EDC-Valmark Back-to-Business Grant

The Application Portal Closed at 5:00 PM June 19^th, 2020.

Valmark (Kings Market and Friday Harbor Market Place) and the EDC have created a new Back-to-Business grant program to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.  This fund was created to address our business owners’ desperate need for essential business expenses like rent, for PPE and for pivoting their operations online.

Through an application process, the fund will provide business owners with small grants, primarily to:

• Provide businesses with funding for essential business expenses such as rent, utilities or inventory;
• Pivot businesses into online and/or curbside sales, by providing funding to pay for local contractors who can help with web development, web security, social media consulting, and other training or services to shift businesses’ focus to socially-distanced sales;
• Provide businesses with funding to purchase PPE or exposure control systems (such as barriers, signage, masks, disinfectant, or ventilation controls) in order to re-open safely.

It is our hope that supporting San Juan County’s businesses during this unprecedented downturn will enable them to survive into recovery and thrive in the future, ensuring that our vibrant business community continues in strength.

Businesses will be required to give back to the community with 20 hours of community volunteer work in the two years after receipt of their grants.

Note: Currently, there is funding only for businesses located on San Juan Island.

Guidelines & Eligibility

Applicants should have been in a profitable business for at least two years on San Juan Island.

Businesses should be the primary source of income for applicants in 2019, and/or have greater than 0.5 FTEs other than the proprietor.  Nonprofit organizations are not eligible at this time.  Applicants should be in good standing with local, state, and federal authorities.

Businesses with 30 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) may apply for a one-time grant of up to $10,000.    Amounts awarded may be less than requested and will be determined by need. Applicants may apply for only one Back-To-Business (BTB) grant award.

Grant Awards Process
Grant applications will be submitted to the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC). Application forms and the application portal will open June 5^th, 2020.

What is the most that can be applied for?   $10,000 maximum; amounts awarded may be less than requested.

What is the deadline to apply to the Back-to-Business Grant through San Juan County EDC?  5 p.m., June 19^th, 2020.

What are the review criteria?

We will score businesses based on documentation of the following:

• Need (e.g. closure or reduced employment because of health and safety orders) – businesses must have experienced a loss of income due to the impacts of COVID-19;
• Whether the applicant makes a strong case that an award would make a meaningful difference to their business’s survival and growth;
• Whether the business actively supports the community or other businesses economically (as key employer, supplier, vendor, etc.) or through community service*;
• How the business will give back to the community going forward and how the business owner will provide 20 or more hours of volunteer work in the community

*Your business may contribute to the community in other ways besides the few examples listed above. Please think broadly about how your business helps our community, and let us know in the application.

Application Process:

Application forms will be made available on the EDC website (https://sanjuansedc.org/BTBgrant) on June 5^th, 2020; applications are due June 19^th, 2020; grants will be reviewed and final recipients will be announced on June 26^th, 2020.  Applications should include a list of proposed expenses that the grants will be spent on.

Currently, there is funding only for businesses located on San Juan Island, but the program will be expanded county-wide in the coming weeks.

Eligible expenses:

List of allowable expenditures from Grantee’s Application:

• Essential business expenses such as rent, utilities or inventory;
• Web development, web security, social media consulting, and other training or services to shift businesses’ focus to socially-distanced sales;
• PPE or exposure control systems (such as barriers, signage, masks, disinfectant, or ventilation controls) in order to re-open safely.

Not allowable:

• Payroll, proprietor or employee salary or remuneration, benefits or reimbursement of any type (e.g., payroll, pensions, dividends)
• Bills for taxes or legal fees or federal or state expenses
• Capitalized equipment, travel, office equipment or land acquisition and construction cost
• Travel incl. meals, lodging, transportation
• Lobbying or political influence

 Questions?  Please call or email us – we can help:  (360) 378-2906 or info@sanjuansedc.org