County grants $809,000 to small businesses

Last week 75 businesses, including five in La Conner, were granted $809,000 from the Skagit County Small Business Grant Program, supporting local businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19, by the county commissioners.

The La Conner businesses received $36,000, 4.4% of the funding: La Conner Ice Cream Tower $5,000; Seaport Books, $5,000; That’s Knot All Artists Cooperative, $5,000; Balance Point Physical Therapy LTD, $9,000; and La Conner Brewing Company, $12,000.

Area businesses, all in the local food economy, granted $ 53,000, 6.5%, are Tulip Town, Bradshaw Road, $8,000; Skagit Valley Malting, Burlington, $20,000; Terramar Brewing and Distilling, Edison, $16,000; and The Old Edison Inn, Edison, $9,000.

Nonprofits received almost 10% of the grants, $75,000: Boys & Girls Club of Skagit County, $25,000; Skagit Valley Family YMCA, $25,000; and Helping Hands Food Bank, $25,000.

Eligibility criteria included being in good standing with all governments, being an independent business of fewer than 25 employees and suffering revenue reduction greater than 25% due to COVID-19

Funding came through the CARES Act from Congress, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) managed the application process.

This was the second round of grant funding from the County. The first, $163,884, went to 30 businesses with 10 or fewer employees that did not receive Washington State Department of Commerce’s Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant program, after being recommended.

This is the fifth small-business COVID-19 grant application and evaluation process coordinated by EDASC for governments, including cities, towns and the state.