Port Authority Announces Recipients of Support Grants
Information released by Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority
The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority recently announced the awarding of $333,052 in Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grants (WWSBEG) to support 71 local companies severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the awardees were two Chelan Valley businesses: Blue Spirits Distilling and Andante Restaurant.
The selected pool of grantees includes 17 restaurants, 14 retail establishments, 10 salons, 3 fitness facilities, 3 beauty/personal services, 3 manufacturing facilities, 3 childcare businesses, 2 agricultural businesses, and additional small locally owned establishments. Grantees are located in 12 different cities across Chelan and Douglas Counties. Grantees represent 38 women owned businesses, 11 minority owned businesses, and a veteran owned business. These businesses will primarily use these funds to pay rent, utilities, and other allowable expenses.
“Small businesses are job generators, product and service providers, and they provide the unique character of our downtown and neighborhood commercial districts,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “While we know there is much more to do, these Working Washington grants are designed to support them during this challenging time on the road to recovery.”
The WWSBEG recipients in Chelan and Douglas Counties will employ a total of 264 individuals and it is estimated this grant will prevent the loss of 247 jobs. In approving these grants, Washington State and both Chelan and Douglas Counties will be able to support the potential preservation of these businesses and the economic security of the companies’ employees and the local communities.
Regional Port Authority Board Chairman Rory Turner said “We would like to thank the Governor and Department of Commerce for working closely with the Regional Port in funding these small businesses in Chelan and Douglas Counties. As our region works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, getting financial support for our small businesses is critical to economic recovery.”
The Regional Port received 855 Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant requests totaling $7,943,336. The Regional Port is working with federal, state, and local governmental entities trying to secure additional resources to fund more small business grants.
Click here for a complete list of grant recipients.
For more information contact: Jim Kuntz, CEO at jim@cdrpa.org or Ron Cridlebauth, Director of Economic Development at ron@cdrpa.org
