Your monthly news & updates |
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Upcoming Events, Industry News, and more! |
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March Events:
Okanogan County Worksource Career & Resouce Fair
March 6th, 2024
10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Join Worksource Okanogan at Omak Elks Lodge 110 Ash St S, Omak, WA for networking, job opportunities and career growth connecting job seekers with top employers in the area.
Quick Byte: Financial Plan
March 7th, 2024
10:00 AM
Tune in to our Facebook page or Youtube page to watch and learn what a financial plan consists of and how to plan for growth.
Business 101 Interview with an Expert
March 13th
10:00AM
Join us on Facebook for a live interview with David Funk from Zero Emissions Northwest to learn more about the USDA Energy Grants for small businesses, ranchers and farmers.
Small Business Workshop
March 26th, 2024
9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Join us for a small business workshop about Mastering the Essential Skill of Digital Storytelling for your small business. Workshop will be held at 238 E. Oak, Okanogan, WA and will be available through zoom. Click here to register!
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Quick Byte: Financial Analysis
March 28th, 2024
10:00 AM
Tune in to our Facebook page or Youtube to watch and learn about the benefits and fianncial ratios.
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5 Small Business Tax Tips Every Business Owner Should Know
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Know your business entity type: submitting your documentation with the correct Business Entity Type is important for filing. Whether your bysiness structure is Sole proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Company, etc. each of theses entity types have a different legal and tax requirements.
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Be Prepared: practice great organizational habits will assist in knowing what to expense and what to deduct. Keep all your receipts that relate to your business. These can be used to later verify deductions or credits.
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Knowledge is Key: Deductions and tax credits save small businesses money. Get familiar with deductions like building costs, rent, insurance, legal fees, and employee salaries and benefits. And advertising costs, internet, and phone services.
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Seek Assistance: When managing accounts it is important to seek advice of accountantsm tax advisors, and Certified Public Accountants. They are able to assist with quarterly payment set-up, infromation and advise for credits and deductions. If tax obligations are not met correctly there will be penalities, late fees, and interest rates.
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Check it Twice: Important to check and double check that all forms are in orderm documentation is providedm and payments are submitted correctly. It is always the owner's responsibility to file and review their own documents before they are submitted.
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Business Statistics
Ever wonder how many businesses are active in Washington State? Below are some of our statistics from the 2023 year-end.
Total active businesses: 709,540
- 627,626 are domestic businesses, meaning they are formed under Washington statute.
- 81,913 are foreign businesses, meaning they are either a Tribal entity or formed outside of Washington State and are registered to do business.
Total filings completed: 830,042
- Top three filings:
- 537,038 - Annual Reports: Required to maintain active status as a legal entity.
- 61,505 - Certificate of Formation with an Initial Report: This creates a new Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- 25,639 - Reinstatements: These reactivate an administratively dissolved business.
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In partnership with NCW Tech Alliance, the Economic Alliance now has available a limited number of Chromebooks to give to local businesses who need computers to get their business online, or to help them operate their business more efficiently. Please contact Kaelyn if you are interested!
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DID YOU KNOW??
You can now watch all of the Economic Alliance Workshops and Training Videos on demand on our YouTube channel.
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Okanogan County Housing Summit
"Creating and Developing Partnerships to address Workforce Housing Solutions!"
Join us on March 25th from 9-2 for a discussion on Workforce Housing! We will meeting at the 12 Tribes Casino Conference Center in Omak WA. Lunch will be provided and Registration is required.
Follow this link to register:
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Small Business Survey 2024
Please take the time to fill out this brief survey to help us at the Okanogan County Economic Alliance best understand your Small Business needs.
Follow this link to start survey:
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OMWBE Waives Certification
Fees until June 2024
The Washington State Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) is celebrating 40 years of service by waiving certification fees until June 2024. Small businesses throughout the state of Washington are invited to get certified for FREE!
Renewal fees have also been waived for businesses that are already certified.
Why should YOU certify your business?
- Be visible to prime and general contractors
- Gain access to valuable government contracts
- Network with contractors and governments agencies
Contact OMWBE today at 360-664-9750 or technicalassistance@omwbe.wa.gov to start your certification process today.
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Public Works Certification coming soon!
OMWBE is launching a new program for businesses seeking work on public works contracts. Public Works Small Business Enterprise (PWSBE) certification will be available to certified businesses in March 2024.
This program is race- and gender-neutral, and will use the same criteria for economic disadvantage as our State Certification program.
What your business can do to get ready:
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Working Families Tax Credit for workers!
