Phase 3 Starts March 22!

San Juan County just moved to phase 3, up to 50% capacity. We’ll also be evaluated on a county-by-county basis, then evaluated on outcomes in 3 weeks.

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EDC & 4-H Partner on Trades for Kids!

PARENTS!   The Economic Development Council (EDC) and WSU Extension’s San Juan County 4-H program are offering FREE activities for children to introduce them to different trades in a fun, project-based program that is offered remotely. The first installment on fire preplanning will launch on March 19th and will be led by Lt. Gilbert Venegas, of San Juan Island Fire & Rescue. Lt. Venegas brings over a decade of experience in emergency services. This class will be the start of a series of opportunities for kids to do trades projects.

To sign up, please see: https://www.sanjuansedc.org/youth-trades/, or contact Wendy Waxman Kern, the 4-H Coordinator for San Juan County WSU Extension, wendy.waxman@wsu.edu.

Unemployment Benefits Extended through September 4, 2021

The U.S. Congress passed a new stimulus bill that will:

• Extend Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Employment Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) until Sept. 4, 2021.
• Continue the additional $300 per week for all eligible claimants until Sept. 4, 2021. By federal law, all claimants will get this benefit, except those receiving Training Benefits. The $300 is in addition to claimants’ usual weekly benefit amount.

Unemployment claimants: Keep submitting weekly claims:  If you have an existing claim of any type, you should continue to submit your weekly claims as usual and watch for communications from ESD.

Stay up to date:  Call volume at the ESD Unemployment Claims Center is VERY high – check out the latest updates and FAQs on the COVID-19 page.

Fraudsters targeting small business owners!

Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times.  Be on guard for fraud, loan fraud, and phishing.

• Unemployment Security Breach –If you have questions about the Unemployment Security Breach from January 25th get lots of valuable information here:
• Website: sao.wa.gov/breach2021
  

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EIDL Re-Opened to many FH Businesses

Check Your Email + Spam Folder!  

Did you apply for an EIDL before?  If your business is in Friday Harbor and is eligible, you may be invited by the SBA to apply for a new round of EIDL funding.  The funding is only available to businesses that have met the SBA’s requirements and which are invited by email.  More info on the SBA’s FAQ documnet (PDF) at https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/Targeted%20EIDL%20FAQ_Final-508_0.pdf.

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant 

Eligible entities may be live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theatre operators, and talent representatives, per the Economic Aid Act.

The application platform is not open yet, but while you are waiting, you can register for a DUNS number so you can then register in the System for Award Management (www.SAM.gov). Visit the link to see if you qualify and stay up to date on when the application process will open. http://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/shuttered-venue-operators-grant