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Adopt a Future Maritime Worker
Help the EDC work toward solutions for the shortage of ferry and other maritime workers.
Please donate to help our local workers get trained up into great maritime careers. $500 per student will cover maritime certification which will enable workers to get good jobs that support our community.
Click here to learn more or donate
Government Contracting Essentials
Washington PTAC, EDC offer workshop on Government Contracting Essentials
Interested in doing business with the government? Join Washington PTAC and the EDC for a workshop which outlines the basics about government contracts and procurement. The workshop will be held via the Zoom platform on Monday, December 6th from 10-11a via Zoom.
The workshop will introduce participants to government procurement, including an overview of which governmental entities are buying (and what), and how they procure goods and services. Small business owners who need basic information on government procurement should attend. The workshop will lay the groundwork for business owners to decide if the government market is a good fit for their enterprise.
To attend, please register here: https://washingtonptac.
This course is funded in part by Washington PTAC, the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County, and through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency.
SCORE December Workshops
Click here to see the Workshops offered in December. Learn from the experts with SCORE’S Small Business training workshops and webinars. Most have small fees to attend.
Source: SCORE Greater Seattle
Free On Demand and Live Classes
Grow with Google OnAir offers free virtual workshops to help you get the most out of digital tools. Whether you own a small business or you’re searching for your next job, our Grow with Google experts and partners are here to teach you digital skills that can help you grow.
Register for upcoming classes HERE.
Source: Grow with Google
Updated guidance regarding applicant deadlines for Covid EIDL
Updated Guidance released November 19th. For updates click here
For more information, click here.
Reminder: This program is scheduled to end December 31, 2021
Source: SBA Pacific NW Region
PPP Forgiveness
Paycheck Protection Program borrowers: If your loan is $150,000 or less, you may be eligible to apply for direct forgiveness through SBA using our online portal. Follow the steps below.
Find out if your lender is participating.
For additional information, visit the SBA website.
Source: Small Business Association
Celebrating Small Business Owners
Our Commerce team is here to support your business goals. Whether you’re still working towards a safe reopening or looking ahead to growth in the new year, resources are available.
Small Business Flex Fund logo
The newest of these is our Small Business Flex Fund, a simple and flexible loan for Washington’s smallest businesses and nonprofits. With the Small Business Flex Fund, you’ll experience low interest rates, longer payback timelines, and community-based lenders with decades of experience helping businesses like yours to thrive.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Fewer than 50 employees
- Annual revenues of less than $3 million
- Experienced direct economic hardship due to COVID-19
Low-interest rates
- Borrow up to $150,000
- No fees and interest-only payments for the first year
- 3% – 4.5% interest rates
- 60 and 72-month loan terms (72-month loan term only available until Dec. 31 this year)
Loan use is flexible
- Payroll
- Utilities and rent
- Marketing and advertising
- Building improvements or repairs
- Other business expenses
LEARN MORE AND PRE-APPLY
Source: WA State Dept of Commerce
Introduction to Value-Added Food Product Development
When: December 8 & 9, 2021 8am-5pm
Each day will focus on a different category of food products. You can attend one day or both days. Register today to let us know what food products you want to develop! Once we hear from registrants, we will announce the focus of each class closer to the event dates, so you will be able to plan accordingly.
Fee: $10 per day
Where: Brickworks, 150 Nichols St. Friday Harbor, WA
(May go to online learning depending on current conditions)
Geared towards small-scale producers of preserves, sauces, dressings and vinegars, snacks, baked goods, and other value-added products.
This workshop will provide the region’s current or interested small-scale prepared food producers with up-to-date information and technical knowledge of the food product development process for the specialty food industry and how to bring such products to market. Targeted towards start-up entrepreneurs and food product developers.
Source: WSU Extension | San Juan County
WA Cares Fund: Join a live webinar
Employees who can’t attend a webinar are encouraged to visit wacaresfund.wa.gov or check out our informational flyer for more information about the program.
Source: Washington Employment Security Department
Washington State Portal
The Washington State Workforce Portal is a free internship resource connecting young people across the state of Washington to real-world work-based learning opportunities. In addition, it gives employers a cost-effective way to evaluate a potential future employee, a pipeline for candidates.
To help businesses and student find the right fit, we offer multiple resources including blog posts, email newsletters, and toolkits.
To help expand our resources, we invite you to explore the portal and submit any resources you might have for students. Specially, any type of resource that educates students on how to prepare for internships, how to get the most out of any internship, what to expect, etc.
Source: AWB Institute
