Commerce, EDC announce local recipients of the Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant

The Washington State Department of Commerce and the Governor’s office, in partnership with the EDC, an islands non-profit, have announced the recipients of the Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant (WWSBEG) in San Juan County.  The program was created to provide small grants to businesses with 10 or fewer employees, to help them survive the downturn caused by Covid-19.

21 businesses in San Juan County – on Lopez, Orcas, San Juan and Shaw Islands – have been awarded grants totaling $149,699.  The grants were awarded from the Governor’s emergency fund and will allow businesses to pay for essential expenses like rent.  Governor Inslee noted, “I hope this a bridge to get them to the other side”.

“In speaking with our businesses over the past two and a half months, it’s been clear they need access to capital and technical assistance to weather this storm.  As a very small nonprofit, we can provide the technical assistance, but could not offer grants.  We were absolutely thrilled when the Governor’s office and Commerce created this funding mechanism to support our local business owners,” said Victoria Compton, EDC Director.

Grant Recipients

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EDC invites all residents of San Juan County to a weekly Community Forum

The EDC invites interested residents of San Juan County to join in a weekly EDC Community Forum starting May 20^th, from 6-7 pm via Zoom video conference.  The event will be presented in partnership with San Juan County government and the Town of Friday Harbor.

Starting June 3, 2020, the Community Forum will go on hiatus until the fall.

The EDC Community Forum will cover different topics of interest to residents of the islands, and allow for conversation with elected officials, local health and social experts and community leaders.

Register in advance for this meeting (registration required):
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rd-ygrT0tHNZDDCpckGWycHi9G2MFTQYK
Please note, you will need to sign in with a Zoom account for this meeting. Questions? Contact us at info@sanjuansedc.org

Upcoming

Community Forum is on hiatus until the fall.

Recordings (click on date to be directed to YouTube video link)

June 03, 2020 : Issues affecting seniors.  If you need help please feel free to reach out to the following experts, all of whom were part of tonight’s discussion:

• Deanna Osborn : Hospice of San Juan education team leader and caregiver (360) 472-0322   deanna@hospiceofsanjuan.org
• Curt VanHyning, United Way; RoundTowner  (360) 317-3899 or cvanhyning@gmail.com
• Robin VanHyning, Cornerstone Healthcare Training; Lopez Lions Club  (360)317-4529 robin@cornerstonehealthcaretraining.com
• Beth Helstien, SJI Library Outreach Coordinator  (360) 378-2798 bhelstien@sjlib.org
• John Slater, Coordinator, Programs and Activities, Hearts and Hands, Orcas Senior Center Nonprofit, Temporary: (360) 919-9318   john@orcasseniors.org
• Gail Leschine-Seitz, Aging & Family Case Coordinator, San Juan County Health & Community Services – meal program, housing issues, EOC response, seniors who are caregivers, volunteers, and PT workers during COVID   (360)370-7528    gaill@sanjuanco.com
• Evan Perrollaz, Administrator, Village at the Harbour,  (360) 378-7144  administrator@thevillageattheharbour.com

May 27, 2020 : Business, Jobs, and the Economy.  A quick dive into data, then what we’re hearing about from our businesses, and a conversation on how we can start to strengthen and diversify our economy to reduce future catastrophic downturns.

May 20, 2020 : The conversation focused on local government including updates on response to the current situation, budget updates, and other topics.

The Economic Development Council (EDC) urges businesses and residents to hire local workers and contractors as the economy starts to reopen.  In an effort to connect island workers with local businesses, the EDC has created a Virtual Job Fair on May 8^th from 10 a.m. until noon, via Zoom.

Businesses and property owners are urged by the EDC to ‘hire local’ during the upcoming recovery period.  This will ensure that our local workers have income as our economy picks up – in some cases enabling them to stay in the community – and will keep much-needed dollars circulating in the islands.

“The multiplier effect of keeping money in the county means that dollars spent here will continue to support the community far beyond a primary transaction,” noted Victoria Compton, EDC Director.

For more information, please email info@sanjuansedc.org.

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Kings Market, Marketplace, Walt Corbin, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support of EDC initiatives.

The Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.   

****UPDATE**** Please have your grant applications in to us no later than 5PM on MONDAY APRIL 13. At that time our window for submissions will be closed.

