Pierce County Update for Business: Professional Services Provider Webinar

Webinar: How to Participate as a Pierce County Professional Services Provider - Wednesday, December 8 at 2:00 pm

Join us for a webinar to learn more about the opportunity to be on a list of qualified professional services providers who will be matched with Pierce County businesses who need services such as bookkeeping, graphic design, web design, marketing, tax, and legal advice.

Providers need to register with Pierce County and complete a bid process in order to participate as an approved provider. American Rescue Plan Act funding has been allocated by the Pierce County Council to support this program.

Click here to register.

Questions? Contact us at 253.798.6150 or send an email.

Your Next Employee Could be a Paid Young Adult Intern at No Cost to Your Business!

Get matched with a young adult intern through the Hire Pierce County: Next Gen program. Paid internships are made possible through Pierce County American Rescue Plan Act funding and are in partnership with WorkForce Central.

Hire Pierce County Virtual Job Fairs

Complete a Job Fair interest form if your company is interested to participate in a virtual job fair. October 15 is the deadline for the next fair, and more fairs are planned to connect employers with job seekers as the economy re-opens.

Did You Know? Apprenticeships Can be a Great Way to Attract and Train Employees

The number of people involved in registered apprenticeship programs statewide has reached an all-time high, according to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Find out if your company is a good fit for an apprenticeship program and learn more about existing programs by checking out these links:

Offering a Registered Apprenticeship
How Apprenticeships Work

Resources and Funding Opportunities

Round 3: U.S. DOT Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program. Closes December 13,2021.

Small Business Flex Fund Loan Program

Small businesses and nonprofits can apply for a low-interest loan of up to $150,000 to finance expansion and growth as well as recover from the pandemic and subsequent economic slowdown through the Washington State Department of Commerce Small Business Flex Fund. Interested applicants pre-apply on the Flex Fund’s online portal and, if they qualify, will be matched with a lender.

Webinar: SBA Programs for Small Businesses
December 14 at 2:00 pm

Join subject matter experts from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Seattle District Office as they share information about the various SBA programs that empower small businesses to successfully move forward, grow and expand in the new year. Click here for more information and to register.

SBA Announces Major Changes to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
Application Deadline December 31, 2021

Changes include:

Increasing the COVID EIDL Cap.
Implementation of a Deferred Payment Period
Establishment of a 30-Day Exclusivity Window
Expansion of Eligible Use of Funds.
Simplification of Affiliation Requirements.

For more information visit sba.gov/eidl. The last day that applications may be received is December 31, 2021.The SBA Disaster Customer Service Center is available to provide assistance seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT by phone at 1-800-659-2955 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-877-8339) or email at [email protected].

Paycheck Protection Program: if your loan is $150,000 or less, you may be eligible to apply for direct forgiveness through SBA using their online portal. Follow the steps below.

Find out if your lender is participating.
Watch a video about how to use the portal.
Apply for forgiveness.

For additional information, visit the SBA website.

Washington Ready & Reopened

Now that Washington state has reopened under the Washington Ready plan, all industry sectors previously covered by the Roadmap to Recovery or the Safe Start plan (with a few limited exceptions including spectator events) have returned to usual capacity and operations.

This does not include masking. See current guidance for employers and businesses/organizations based on vaccination. See also: L&I Requirements and Guidance for Preventing COVID-19 and updated Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for Employers (Non-Healthcare Settings).

COVID-19 Vaccines Help Get Us Back in Business

Everyone five and older is now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Washington. Visit the Washington DOH Vaccine Locator to find location options and information.

Need a ride? People who face transportation barriers can call the state COVID-19 information hotline at 833-VAX-HELP for assistance.

SmallBizHelpWA.com New Online Hub for Small Business Recovery

On the SmallBizHelp.com website you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions regarding recovery resources, information on how to find individual technical assistance, how to find a lender, training opportunities and where to find more detailed program information.
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Back to Work Pierce County Resource Guide

As Pierce County businesses continue to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic, we've created a roundup of resources to help your business continue to operate under new guidelines or prepare to re-open.

View the resource guide here.

Pierce County Economic Development

950 Pacific Ave, Suite 525
Tacoma, WA 98402
www.piercecountywa.gov/edd