Jefferson County Businesses
Have Moved to Phase 3
Beginning Monday, March 22nd, Jefferson County has entered into Phase 3 of Governor Inslee's Roadmap to Recovery!
 
What does that mean?
 
  • In Phase 3, restaurants and can expand indoor dining at 50% occupancy, and allow for tables of up to 10 with no household restrictions. Movie theaters can also operate at 50% capacity.

  • Fitness Centers can expand to 50% capacity, and indoor classes can resume at 50% capacity so long as a 6-foot distance can be maintained. Racquetball, squash, and basketball courts can reopen (facial coverings required).

  • Local sports competitions can expand to allow more spectators, and facial covering requirements are relaxed for competing athletes.

  • Religious / Faith-Based Organizations can expand indoor activities to 50% capacity, and indoor choirs and congregations may resume singing.
 
The Governor's office has issued Phase 3 guidance for businesses and workers in a variety of sectors here - https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources/covid-19-reopening-guidance-businesses-and-workers. Information continues to be updated, so we encourage you to check back frequently for the latest guidance issued.

The state will also move away from a regional system in the reopening plan to a county-based system. Previously, counties were grouped into eight regions and moved forward or backward with their region. County progress will now be assessed individually.
Working WA Round 4 Business Grants
 
The Department of Commerce has just announced that the application portal for Working WA Round 4 Business Grants will go LIVE the morning of March 29th, and close at 5pm on April 9th. Up to $240M is available to businesses in Washington, and grant awards will be prioritized by the following criteria:

  • Industries that had to close as a result of safety and public health measures.

  • Size of the business (measured by 2019 revenue).

  • Lost revenue between 2019 and 2020, as well as added expenses to maintain safe operations.

  • To ensure equitable distribution, Commerce will also consider businesses operating in a rural or low-income community or that is owned by someone from a historically underserved population (minority, veteran, LGBTQ+ or women-owned).

There will not be a specific set-aside for Jefferson County applicants, and the grants are not "first come, first serve". All eligible applications submitted between March 29th and April 9th will be considered in their entirety.

More information can be found at https://commercegrants.com/grant-4/.
SBA Shuttered Venue Operator Grants
 
The SBA will launch a portal to begin accepting Shuttered Venue Operators Grant applications on April 8th. These grants are specifically for businesses who were forced to close because of COVID restrictions enacted by each state.

Prior to the official SVOG application opening, the SBA will host a national informational webinar to highlight the application process for potential eligible entities from 2:30 to 4pm ET on Tuesday, March 30th, 2021. Those interested in participating can register here.

Further information, including eligibility requirements and other frequently asked questions, can be found at www.sba.gov/svogrant.