Washington Business and Commerce Grants

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses and nonprofits in Burien, Washington, to repair storefront glass damaged by vandalism or property crime, helping them recover from economic disruptions caused by such incidents.

This program provides financial support to small businesses and nonprofits in Snohomish to help them recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and small businesses in Vancouver, Washington, to create affordable housing, prevent homelessness, and promote economic stability for low- and moderate-income residents.

This grant provides federal funding to local agencies, tribes, and nonprofits in Washington to rehabilitate and maintain recreational trails for various outdoor activities, ensuring a sustainable backcountry experience.

The Ellensburg Community Grant Program offers a water quality focused grant to encourage community-based projects that improve or protect the quality of surface waters. Donor Name: City of Ellensburg State: Washington City: Ellensburg Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  08/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funded by the Stormwater Utility, the water quality grant provides funding for community groups to provide outreach, education, assessments, planning, implementation, prevention and control focused on city’s surface water. Water quality is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological, and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics. A healthy environment is one in which the water quality supports a rich and varied community of organisms and protects public health. Grant funds are invested in projects that include one or more of the following priorities: Required: Demonstrate improvements in quality of surface waters. Educate a large and/or varied segments of Ellensburg’s population on what water quality is, and what actions they can take to improve or protect it. Educate best practices to reduce/eliminate adverse impacts to water quality. Funding Information A total of $10,000 is available for this grant cycle. Eligibility Criteria Eligible volunteer groups such as youth, seniors, non-profit organizations, educational organizations may apply for funding. Business and governmental partners are encouraged but may not be the applicant. Projects must benefit stormwater quality within the City limits, (i.e., public outreach and education, yard care, litter pick up, etc.). Projects must be within the city limits; if the project is on publicly owned property, an agreement will need to be signed between both parties addressing use of minors as volunteers, hold harmless, etc. Grant funds may not be used for projects that involve or promote the use of alcohol. For more information, visit City of Ellensburg.

The City of Spokane Valley in Washington is offering a grant of over $1 million, funded by local lodging taxes, for projects that promote tourism through marketing, special events, and operations of tourism-related facilities, with the aim to boost economic activity in the city in 2025.

The City of Redmond is accepting applications for its 2025 Tourism Grants for projects that assist with tourism development and promotion in the City of Redmond. Donor Name: City of Redmond State: Washington City: Redmond Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: 08/19/2024 Size of the Grant: Less than $1000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The goal of Redmond’s Tourism Program is to attract visitors from more than 50 miles away, with a priority on overnight visitors. Grant applicants may be cultural, historical, educational, sports, or community organizations that are coordinating events, tournaments, or promotions that bring visitors to Redmond. The grants are paid for by a portion of the 1% lodging tax collected on hotel rooms located in Redmond. Grants may not exceed 50% of the cost of the project. The Redmond Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) evaluates qualifying applications on a competitive basis, using the official tourism promotion funding criteria and weighted scoring. Recommendations are then forwarded to the City Council for approval. The City of Redmond’s Tourism Matching Grants Program accepts applications from any public or private organization with the demonstrated ability to accomplish the proposed project(s) that meet the fund requirements. The tourism program annually awards tourism grants in support of special events, sports tournaments, festivals, and tourism promotions—publicly and privately sponsored. Entities that may qualify for the grants include: Business organizations Community organizations Cultural organizations Educational organizations Entertainment organizations Galleries Heritage organizations Historical organizations Museums Sports organizations Visitor information bureaus Funding Information The minimum awarded amount is $1,000. Eligibility Criteria Each applicant will fully define the service to be provided or the project to be implemented within their grant application. The project must comply with state statutes and City ordinances governing the use of Tourism Promotion Program funds. To be considered for funding, requests must be used for one of the following purposed (RCW 67.28.1816): Tourism marketing Marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists Operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations as defined by the IRC 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6). Proof of nonprofit status will be required. For more information, visit City of Redmond.

