March 16, 2020
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to
Washington Small Businesses
Economically Impacted by the
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Washington small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Jay Inslee on March 13, 2020.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman and Yakima counties in Washington; Benewah, Latah and Nez Perce counties in Idaho; and Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla and Wasco counties in Oregon.
“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist Washington small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help these small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said Administrator Carranza.
SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.
“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Carranza.
“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added.
Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 16, 2020.
For more information about Coronavirus, please visit: Coronavirus.gov.
For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
SCORE, the SJICF and the EDC invite business owners and nonprofit leaders to a workshop on reducing risk.
Over 40% of small business owners in the U.S. report having been involved in or threatened with a civil lawsuit, and many business owners are at risk for losing their personal assets, simply as a result of the way they established their business entity. Additionally, many nonprofit leaders in the U.S. are unclear about the requirements of operating a nonprofit entity. Join SCORE, the San Juan Island Community Foundation (SJICF), attorney Mary Schmitt, and the Economic Development Council (EDC) for a FREE seminar on reducing risk with the right business entity on Thursday, November 21st from 10-11:30 a.m. at Heritage Bank, Friday Harbor.
In the sole proprietorship model of business entity, business owners’ personal assets – life savings, house, car – could be confiscated to pay a legal settlement. Entities such as corporations and limited liability companies can offer more protection to business owners, and the creation of such entities can be relatively simple. In the nonprofit model, limitations on types of donations can be received – and how they can be spent – are often stringent, and the rules regarding operating a nonprofit can be significantly different than those to operate a for-profit business.
Chris Reed from SCORE will explain each type of entity, and how they can impact businesses, their owners’ assets, and tax implications. Mr. Reed brings decades of experience in both start-ups and established organizations, small businesses and Fortune 100 companies, and he holds a BA in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University, and an MBA from Harvard University.
Carrie Unpingco from the San Juan Island Community Foundation (SJICF) will share what resources are available to nonprofits here and what pitfalls can be avoided by nonprofit leaders. Carrie earned a BS degree in Community Health Education from Central Washington University and has worked as the Executive Director of the San Juan Island Community Foundation since 2016.
Attorney Mary Schmitt will answer questions about the law regarding business entities and potential drawbacks of establishing a business as a sole proprietorship. Attorney Schmitt has practiced law for 28 years and represented over 7,000 clients; she has a wealth of experience in bankruptcy, business and estate law.
Details: Thursday November 21st from 10:00-11:30 a.m at Heritage Bank in Friday Harbor, free entry. For questions, please contact us.
The EDC thanks our funders for their support of this event and other EDC initiatives.
Need more data and information to make knowledgeable decisions about your business or as a community legislator or leader? Join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for their fourth annual Datapalooza! event, two hours of in-depth data and analysis of our economy and demographics, plus lunch and conversation, on Wednesday, December 4, from 10:30 till noon on Orcas Island.
This year’s program, sponsored in part by Island Market, will include presentations by noted speakers James McCafferty, director of WWU’s Center for Economic & Business Research and Dr. Anneliese Vance-Sherman, regional labor economist for the State of Washington.
The presentations will explore our region’s economy and demographics – past, present, and future – including industry, employment, sales data, and current trends. This in-depth analysis will enable leaders and businesspeople to make informed decisions about issues that affect our community and economy.
SOLD OUT! See you next year!
Details: Orcas Island, Wednesday, December 4, from 10:30am till noon at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church parish hall in Eastsound. Tickets are $25 and advance payment is required. Purchase tickets using the PayPal button below or by check.
For questions, please call (360) 378-2906 or email: mickey@sanjuansedc.org
Check out the new Washington State Dept. of Commerce report on Economic Development Offices’ activities statewide to see what we have been working on these past two years. This biennial progress report from Commerce is sent to the state legislature to show what each county’s economic development office has done with state and other funding over the past two years.
We are proud to say that the San Juan County EDC – with the support of local government and other funders, and the participants and collaborators in our programs – knocked it out of the park this past biennium! Please see page 5 of the document for our programs’ outcomes compared to other counties’, and page 155 for our biennial report.
Thank you so much for your support, funding, and participation – without your support and involvement we could not have achieved what we did over the past two years.
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) will offer free* training in construction basics this fall at Friday Harbor High School.
