A message from Karin Leaf with the Economic Development Council of Mason County:
Working Washington Grants: Round 5 (WWR5) Program
This program offers one-time grants to small for-profit and non-profit businesses that have experienced financial hardship due to Covid-19 and related public health
measures. Commerce will post a link to information and the application portal at www.commercegrants.com. In this round of Working Washington grants, available
funds are set aside for specific targeted groups or sectors:
- 60% is identified for the arts, heritage, and science sectors, including those that operate live entertainment venues
- 40% is identified for most other sectors, including hospitality, fitness and personal services
General Timeline:
- August 17 – 31: Application portal will remain open for 15 days
- Early – Mid September: Review of applications
- Late September: Commerce will notify grantees and disburse funding
Requirements for WWR5 Eligibility:
● Active for-profit or non-profit business* (identified by UBI number or EIN number) physically located and operating in Washington state.
o *Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply if they have a primary business activity that is similar to the eligible businesses who qualify for this program
● Be able to demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
● Have been in operation prior to January 1, 2021
● Have not reported annual gross receipts of more than $5,000,000 in calendar year 2019 (If no revenue was generated in 2019, must provide gross receipts from 2020)
● Have reported total revenues of at least $10,000 in 2019 or 2020
● Generates at least 51% of revenue in Washington state
● Have not permanently closed or intend to permanently close in 2022
● Have expenses that are necessary to continue business operations and the expense is not a federal, state, or local tax, fee, license, or other government revenue
● Have experienced a reduction in business income or activity related to COVID-19 or as a result of state or local COVID-19 related public health measures
● Adherence to all required COVID-19 public health measures
● Self-attest that the expense is not funded by any other government or private entity
IMPORTANT:
As of April 2022, recipients of grants using federal funds are required to have an UEI number. The UEI replaces the DUNS Number. If you don’t have one yet, you
should apply now. You may apply for grants without one, but cannot receive funds until you have an UEI. Click here to apply now (https://sam.gov/content/duns-uei).
WWR5 Ineligible to apply:
The following business/organization types are not eligible to apply for this round of Working Washington Grants:
● Multinational corporations
● Childcare provider (not including recreation/entertainment)
● School (Pre-K, K-12 and higher education)
● Public Library
● Science companies, including research and/or development laboratories or services, and science manufacturing
● Professional Services (accounting, insurance, legal, financial services/firms, architects etc.)
● Hospital/Healthcare provider, including dentists and chiropractors (personal services such as massage ARE eligible)
● Property management/real estate (including owners or operators of short-term rental properties)
● Host/operators of a vacation or short-term rental unit (like Airbnb or VRBO)
● Licensed marijuana/cannabis operation (this does not include CBD retailers)
● Drivers of shared ride companies e.g., Lyft or Uber (independent taxi and limo ARE eligible)
● Third-party delivery drivers e.g., Amazon or Door Dash
● Government entities or elected official offices
● Passive business, investment companies and investors who file a Schedule E on their personal tax returns
● Financial business primarily engaged in the business of lending, such as banks, finance company and factoring company
● Businesses that have permanently closed or intend to permanently close in 2022
● Businesses engaged in any socially undesirable activity or activity that may be considered predatory in nature (such as rent-to-own businesses and check cashing businesses)
● Businesses of a prurient sexual nature (“adult” businesses)
● Speculative businesses
● Businesses primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities
● Businesses without a physical location in Washington state
● Businesses that restrict patronage for any reason other than capacity or age restrictions per regulations
● Businesses found to be in violation of any COVID-19-related order issued by the governor. This includes remaining open when ordered to close, or disregarding COVID-19 health or safety measures applicable to the business.