The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering a new Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant (WWSBEG) program to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Businesses which qualify for the grant program and are located within San Juan County must go to the Commerce site at http://startup.choosewashingtonstate.com/covid-grants/, download the application, fill it out electronically and email it to the Economic Development Council (EDC) at edcsanjuans@gmail.com.

The EDC will prioritize applications based on the severity of the impact the business is facing due to COVID-19, including being forced to close by the government-mandated closures, social distancing measures or illness.  Awards will be approved on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on the availability of funds, which are extremely limited. The objective for the grant is to support businesses through the crisis and enable them to retain as many employees as possible.

Eligibility: Applicants should have been in business for at least one year. Please note that funding is not meant to help launch a business, but to support existing businesses who are specifically impacted by one of the executive orders and are vital members of their local community.  Applicants are eligible to receive one WWSBEG award during the current budget cycle, which ends on 06/30/2021.

Application Process: Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and applicants will be accepted or denied on a rolling basis.  Approved grant expenditures: Grant funds can be used for expenses related to consulting, marketing, and training or for operational expenses including rent, supplies/inventory, utility bills, etc.  Applications must include a list of proposed expenses grants will be spent on.  Applications without a list of proposed expenses will be considered incomplete.  Note that payroll cannot be reimbursed via WWSBEG. Please direct all payroll needs to Employment Security Department. The following expenses are not eligible: capitalized equipment, travel, office equipment, and computer software.

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, King’s Market, Friday Harbor Market Place, Orcas Island Market, Walt Corbin, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support of EDC initiatives.

The Economic Development Council (EDC), an islands non-profit, strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community

Recording

Recording of the audio, including auto-generated captions, on YouTube.

Press Release

The Economic Development Council (EDC) invites business owners to an information session to learn more about the various loan programs available to businesses during the current economic downturn, including the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, standard SBA loans and more, on Tuesday, April 7^th from 2-2:45pm, via Zoom meeting.

Featured speakers will be Brad Williamson, President and CEO of Islanders Bank and Laura Sandstrom, VP/Branch Relationship Manager of Heritage Bank, who will bring decades of banking experience and knowledge to the discussion.

The meeting will be held Tuesday, April 7^th from 2-2:45 p.m., by Zoom meeting.

To join the Zoom session, go to :  https://us04web.zoom.us/j/340839019?pwd=N094c0l3QXhaL2o4T1d1SnhjOUJwQT09

Meeting ID: 340 839 019

Password: 333323

Or join by phone:  (301) 715-8592,  or (253) 215-8782

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Kings Market, Friday Harbor Market Place, Orcas Island Market, Walt Corbin, Orcas Kiwanis, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support of EDC initiatives.

The Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.   

Press Release
Upcoming
Recordings

Our Business Chat ‘n’ Chew meetings went on hiatus on 6/4/20.  These may return in the future.  See below for recordings of previous sessions.

Press Release

The Economic Development Council (EDC), in partnership with SCORE, the San Juan Islands Visitors’ Bureau and our local chambers of commerce, and in the interest of engaging local business owners in conversations about concrete steps they can take immediately, has launched an uplifting, informative lunchtime meeting entitled the Business Chat ‘n’ Chew, starting Tuesday, April 7th, and Thursday, April 9th, from noon-12:45pm, via Zoom, and running every Tuesday and Thursday at that time through June.

“We envisioned a lighthearted meeting where our small business owners could talk frankly about the challenges they are facing right now, while sharing a meal.  Even if it’s a virtual mealtime, sharing ideas and support together will help us all get through this difficult period,” noted Victoria Compton, director of the EDC.

“We want to help our business community in any way that we can at this time and our hearts go out to our small island businesses.  This is just one small way that we can help them,” said Deborah Hopkins, director of the San Juan Islands Visitors’ Bureau.

For more information on this or any other business concern during this time, please email info@sanjuansedc.org or phone 360-378-2906.

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Kings Market, Friday Harbor Market Place, Orcas Island Market, Walt Corbin, Orcas Kiwanis, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support of EDC initiatives.

The Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community. 

Upcoming

Chat & Chew is currently on hiatus for the summer.