The Washington State Department of COMMERCE, hereafter called “COMMERCE,” is initiating this Request for Applications (RFA) to fund clean energy projects in Washington through a combination of funding sources. Donor Name: Washington State Department of Commerce State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/14/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Commerce is now accepting applications to support the planning, design, and construction of clean energy projects through a general round which is open to all eligible project types and applicants. Approximately $34 million will be available in the general round to support the following project areas: Electric grid modernization and innovation Innovative large-scale and dual-use solar Solar energy retrofits for public buildings Clean energy project siting and permitting Building, industry, aviation and maritime Decarbonization Clean energy projects that leverage private and federal funding. Project Categories  Large scale solar innovation Planning or a construction project. Planning project must lead to a capital asset. Solar array(s) must have alternating current (AC) nameplate capacity of more than 100 kW at a single site or more than 1 MW across multiple sites Cannot displace critical habitat or productive farmland Dual-use solar Planning or a construction project Must involve commercial, dual-use solar power demonstration Hard to decarbonize and economic development Planning or a construction project. Planning project must lead to a capital asset. Project must achieve one or more of the following goals: Reduce emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sector Bring private investment and federal funding to the state Grid integration and innovation Planning or a construction project Must develop and demonstrate distributed energy resources and non-wire alternatives Must be for electrical grid integration and innovation projects Must do at least one of the following: Support implementation of demand response Improve integration of renewable energy and energy storage Advance community resilience Support implementation of sustainable microgrids Accelerate beneficial load integration and demand management for at least one of the following: Building electrification Equipment electrification Electric vehicle charging Clean energy siting and permitting Planning projects only Must support siting and permitting of clean energy projects through at least one of the following methods: Support pre-development work at sites for clean energy projects Support land use studies Conduct or engage in planning efforts such as planned actions and programmatic environmental impact statements (EIS) Improve permit timeliness and certainty with staff, expertise or databases Solar installations on existing public buildings Construction projects only Must purchase and install solar PV only at an existing public building (must have a certificate of occupancy prior to application). Funding Information The minimum award amount is $50,000, and the maximum award amount for a single award is $3,000,000. Eligibility Criteria  Unless the Applicant is a federally recognized tribe, applicants must be licensed to do business in the State of Washington or submit a statement of commitment that it will become licensed in Washington within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as an Apparently Successful Contractor. Applicants must be in good standing with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and requirements, including with the Department of Commerce. Applicants must be one of the following entities (please note, not all entities are eligible for all project categories. Associate development organization Federally recognized tribal government For-profit entity Investor-owned, co-operative, or public retail electric utility K-12 school district Local government Non-profit organization Private educational institution or public higher education institution Other academic or research institution State agency Tribes’ contracted service providers. For more information, visit WSDC.

The Washington State Department of Commerce is accepting applications for its Blended Capital Enhancement Grants. Donor Name: Washington State Department of Commerce State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Washington State Department of Commerce has a new way to help people and businesses through the Community Reinvestment Project (CRP). It’s called the Blended Capital Enhancementgrant, and it aims to support by-and-for lending agencies, businesses, and organizations reducewealth disparities within Black, Latine, and tribal communities through asset building. This program will help fund programs that: Make it easier for people to buy a home. Provide grants and loans for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Money management training Fund training and support for small businesses. Assist with buying commercial property, business assets, and vehicles. Help people reduce debt and save more using matching funds. The goal of this grant is to make it easier for Black, Latine, and tribal communities to get financialsupport from local organizations and businesses in their community. Funding Information A total of $42 million is available for this grant, with specific allocations reserved for various purposes,including: New construction loans: $5 million Home expansion loans (including Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs): $6 million Business startups and expansions: $5 million Consumer loans (like credit consolidation, car refinancing, or emergency expenses): $1 million Project Period July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Commerce is looking for applications from lending agencies, businesses, and organizations who are interested in providing financial support, grants, and loans to Black, Latine, and tribal communities across Washington state. Eligible applicants must be led by-and-for Black, Latine, and tribal communities, or partnered with an organization that is by-and-for. Minimum Qualifications Federally recognized tribal government, tribal-led 501(c3), or tribal-led community basedorganizations; OR Licensed to do business in the State of Washington, or submit a statement of commitment that itwill become licensed in Washington within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as theApparent Successful Contractor (exception: Tribes); AND Organizations who collaborate with and/or led by Black, Latine, and tribal communities in WA,and can provide tangible evidence of their relationship to those communities. For more information, visit Washington State Department of Commerce.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for events and activities that attract tourists to Friday Harbor, with a focus on off-season initiatives, and is open to both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, public agencies, and individuals.

