EVERETT — Some struggling small businesses in Seattle got a boost last year from Washington’s LGBTQ chamber of commerce, the Greater Seattle Business Association.
Now, the Greater Seattle Business Association is offering similar $2,500 grants to minority-owned, LGBTQ-owned and women-owned small businesses in Snohomish County.
The chamber’s “Ready for Business” fund is accepting applications from eligible businesses through April 9 at thegsba.org.
The grant application is short and easy to complete, said Ilona Lohrey, chamber spokeswoman.
“For the first round of funding, we focused on neighborhoods in Seattle that were hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lohrey said. “For the second round of funding, we’re going statewide with a focus on businesses in Snohomish County, Everett and Spokane.”
The fund, which is managed by the chamber, was established last summer with a $100,000 investment by Comcast.
“Small businesses are being devastated by the economic crisis caused by COVID-19,” Lohrey said. “Especially hard hit are the most vulnerable and marginalized demographics, including LGBTQ-, Black-, Indigenous- and women-owned businesses and businesses located in rural communities.”
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of chamber volunteers and community members. The chamber expects to notify grant recipients by April 26.
Grant recipients are also eligible to receive some business consulting and marketing services.
For the second round of funding, the chamber has received $61,000 in contributions from BECU, T-Mobile, Symetra, Microsoft, Harborstone Credit Union and others, Lohrey said.
“Donations are welcome,” she added.
The fund distributed $2,500 cash grants to more than 60 Seattle-area LGBTQ, minority-owned and and women-owned small businesses last year.
Established in 1981, the Greater Seattle Business Association promotes diversity, equity and equality. The chamber represents more than 1,400 small business, corporate and nonprofit members.
Janice Podsada; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097; Twitter: JanicePods
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