Recordings

• June 4, 2020: John Gomez of the EDC discusses a variety of issues affecting businesses. Video.
• May 28, 2020: Chris Minney of Tif & Gif. Chris will be talking about on moving your business online and making the most of your available digital assets. For businesses looking to pivot to a digital presence or want to learn more about the options available to you please join us tomorrow. Video.
• May 21, 2020: “Level Up Your Business and Workforce” with Ingrid Vliet (Lopez Island Library) and Boyd Pratt (San Juan Island Library). Learn about library resources that your business can use to build its skills to survive current challenges and thrive as things re-open. Video with captions.
• May 19, 2020: What are your questions? Video unavailable.
• May 14, 2020: PPP with Chris Reed of SCORE and Unemployment Insurance with John Gomez of the EDC. Video with captions.
• May 12, 2020: Leading with Impact in a Virtual World with Gretchen Krampf. Video with captions.
• May 7, 2020: Marketing (Through the Madness) with Victoria Compton, EDC director. Will be rescheduled.
• May 5, 2020: Cash Flow with Chris Reed of SCORE. Click for video; for slide deck click here (links to MS PowerPoint file).
• Apr. 30, 2020: Video delayed due to technical difficulties. $ell More $tuff: How to Move Merchandise and Services in the New Economy, with Becki Day, San Juan Islands Chamber of Commerce.  Learn more about how to get your product to your customers using virtual events, videos, email marketing, and more.
• Apr. 28, 2020: Marketing with Val Curtis (Treehouse Creative Digital Solutions). Includes auto-generated closed captions.
• Apr. 23, 2020: Retooling Production for Public Health. With Suzy Pingree (San Juan Island Distillery) and Travis Ayers (Luxel). Includes auto-generated closed captions.
• Apr. 21, 2020: The Intersections of Bankruptcy Law and the CARES ACT, with Mary Schmitt, Attorney at Law. Please read Mary’s disclaimer. Video includes auto-generated closed captions.
• Apr. 16, 2020: Google My Business (How to set it all up), with Erin Wygant, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. Includes auto-generated closed captions.
• Apr. 14, 2020: Rescheduled to 4/21/20 due to technical difficulties.
• Apr. 09, 2020: Marketing and social media tips with Erin Wygant, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. Includes auto-generated closed captions.
• Apr. 07, 2020: PPP and EIDL with Chris Reed of SCORE (includes auto-generated closed-captions); most recently updates slides (links to PDF; updated 4-20-20), courtesy of Chris Reed.

The Economic Development Council (EDC) would like to convey to business owners that applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a vital component of the CARES Act signed into law last week, will be open for local small businesses on Friday, April 3^rd.

The program gives small businesses, including independent contractors and self-employed individuals, vital short-term funding to continue to employ workers, and a portion of the loans can be forgiven and converted to grants if used according to program guidelines.  The loan application portal opened starting last Friday (April 3) for small businesses and sole proprietors, and will open Friday (April 10) for independent contractors and self-employed individuals.

All local banks and other SBA lenders will participate in this program, and the US Department of Treasury is adding other regulated lenders as quickly as possible.

Business owners should contact their bankers directly to find out if they are eligible to participate, and are urged to act quickly as this is a first-come, first-served program.   Locally, Banner Bank (for Islanders Bank customers) and Heritage Bank are currently working with local businesses on the process, and Wells-Fargo is rolling out details on their website.

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Kings Market, Friday Harbor Market Place, Orcas Island Market, Walt Corbin, Orcas Kiwanis, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support of EDC initiatives.

The Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.

Upcoming
Recordings of past sessions

On 4/1/20 The Economic Development Council (EDC)  launched a Business Recovery Call for business owners affected by COVID-19 implications via Zoom.

Recordings of past meetings can be found at the bottom of this page (scroll down).

Upcoming Events

Please check back soon.

Recordings

• July 1st, 2020: On Wednesday 1 July the EDC was proud to host our very special guests, Lindsey Webb and Jenn Rogers, Community Liaisons from Rick Larsen’s (WA-02) office, who spoke on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided over $2.2 trillion to a wide variety of recipients in order to help weather the COVID-19 storm. The CARES Act includes programs for individuals, businesses, healthcare facilities, transportation agencies, and many others. This presentation highlights the ways in which CARES Act funding is helping Washington state and the 2nd Congressional District respond to the pandemic.