The City of Bellevue is currently requesting proposals from organizations with projects that may be suitable for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Donor Name: City of Bellevue State: Washington City: Bellevue Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The City is considering non-construction Capital projects (e.g. architectural & engineering and other soft costs; single-family home rehabilitation; weatherization; acquisition or pre-acquisition costs) and Economic Development projects (e.g. microenterprise business assistance). The City is not seeking Public Services projects (e.g. homeless services, counseling, food banks, senior services, etc.) at this time. Projects must comply with U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) CDBG program regulations (24 CFR Part 570). The amount of funding available for this Request for Proposals is estimated to be $1,000,000 in PY2025 funds ($850,000 in estimated entitlement funds and $150,000 in estimated program income). The actual amount available is dependent upon the 2025 federal CDBG budget, HUD’s allocation formula, and actual program income received by the City. The City makes no guarantees regarding the availability or awarding of CDBG funding. Projects selected via this RFP will be part of the 2025-2029 CDBG Consolidated Plan. Eligible Activities  Examples of CDBG eligible activities that the City will consider funding include: Acquisition of real property, pre-acquisition costs, or design-related (architectural and engineering) and other soft costs (i.e., non-construction). Acquisition/Rehabilitation of public facilities. Home repair/rehabilitation, maintenance and weatherization activities. Microenterprise business assistance and development. Eligibility Criteria  CDBG projects must be implemented by a nonprofit organization or public agency. Nonprofit organizations leasing a facility may request CDBG funds to improve the facility provided the property owner agrees to a restricted use of the property for a specified length of time. The City will prioritize funding recommendations for agencies/organizations with a verifiable history of receiving and administering funds from HUD. For more information, visit City of Bellevue.

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the Grubhub Community Fund have come together once again to provide vital assistance for LGBTQ+-owned and allied restaurants, cafes, bars serving food, and other eating establishments. Donor Name: National LGBT Chamber of Commerce State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/25/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The NGLCC Community Impact Grant Program, supported by the Grubhub Community Fund, provides a financial lifeline to these businesses with grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the Community Impact Grant, applicants must: Be an LGBTQ+-owned or LGBTQ+ ally-owned restaurant, bar or café that serves food. Provide proof that you are an LGBTQ+-owned or allied establishment. Establishment has not received 2+ NGLCC Community Impact Grants in previous years. For more information, visit NGLCC.

This funding provides rental assistance to nonprofit organizations and public agencies in Vancouver to help low-income households afford housing costs while promoting self-sufficiency.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to tourism and hospitality businesses in Port Angeles to enhance their marketing efforts and attract visitors from outside the area.

This program supports businesses and organizations in Washington State that are working on innovative projects to reduce waste and promote a circular economy through recycling, reuse, and sustainable practices.

AgWest Farm Credit's New Producer Grant Program supports new agricultural producers who have two years or less of operational experience or plan to start their operation within two years of applying. The grant aims to alleviate the challenge of lacking start-up funds, celebrating the ingenuity and passion of new producers. Successful applicants will receive a one-time $15,000 grant to support their operation's growth. The grant focuses on applicants within AgWest Farm Credit’s territory who are not current lending customers and are U.S. citizens or lawful residents.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is offering a grant of $100,000 to $500,000 for projects that support diverse youth mental health providers, particularly those connected to LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities, with the aim of increasing access to mental health resources, improving retention, and supporting diverse providers in King County, Washington.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for nonprofit organizations and public agencies to develop, acquire, or rehabilitate affordable housing for low-income households and individuals experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, Washington.

The City of Marysville in Washington is inviting applications for its 2025 Tourism Grant Program, aimed at boosting tourism and promoting overnight stays through events and projects such as sports, conferences, trade shows, festivals, and arts, open to non-profit entities like historical societies, art groups, and museums that can demonstrate their ability to execute the proposed project.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations in Washington state to implement projects that improve access to culturally appropriate dental care, promote healthy food access, and encourage water consumption while reducing sugary beverage intake, particularly for underserved communities.