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Dear Cultural Sector,

We have excellent news regarding a 2023 Legislative Session victory! Every single advocate in our coalition rolled up their sleeves and make their voice heard on behalf of the cultural sector. Thanks to each and every one of our advocates, the Legislature listened and appropriated $2 million to our sector for COVID relief.

It's now time to celebrate your hard work and claim your funding! The $2 million appropriation has now become the COVID Impacts Recovery Grant and will be distributed by ArtsWA and the Dept of Commerce. We are thrilled to announce that the application portal for the COVID Impacts Recovery Grant is now OPEN through November 1st!

Granting is limited to $5,000 per application. This is based on the Washington State Department of Commerce and ArtsWA's shared goal of providing meaningful impact with a limited funding pool.

Those of you who applied for Working Washington 5, you're in luck! The eligibility and application requirements for the COVID Impacts Recovery Grant are very similar to last year's WW5 application. If you did not apply for WW5, don't worry! It's a very simple grant application.

Application Materials:

1. Financial documentation for 2022 gross annual business revenues (an IRS form in most cases). You can also do a 2021 990 if you need to!
2. Washington Unified Business Identifier (UBI). Note: Tribal member-owned businesses without a UBI may provide alternative business validation.
3. Washington Statewide Vendor Number (SWV)
4. Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), if applicable
5. Federal Unique Entity Identifier Number (UEI)

Eligibility

To be eligible for this grant, you/your cultural business must:

• Be an active for-profit or non-profit business as of March 20, 2020
• Be physically located in Washington State
• Primary business activity must be in the arts, heritage, or science sectors
• Science funding is intended for cultural science non-profits and businesses such as science centers or zoos. Science companies, including research or development laboratories or services, and science manufacturing, are not eligible for these funds.
• Have expenses that are necessary to continue business operations, and the expense is not a federal, state, or local government fee (i.e. taxes, licenses, state, county, federal, or city fees).
• Self-attest that expenses are not funded by any other government or private entity
• Have experienced and can describe lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on your business activities
• Have documentation of 2020, 2021, and 2022 annual business revenues
• Generate at least 51% of revenue in Washington State

Timeline

• Application Open: Monday, September 25, 2023
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 5 p.m. (PST)
• Notifications sent: January 8 – 12, 2023
• Funds dispersal: January 22 – 26, 2023

For a more detailed breakdown of the grant program and resources to help you with your application, check out the COVID Impacts Recovery Grant page on ArtsWA's website: https://www.arts.wa.gov/covid-recovery/

Inspire Washington will continue to share information and reminders about this grant application up until the due date. Please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to everyone in your cultural community!

Warmly,

The Inspire Washington Staff

Has the passing of HB 1575 (providing Councilmanic authority for the Cultural Access program) sparked your interest? Your city or county may now create a local funding program to support science, heritage, and arts in your community through either a public or councilmanic vote. Join other cultural leaders from across the state for a monthly round table discussion about Cultural Access. We're excited to help you create this funding resource in your city or county!

Topics we may cover and other opportunities at these meetings:

• What is Cultural Access?
• Explore steps to begin the process in your community.
• How have other communities engaged with Cultural Access?
• Meet other communities across the state who are also exploring Cultural Access.

Cultural Access Office Hours begin on October 3rd and will occur every Tuesday from 12:30-1:30pm from now until the end of 2023.

Next Cultural Access Office Hour Meeting:

Tuesday, October 3rd from 12:30-1:30pm. Click here to register!

About Inspire Washington

Inspire Washington nurtures the human spirit and strengthens communities by increasing access to science, heritage, and arts programming through advocacy, resource development, education, and coalition building.

Inspire Washington

info@inspirewashington.org

P.O. Box 806, Seattle, WA 98111

InspireWashington.org

Manuel R. Cawaling, Executive Director

Jessi Wasson, Programs and Operations Manager

Anna Tatelman, Annual Fund Manager

Madeline Dalton, Outreach Coordinator

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