The curriculum has been designed for students and career changers, and will include core construction skills, tool usage, safety and more. . .
For more information or application, see our Trades Education page.
EDC presents Climate Change for Business – a workshop on mitigating climate change impacts
Business and farm owners or managers are invited to join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for a 5-hour workshop and discussion on the topic of Climate Change for Business, Thursday, October 18th, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the San Juan Island Grange. The workshop includes a gourmet boxed lunch . . .
For more info and signup see: Climate Change for Business
Join the conversation on What’s Next: The Islands Economy at the 11th Annual EDC Economics Luncheon, held online on Wednesday, April 28th from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.,
featuring economist Yoram Bauman and San Juan County Auditor Milene Henley. This year, participants are invited to “B.Y.O.L.” (bring your own lunch) to share a meal with other community members virtually.
This year’s topic is What’s Next: The Islands Economy, a look at the past year in context with previous years, and an exploration of our economy to come. Economist Yoram Bauman, PhD, the world’s only stand-up economist and co-author of the best-selling Cartoon Introduction to Economics book series, will dive 
into what just happened with the U.S. and state economy; San Juan County Auditor Milene Henley will narrow the focus of the exploration to local key economic indicators.
The 11th Annual EDC Economics Luncheon will be held online from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28th. Tickets are $12 to cover expenses of the event; to sign up, please click link below:
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 San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County. We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.
EDC presents Mission: Advertising workshop
Business owners are invited to join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for Mission: Advertising, a free workshop on advertising and marketing for small businesses, on Wednesday, March 28th from 9 a.m. until noon.
Participants will learn the effective techniques and media they can use to build their businesses using print media, social marketing, blogging, direct marketing, advertising specialties and more. Also taught will be methods to leverage public and press relations to help grow business, and best practices in enterprise reputation management.
Featuring noted advertising experts, Colleen Armstrong, Sound Publishing; Cali Bagby, Sound Publishing; Sharon Kivisto, San Juan Islander; Jack Cory, Island Guardian; Kris Brown, Printonyx; Tim Dustrude, San Juan Update; Chris Reed, San Juan County SCORE counselor; and Victoria Compton, EDC, this workshop is sure to give participants the tools they need to boost their businesses.
Date: Wednesday, March 28th, 9 a.m. until noon. Cost: Free, advance registration required. The class will be held at the San Juan Island Grange, 152 1st Street, San Juan Island. For more information and to register: 360-378-2906 or info@sanjuansedc.org.
Working an office job can be hard on healthy bodies; learn how business owners and employees can use “Healthy Desk” techniques to improve comfort – and even productivity – in an office setting. Join the EDC to learn more about methods to help keep office workers more comfortable working at a desk, at a FREE workshop on Wednesday, January 24th on San Juan Island.
The course will include desk postures and exercises, gentle stretches and more. Workshop instructor Jeanne Peihl has decades of experience in ballet and movement arts.
Date: Wednesday, January 24th, 10-11a. Cost: Free. Class size is limited, advance registration is required. The class will be held at Heritage Bank on San Juan Island. For more information and to register: 360-378-2906 or jeanne@sanjuansedc.org.
The EDC thanks San Juan Propane, Islanders Bank and Heritage Bank for supporting this workshop.
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County. We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.
Success in getting paid is critical to any business. When an entrepreneur’s business is not set up to get paid successfully, or when clients neglect to pay – on time, or at all – operations can slow down, jeopardizing the business itself. Join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) to learn more about strategies, payment systems and collections at a workshop entitled Get Paid on Thursday, November 9th on San Juan Island.
The course will cover attracting paying clients, using accounts receivable software and payment processing services, identifying and avoiding deadbeats, and collecting overdue accounts. Workshop instructors Victoria Compton and Jeanne Peihl bring decades of small business experience to the class.
Date: Thursday, November 9th from 10-11:30a. Cost: $10 to cover materials. Class size is limited, advance registration is required. The class will be held at Heritage Bank on San Juan Island. For more information and to register: www.sanjuansedc.org/getpaid .
The EDC thanks San Juan Propane, Islanders Bank and Heritage Bank for supporting this workshop.
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County. We believe a strong economy builds a strong community. The EDC works to build an environment that helps business owners create jobs. We serve business: linking organizations and resources, providing valuable information, rendering assistance and advocating for an improved island business environment.