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U.S. Chamber to Offer $5,000 Grants
Chambers, small businesses impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is working to provide financial relief to employers impacted by the coronavirus through the Save Small Business Fund.
The grants are $5,000 and can be used to make payroll, pay rent or overall business operations. Chambers of commerce are eligible.
Applications go live on April 20. Apply here.
To qualify, a business must:
- Employ between 3 and 20 people
- Be in an economically vulnerable community
- Have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic
Please visit www.savesmallbusiness.com for more details, and to get an email reminder when the application launches.
The grants will be distributed on a weekly, rolling basis until all funds have been allocated.
A recent poll by the chamber and MetLife found that more than half of small businesses have closed at least temporarily or will close in the next two weeks, the chamber reports. And one in four, or 24%, are two months or less away from closing permanently.
"They need resources and relief, and they need it now," the chamber wrote.
In other financing news, the U.S. Small Business Administration has reported that applications for the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans are no longer being accepted. The agency is urging Congress to appropriate more funds to help the country's small businesses.
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Monday Webinar to Focus on Employment Law
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Join us Monday at 10 a.m. for the latest coronavirus-related updates. Our next topic: Employment law in the time of COVID-19.
Register here.
Monday's guests include Britenae Pierce, the Employment Rights, Benefits & Labor Group Chair at Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland PLLC; and Scott Michael, the legal services coordination manager at the Washington State Employment Security Department.
Contact Jacob Sodeman with questions at JacobS@awb.org.
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Spring Meeting to Go Virtual
Event scheduled for June 3; No cost to register
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AWB's Spring Meeting will be delivered virtually on June 3 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations from state and federal health officials. The health and safety of our staff, members, speakers and attendees remains our top priority as we consider the format and timing of our events.
This is why we postponed the event to June 3, and why we invite you to participate in the 2020 Spring Meeting Virtual Event from the comfort of your home office.
As we address the pandemic and start planning for recovery, there are many relevant topics and resources employers need in order to keep their businesses going or get their business back up and running. The AWB Spring Meeting Virtual Event will cover many of these relevant issues for employers across the state. Content will also help employers stay up-to-date on the state policy issues that impact their company and employees.
The best news of all: there is no cost to register. The Spring Meeting is free and open to anyone, but you still need to register to receive login information.
See full program details and register online.
This event is ideal for business and higher education leaders, policy influencers, lawmakers, entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Contact Jacob Sodeman on the AWB events team at jacobs@awb.org for questions or help with registration.
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AWB wants to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to reach out. Have questions about the SBA loans? Need to talk to someone in government affairs? Having trouble with the shutdown order?
We've got you covered.
Please contact Andrew Lenderman at 360.529.1301 or AndyL@awb.org.
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Dru Garson to Lead Engagement for Grassroots Alliance
CEO of Greater Grays Harbor begins May 1
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AWB has hired experienced business leader Dru Garson to lead engagement with the AWB Grassroots Alliance.
The mission of the alliance is to provide a statewide voice for economic growth and community prosperity.
Garson is the CEO of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., the regional chamber of commerce and economic development council in Aberdeen. He's been active in AWB's Rural Jobs initiative, the Washington Child Care Collaborative Task Force, and the AWB Institute, the nonprofit focused on solutions to some of the state's biggest challenges. In 2019 he received AWB's Advocate of the Year Award. AWB decided to hire Garson before the coronavirus situation unfolded in Washington.
"AWB is proud to have such a dedicated economic development leader on our team," AWB President Kris Johnson said. "Dru is committed to improving the quality of life in our state. His work is now more important than ever, as Washington employers face historic challenges caused by the coronavirus."
Garson and Greater Grays Harbor were among the first members of the Grassroots Alliance when it was established in 2014.
"I'm honored to join AWB and support the work to create positive economic conditions so all employers can thrive," Garson said. "The Grassroots Alliance is a tremendously positive force in our state, giving voice to chambers of commerce and their members in urban and rural communities."
Garson can be reached at dru@awb.org.
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Sign up for the AWB Grassroots Alliance newsletter to keep the latest content in your inbox, and out of the spam folder.
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Need help or have questions? Please contact Communications Specialist Andrew Lenderman at 360.943.1600 or AndyL@awb.org.
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