You will automatically be included in this second round of applications for review.
Welcome to GSI’s Connect newsletter, coming straight to your email box every Tuesday and Thursday. Visit our website for events and meetings, what GSI is up to, membership benefits, job board, GSI’s COVID-19 response and more. We are here to help and you can reach us at [email protected]. Thank you, and stay safe.
The Spokane Region's Business Development Organization
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