Applications for the Working Families Tax Credit are open. Many eligible individuals did not apply last year for different reasons, one of them being the newness of the program. In 2024, they have increased outreach efforts and partnered with community organizations around the state to bring news about WFTC.
Know somebody that may qualify for a refund or want to check if you qualify? Use the quick Eligibility Assistant.
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Are you interested in making a difference in Okanogan County??
The Economic Alliance is now recruiting for new Board Members! We recently added new positions to our board, and we would love to have additional small business representatives join us from throughout the county! Please email Roni or call 509-826-5107 to learn more!
We have also facilitated the CCT and Okanogan County Broadband Action Team since 2019! If you are interested in participating in this great group of people who are committed to bringing broadband infrastructure to all the residents in Okanogan County, please email Roni today!
If you are interested in participating or learning more about these committees, give us a call at 509-826-5107
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Building Permit Reports
View a report of the most recent applied and granted Building Permits in the region.
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Attention Owners
of Commercial Buildings or Lots!
The Economic Alliance is compiling a list of vacant properties that are for sale, lease or rent throughout Okanogan County. We receive several inquires throughout the year from individuals who are looking for a locations to start/move their business to. We would love to add yours to our list!
- Location-Physical Address
- Lot/Building size
- Utility- Information-electrical load capacity, AC/Heat pump etc.
- Ceiling Height
- Rooms, Restrooms, amenities etc
- Asking price
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Congratulations to the great work of SBDC Advisor Lew Blakeney.
Here are the SBDC Economic Impacts for 2023
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Capital Infusion verified by clients in writing
Jobs created and/or retained as verified by clients
Business starts as verified by clients
Total clients advised during year
SBDC services provided to clients
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Actual for 2023
$2, 219, 366
83
12 or more
103
459 Hours
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Do you need help starting, growing, or funding sources for your business?
Our SBDC Advisor is here to help entrepreneurs or small business owners start, grow or buy/sell a business.
The Economic Alliance’s SBDC advisor Lew Blakeney provides one-on-one, confidential, no-cost advising on all phases of small business development throughout Okanogan County and Colville Reservation.
To schedule an appointment, give us a call at: (509) 826 5107
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Employers, we want to hear from you!
Today’s careers require better skills. We help you build them. SkillSource leads workforce development activities throughout North Central Washington to help residents of all ages build new careers and help businesses develop strong teams. As we plan for the next four years of serving North Central Washington, we would like to hear from you. Your honest feedback will help us understand how best to grow and build our efforts.
This survey should take about five to ten minutes to complete. Please forward this email with the survey link to anyone you know (friends, family, coworkers, etc.) who would be interested in providing feedback about the regional workforce system.
Thank you!
Worksource can help! Give them a call at 509-826-7310 or stop by and see them at their office located at 126 S. Main in Omak.
To learn more about their small business services and programs offered go to:
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Recent Legislative Changes to the Farm Internship Program
Recent updates to the Farm Internship Program expand opportunities for farmers and those wanting a farm or ranching future. This message describes the program, the changes, and how to participate.
About the program
In 2010, the Legislature authorized the Farm Internship Pilot Program in Washington State. This first-of-its-kind program allowed interns to work on small farms in selected Washington counties.
The pilot program provided farmers extra help with a break on workers’ comp. Interns learned farming practices, gained hands-on experience, all from an approved curriculum. Participating interns receive industrial insurance protections while at the farm, but no requirement for receiving pay.
Changes
The program has gone through several changes over the years. The most recent, from the 2023 legislative session, occurred from passage of Substitute Senate Bill 5156. The changes include:
- Permanent: The Farm Internship Program is permanent and is no longer a pilot, or project, with an expiration date.
- The Farm Internship Program is for small farms: The program is for farms that generate less than $265,000 in annual sales per year.
- Expanded statewide: All 39 counties in Washington state are now eligible to participate in the Farm Internship Program.
- New requirements for farms located in the 19 counties that recently became eligible to participate in the program:
- If the farm employs more than one intern, the farm must employ at least one intern with direct experience as a migrant farmworker. This includes a parent or grandparent has direct migrant farmworker experience.
- If a farm receives only one application, the rule changes. The migrant farmworker requirement doesn’t apply.
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This rule applies to the following counties: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Clallam, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Whitman.
- Encouragement in education: Under the law, farmers will encourage interns to participate in career and technical education or other educational content with courses in agriculture or related programs of study at a community or technical college.
How to participate
For farm application information, or interested participants, go online to www.Lni.wa.gov/FarmInternship. Besides the L&I’s website, contact program specialists via email at L&I or by calling 509-209-3448.
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