● Businesses found to have compliance or regulatory issues as of March 2020
● Businesses that are actively engaged in current/pending lawsuits
● Businesses disbarred by the federal government
● Businesses actively pursuing a bankruptcy declaration Eligible WWR5 applications may be reviewed based on the following considerations:
● Reduction in revenue or activity between 2019 and 2020
● Recent Working Washington grants received
● For-profit and non-profit businesses operating in a distressed area (https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/distressed-areas) and/or owned by someone from a historically disadvantaged or underserved population
o Consideration may be given to business owners who self-identify as a minority, veteran, LGBTQ+ and/or women
▪ For eligible non-profit businesses, their mission must provide support or services to underserved or underrepresented communities
o Consideration may be given to eligible applicants whose physical business is located in one of the 15 counties identified by the state as a “distressed area” (https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/distressed-areas):
Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Lewis, Cowlitz, Yakima, Grant, Franklin, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens & Pend Oreille
Required Documents and Information for WWR5:
- WA State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number
o Tribal member-owned businesses without a UBI may provide alternative business validation such as a license or registration with a federally recognized tribal nation in Washington state
● Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), if applicable
● UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) number
o If you are already registered with SAM.gov, click here to view your UEI number (https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0041254&sys_kb_id=a05adbae1b59f8982fe5ed7ae54bcbba&spa=1)
o If you are not registered with SAM.gov click here to register (https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0049214&sys_kb_id=4a26988e1bdf78106397ec21f54bcbf6&spa=1) and receive your UEI number
● Valid Government-issued photo ID - Financial records from 2019, 2020 and 2021 (Businesses established in 2020 need only provide 2020 and 2021 documentation)
What documents will I need to upload for WWR5?
Valid government-issued photo identification (ID):
• A valid government-issued photo ID of the applicant who is signing the grant application. Washington state-issued driver’s license/ID card, U.S. Passport book or card, Tribal ID card, or other valid, state issued or federal issued photo ID
Verification of Tribal member-owned business, if applicable:
• A business registration or license from a federally recognized tribe in Washington State (https://goia.wa.gov/tribal-directory/federally-recognized-indian-tribes)
Financial Documentation:
• Financial documentation for 2019, 2020 and 2021 gross annual business revenues (Businesses opened in 2020 will need to provide documentation for 2020 and 2021)
o Applicable financial documents may include one or more of the following:
▪ IRS form 1040 (sole proprietors) and the following: Schedule C, Profit and Loss from Business
▪ IRS form 1065 Partnership Return (no K-1s required)
▪ IRS form 1120 Corporation Return (no schedules required)
▪ IRS form 1120S S Corporation Return (no K-1s required)
▪ Form 1099-MISC
▪ Form 990 for non-profits
Eligible Uses Grant Funds:
Successful grantees must use the funding for costs incurred between March 3, 2021 and June 30, 2023, as required by state law. Funds must be spent by June 30, 2023.
Awardees can expend grant funding for any eligible expenses due to the impact of COVID-19 if they have not been previously funded through other grant awards.
If all responses for the particular incurred cost are “true” for all five statements below, then the applicant can feel confident the cost is eligible:
1) The expense is connected to the COVID-19 emergency
2) The expense is necessary to continue business operations
3) The expense is not to be used to pay government related fees (e.g., taxes, licenses, state, county, federal, and/or city fees)
4) The business will self-attest that the expense is not funded by any other funder, whether private, state or federal
5) The business wouldn’t be requesting assistance with expenses if they had not been impacted by COVID-19
Grant Funds May NOT Be Used For:
• Lobbying
• Alcohol (other than for inventory needs of their business)
• Salary increases, bonuses, and dividends to owner(s) or investor(s)
• Costs already reimbursed previously by federal programs (e.g., SBA Paycheck Protection Program) or expenses previously reimbursed by any grant or loan program
• Personal expenses
Grant applications may be completed and submitted online at any time. The portal will open the morning of August 17, 2022 and will close August 31, 2022 at 5:00 PM PT.
• Applications must be submitted no later than August 31, 2022 at 5:00 PM PT.
• Applications will be reviewed, and final determinations made after the portal closing date. If selected for a grant, notice of grant amount and next steps will be sent out from our partner, Submittable, via email end of September.
This project was supported by an award from the US Dept. of Treasury. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or
policies of the US Dept. of Treasury. Grant funds are administered by the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, Washington State Department of Commerce. Applicants
must apply for one business only. Those with multiple businesses should apply on behalf of their largest or most impacted business.
Karin Leaf
Business Development Manager
360.426.2276 | 360.490.7406