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COVID-19
Business Resources

Working Together to Keep Tri-Cities Open for Business

TRIDEC, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce,  Visit Tri-Cities, Benton County, Franklin County, City of Kennewick, City of Pasco, City of Richland, City of West Richland, Port of Kennewick, Port of Pasco, Port of Benton, Benton Franklin Council of Governments, Employment Security Department, WorkSource Columbia Basin, Prosser Economic Development Association, Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce, Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership, and Downtown Pasco Development Authority are committed to working together to support our business community.

Job Openings
In Tri-Cities

Businesses Tips During COVID-19 Pandemic

Resources Included on Page:

Small Business Toolkit and Resources

Small Business Administration (SBA) Resources

Click here to learn more about available SBA loan and debt relief options.

Our nation’s small businesses are facing an unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. On Friday, March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the CARES Act, which contains $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses.

Lapse in Appropriations Notice: SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding.

EIDL applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more about the relief options available for your business, click here.

SBA Express Bridge Loans:

  • Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork.
  • These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loans or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan.

Local Offices:

Washington State Resources

  • The Department of Commerce’s Export Assistance Team can help find alternative markets and provide vouchers to reduce the cost of trade missions, airfare, interpreter and translation services, and more. Click here or contact the Export Assistance Team at (206) 256-6100 for more information.
  • The Employment Security Department has new emergency unemployment insurance program rules. For example, workers who are ill with COVID-19 can qualify for benefits. Also, workers that are exposed and quarantined while the business remains open can now qualify for unemployment insurance. The department has created a new flier to explain several different scenarios.
  • If employers have bought the right endorsements, insurance policies may cover cancelled events or businesses losses. Contact the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner at (800) 562-6900 or go to www.insurance.wa.gov for more information.

Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) Resources

ESD has programs to help Washington’s employers weather the financial impacts of COVID-19.

  • ESD can provide support in the form of unemployment benefits. For employers that want to keep from losing highly-trained employees, these unemployment benefits can be received through, or while covered by, Shared Work, Partial Unemployment and Standby (which allow certain workers to collect unemployment while remaining with their employers and not actively seeking other jobs). Visit: https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19
  • If COVID-19 disrupts a Washington business and causes a mass layoff or closure, ESD and its local workforce development board partners can respond with Rapid Response services and funding to help impacted workers get connected to unemployment benefits and re-employment services, including re-training, worker support services, and referrals to other social services. Visit: https://www.esd.wa.gov/newsroom/layoffassistance
  • ESD has created a Q&A for Workers and Employers to help answer questions about COVID-19 impact.
  • ESD’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program can provide paid leave benefits for Washington workers who need to take time off from work due to a serious health condition or to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Certification by a healthcare provider is required for applications for Paid Family and Medical Leave due to a serious health condition. Visit: https://paidleave.wa.gov/

Export Assistance

  • The Washington State Department of Commerce’s Export Assistance Team division can help companies identify alternative markets and provide firms with STEP Vouchers to defray the costs of trade show or trade mission fees, airfare, interpreter and translation services, business matchmaking, export training programs and more. Visit: www.commerce.wa.gov/promoting-washington-state/export-assistance or contact the Export Assistance team at (206) 256-6100.
  • The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is announcing relief provisions for exporters and financial institutions located throughout the United States that may have been affected by COVID-19. EXIM relief measures include: Working Capital Guarantee Program, Multi-Buyer and Single-Buyer Short-Term Insurance Program, and Medium-Term Single-Buyer Insurance Policies Issued to Exporters.

Federal Resources

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering disaster loans up to $2 million, with an interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere. Nonprofits can apply too, at a 2.75% interest rate. Apply here.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

Congress recently passed the CARES Act, a more than $2 trillion funding package to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation provides financial support for health care providers, small businesses and nonprofits, families, workers, farmers, fishermen, and Tribes. Among other benefits, the legislation includes expanded unemployment insurance for workers, cash payments for individuals and families, and loans, grants, and debt relief for small businesses.

IRS Resources

Financial Assistance

  • The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) may be able to provide assistance through the Economic Injury Disaster Loans program to businesses that have suffered substantial economic injury in an eligible disaster area. Congress approved up to $7 billion in low-interest disaster loans specifically to assist small businesses impacted by COVID-19. These loans can help small businesses meet financial obligations and cover operating expenses.  Visit: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
  • The Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) created a page dedicated to business relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit https://dor.wa.gov/taxrelief​