Pierce County Update for Business: May 17, 2023

May 17, 2023

Help Shape the Future of Tourism in Pierce County

Survey Closes May 31

Tourism is an important industry in Pierce County and contributes to the vitality of our local economy and business community. We would sincerely appreciate your time to complete a quick survey, which will take approximately 15 minutes. In addition, please share with your employees who live in Pierce County. To learn more and for updates, visit www.PierceCountyWA.gov/TourismSurvey.

America's Seed Fund Week May 15-18

The U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs – also known as America’s Seed Fund - provide over $4 billion in funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas. Learn more.

Impact Pitch Competition Applications Open

Impact Pitch 2023, a program of Business Impact NW, is an opportunity for entrepreneurs at any stage, who are making a positive impact in their communities to win prize money. The competition offers participants an avenue to receive valuable feedback and guidance while competing for awards totaling $36,000. The competition runs from June 8th - October 5th, 2023. Learn more.

MyFreeTaxes Self-Employed Tax Guide

United Way created this guide in partnership with the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to help more self-employed small business owners easily and accurately file their taxes for free. Designed for both full-time and part-time entrepreneurs, this guide will help you self-prepare your taxes for free. View the guide.

Pierce County Business Accelerator Program - Applications open until cohorts are filled! Next cohorts will start in Fall 2023. This program serves entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Pierce County with a focus on underserved communities. Following six-weeks of business training, graduates are eligible for grant funding opportunities.

Pierce County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy + Resiliency (C-PACER) Program - The C-PACER program allows owners and developers of eligible properties in Pierce County to obtain long-term financing, at a lower interest rate, for qualifying energy generation, energy efficiency, water conservation or resiliency projects.

City of Tacoma Small Business Technical Assistance Programs - Technical assistance in the areas of financial and digital literacy for small and micro businesses located in the City of Tacoma. Eligible small businesses must submit an application.

Keep it Local Tacoma - Closes May 29
Revby Digital Marketing and Digital Capacity Building Program - Closes May 31

Employer-Supported Child Care Technical Assistance - For many employers it is becoming more competitive and expensive to recruit, hire and retain employees. One factor is that working families are having a difficult time finding quality child care that is affordable. What does it take for a business to consider and implement family-friendly options? Washington State Department of Commerce offers free consultations. For more information contact [email protected].

Grant Programs for Small Businesses:

Amazon Business Small Business Grants - Closes May 21
Progressive® Driving Small Business Forward grant program - Closes June 2
Jobber grants for home services businesses - Closes June 8
eBay Up and Running Grants - Closes June 9
DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund - Closes June 30

FREE Business Skills Training for Pierce County Small Business Owners!

The Pierce County Business Skills Program offers busy small business owners and entrepreneurs a way to work on their business on their own time and at their own pace. FREE, on-demand business skills training is now available to help small businesses start, grow, and stay on track. Classes focus on the basics of how to succeed in business and quickly build skills to immediately put into practice.

Click Here to Sign Up Today!

Pierce County Business Skills Program Video

Start working on key areas for business success including bookkeeping, tax reporting, business planning, business law, sales skills, marketing strategies, graphic design, web design, and intercultural communication.

The Pierce County Business Skills Program's free curriculum is developed in partnership with the Pierce County Economic Development Department and Pacific Lutheran University as part of the Pierce County Community Navigator program and is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Discover Local BIPOC, Women, and Veteran-Owned Businesses at PCBA.biz

Shop local and support BIPOC, women, and veteran-owned small businesses via a new online directory at PCBAmap.biz The directory spotlights Pierce County Business Accelerator program (PCBA) graduate businesses, offering a variety of goods and services.

The Pierce County Business Accelerator (PCBA) is a program of the Pierce County Economic Development Department funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. The City of Lakewood is a municipal partner. The PCBA is managed in partnership with Next Consulting, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, The Black Collective, Mi Centro, and Korean Women’s Association. To learn more about the PCBA visit PCBA.biz.

Pierce County Economic Development
950 Pacific Ave, Suite 525
Tacoma, WA 98402
www.piercecountywa.gov/edd