Council expands support to help more local businesses

This week the Pierce County Council passed two ordinances aimed at making more funding available to local businesses struggling from impacts of COVID-19.

The first ordinance doubled the total amount of money available through a previously established COVID-19 Adaptation Grant Program, bringing the total authorized for assistance to $10 million.

With its adoption the Council also expanded the maximum grant amount available to businesses to up to $50,000, based on total number of full-time equivalent employees, and provided up to $25,000 in assistance to eligible Pierce County farmers markets.

The second ordinance established a Commercial Rent and Mortgage Payment Assistance Program that provides limited assistance to eligible businesses to help protect jobs threatened by COVID-19.

Through this new program commercial business can receive up to three month's assistance to help cover rent or mortgage payments, not to exceed $15,000, which will be paid directly to a landlord or mortgage lender.

Funding for these programs comes from the nearly $158 million the county received in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act monies. 

More information about how to apply for these funds will be made available soon.

Learn more about the programs.