Please check out the Powerpoint that was presented here:

CARES Act in Washington’s 2nd District SJC EDC

• June 10, 2020: Orcas-based Consultant / Trainer JoAn Mann, MBA, discussed: “Staying Resourceful in Difficult times – Tough Encounters – Juggling Pandemic health needs, staying afloat financially, cranky –even demanding—customers, family … even the dog is out-of-sorts.  How do you talk to people in these difficult times?  Spend an hour focusing on building resourcefulness and tapping into your innate strengths and experiences to offer a bit of hope, an authentic smile and helpful attitude for your customers, family, friends and most importantly, yourself.”
• June 3, 2020: Kyle Dodd from the San Juan County Dept of Health and Human Services, discussed state and county updates regarding phased reopening and reopening guidelines.
• May 27, 2020: Michael Ervick, the Small Business Liaison at Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance, discussed business recovery; Rafael Colon, Employment Security Dept., spoke about unemployment issues; and Rick Hughes discussed phases of reopening and other County issues. Video with auto-generated captions.
• May 20, 2020: Guests include Laura Sandstrom from Heritage Bank discussing PPP updates and Kyle Dodd from San Juan County Health & Community Services talking about new guidance for staffed and guided outdoor recreation. Video with auto-generated captions.
• May 13, 2020: Kyle Dodd (Environmental Health Manager, San Juan County, WA) discusses the phased reopening plan for Washington. Video with auto-generated captions.
• May 06, 2020: Congressman Rick Larsen. Video includes auto-generated captions.
• Apr. 29, 2020: State Senator Liz Lovelett, and State Representatives Debra Lekanoff and Alex Ramel. Video includes auto-generated captions.
• Apr. 22, 2020. Jamie Stevens, San Juan County Council, speaking about county programs; John Gomez, EDC, speaking about unemployment insurance. Video; includes auto-generated closed captions.
• Apr. 15, 2020. Mark Costello, the SBA’s Seattle District Office’s Deputy District Director: video, includes auto-generated closed captions.
• Apr. 08, 2020. Suzanne Dale Esty, Executive Director of WEDA, Steve Hushebeck from the Friday Harbor Town Counsel, John Gomez of the EDC, and Chris Reed from SCORE. Recording of the audio, with auto-generated closed captions, on YouTube.

Please contact the EDC for more information:  info@sanjuansedc.org, or 360-378-2906.

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Kings Market, Friday Harbor Market Place, Orcas Island Market, Walt Corbin, Orcas Kiwanis, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support of EDC initiatives.

The Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.  

When businesses get to the other side of the current public health crisis and its economic consequences, their reputations will be judged on how they responded to the coronavirus situation and what they did to be supportive of both their employees and their communities.

APCO Worldwide, an independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy, has some advice for businesses affected by coronavirus shutdowns.  They note that beyond the worldwide statistical picture, there some key factors are becoming clear.

Business and government communication has to follow other initiatives.  People are not interested in bold statements and vague storytelling, they want to see concrete action taking place.  Reputational gains have been made by companies that have shown bold initiative responding to need in their communities.  Examples include supermarkets offering free delivery to seniors, factory production lines being switched over to make personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers, and donations of meals and food by restaurants and food manufacturers to health care organizations working on the front lines.

There are also risks of communications efforts backfiring or misinforming the public.  While it’s important for businesses to continue messaging and combining that with public health advice, it can lead to the spread of misinformation.  The Mayor of Milan released an inspirational video showcasing the resilience of the citizens titled, “Milan Doesn’t Stop,” at a time when health authorities were promoting social distancing and closure of nonessential businesses and organizations.  Criticism subsequently built up that the authorities should have acted sooner and not encouraged restrictions to be lifted prematurely.

Internal communications are just as important.  Employers need to have plans in place and clearly and transparently communicate these to employees.  When this doesn’t happen, employees will turn to other sources for information, such as social media.  Employers can reduce anxiety and increase their employees confidence with clear and regular communication.  Tactics can include:

• Having a crisis plan in place and clearly communicating the plan
• Testing technology for remote working
• Having a plan for paid sick leave
• Communications & HR teams need to stay on top of the developing news and keep employees informed of pertinent updates
• All businesses are learning on the fly during this time but are also figuring out how to improve social and business systems

We are really seeing the business world coming together and responding in a significant way that’s having as positive an impact as possible on their stakeholders.

– John Gomez, EDC

This link has been moved, please see: COVID-19 Resources for Businesses and Workers