Question 1

What is the Working Washington Grants: Round 4 program?

Accepted Answer

The Department of Commerce’s Working Washington Small Business Grant Program provides funds to help small businesses that have struggled due to COVID-19. Commerce ran three rounds of grants in 2020. Commerce is now opening a fourth round.
 
The state legislature approved $240 million for this fourth round of grants (HB 1368, signed into law on Feb. 19, 2021). Some of the criteria outlined in this legislation include:
Businesses must receive their grant award by June 30, 2021.
Commerce must take into account previous Working Washington awards distributed by the agency or affiliated partners. This means grant awards will vary. The maximum grant award will be $25,000.
Grants must be equitably distributed statewide and to historically underserved populations.
View all Working Washington Grant FAQs.

Question 2

Who is Round 4 intended for?

Accepted Answer

These grants are aimed at for-profit small businesses in industries that have hard costs associated with their operations, and faced the most significant challenges to paying those hard costs due to mandated closures. Hard costs include things like rent, utilities or payroll.
We encourage all eligible brick and mortar businesses that were required to close or significantly reduce operations due to public health and safety measures to apply.
 
View all Working Washington Grant FAQs.

Question 3

What are the eligibility requirements for this grant program?

Accepted Answer

To be considered for this grant, an applicant must be:
Active for-profit business or individual DBA located in Washington state (“does business as”.) Businesses can only apply for one location per business (identified by UBI or EIN).
Has been in business before January 1, 2020 and filed a 2019 tax return.
Generates at least 51% of revenue in Washington State.
Operates from a physical brick and mortar location in Washington state (separate from owner’s home).
Reported gross annual revenue between $25,000 – $5 million in 2019.
Experienced a decrease in revenue and/or additional costs incurred between 2019 and 2020 due to COVID-19 public health and safety measures.
View all Working Washington Grant FAQs.

Question 4

What documentation is required for this application?

Accepted Answer

Applicants will need:
WA State Unified Business Identifier (UBI)* number (check this website to make sure your business license is active and in good standing).
*Tribal owned businesses may provide alternative business validation
Copy of filed 2019 tax return
2020 tax return, if filed. If 2020 documents are not available, the business owner must attest and estimate amount of annual gross revenues.
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), if applicable
Valid Government-issued photo ID
Completed W-9 form (digital copy accepted)
View all Working Washington Grant FAQs.

Question 5

What can my business do to get ready to apply?

Accepted Answer

As the SBA works on building the application platform, it would be in your best interest to register for a DUNS number so you can then register in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). SVOG applicants need to register with the federal government’s SAM at www.SAM.gov to apply and cannot use an ITIN, EIN, or other means of identification or registration.
 
Also, gather documents that demonstrate your number of employees and monthly revenues so you can calculate the average number of qualifying employees you had over the prior 12 months. Lastly, determine the extent of gross earned revenue loss you experienced between 2019 and 2020. This and additional information such as floor plans, contract copies and other evidence will be needed to apply for an SVOG.
 
View all Working Washington Grant FAQs.

Question 6

How long will I have to apply once the portal opens?

Accepted Answer

The portal will be open for 12 days. It will open the morning of March 29 and close on April 9 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.

Question 7

How are the applications prioritized?

Accepted Answer

Eligible applications will be reviewed based on the following priority criteria:
Industries that had to close as a result of safety and public health measures.
Size of the business (measured by 2019 revenue).
Lost revenue between 2019 and 2020 as well as added expenses to maintain safe operations.
To ensure equitable distribution, Commerce will also consider businesses operating in a rural or low-income community or that is owned by someone from a historically underserved population (minority, veteran, LGBTQ+ or women-owned).

Question 8

What hours will the Technical Support Centers be open?

Accepted Answer

The Technical Support Centers will provide support by phone and/or email to any applicants with questions related to the Working Washington Grants: Round 4 program.
 
There will be two support centers:
One offers email and phone support in English and is managed by our partner, Submittable. The hours are as follows:
8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday-Friday
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday
Email & Voicemails: Response provided within 8 business hours
 
We also plan to offer phone support in eight different languages (Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Russian, Amharic, Arabic, Somali and Tagalog). The hours are expected to be:
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Monday-Friday
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday & Sunday

Question 9

Is this grant program first come, first served?"

Accepted Answer

No. All applicants who meet eligibility requirements and apply between March 29 and April 9 at 5:00 p.m. PDT, will be considered.

Question 10

Can I view the application in a language other than English?

Accepted Answer

The application portal offers a feature so you can change the language for buttons, menus, static text, and dialog boxes throughout the site. However, applications must be submitted in English.
 
The application portal will be supported by the following languages: Arabic, Amharic, Bosnian, German, English, Spanish, Canadian French, French, Hindi, Hmong, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese – Mandarin, Traditional Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Punjabi, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Question 11

If I applied in a previous round with Commerce, do I have to apply again or will my application roll over?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, you will need to apply again if you applied in any round as this program requires different criteria than prior rounds.

Question 12

What can I use this money for and when does it have to be spent by?

Accepted Answer

Successful grantees must use the funding for costs incurred between March 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021, as required by HB 1368. Awardees are able to expend grant funding for any eligible expenses due to the impact of COViD-19 as long as they have not been previously funded.
 
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:
The expense is connected to the COVID-19 emergency.
The expense is “necessary” to continue business operations.
The expense is not filling a shortfall in government revenues. (i.e. taxes, licenses, state, county, federal, and/or city fees)
The Business will self–attest that the expense is not funded by any other funder, whether private, State or Federal.
The business wouldn’t be requesting assistance with expenses if they had not been impacted COVID-19.
Any expenses outside of the March 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 timeframe would not be considered reimbursable. Commerce is not requesting receipts as a part of the grant award, but, in the event of an audit, the business must show proof of expenditures.

Question 13

Can the funds be used for future expenses (next year) or just current expenses?

Accepted Answer

Due to HB 1368 as set by the state legislature, the funds must be spent on expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.

Question 14

What expenses are classified as ineligible expenses?

Accepted Answer

Ineligible expenses include:
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 of grant or loan program (double-dipping)
Personal expenses

Question 15

Why do only brick and mortar businesses qualify for this grant program?

Accepted Answer

Businesses that operate out of a location that is not their home face higher costs and were more likely to be required by public health measures to completely close or significantly reduce or modify operations. The intent is to assist businesses struggling with those costs. Examples include paying rent and utilities for a business location despite being closed or paying for costly modifications such as plastic barriers/partitions, outdoor tents and frequent sanitation.
 
We know home-based businesses have also endured hardships. Every Commerce grant program has had different requirements, whether set by the legislature or because of the most apparent economic impacts. This program is a combination of both, abiding by HB 1368 while also focusing on businesses that have faced particular hardship due to Proclamations 20-25.8-20-25.12.

Question 16

Do I still qualify for this grant if I received a PPP and/or EIDL loan from the federal government?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Though we ask applicants to provide this information, it will not change your eligibility or affect the review of your application.

Question 17

I own multiple businesses. Can I apply for each business?

Accepted Answer

Only one grant is allowed per UBI. If a business owner has multiple businesses with unique UBI numbers for each, they may qualify for more than one Working Washington Round 4 grant.

Question 18

Do religious organizations qualify?

Accepted Answer

No, religious organizations do not qualify for this grant program. However, if their primary function (source of revenue) is within a sector that is eligible, they may apply. Examples include overnight camps, music venues or a restaurant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jump to section:

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General FAQ

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PPP FAQ

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Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) FAQ

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Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVO)

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Working Washington Grants: Round 4 FAQ

General FAQ

What is the purpose of this website?

How often is the information on this website updated?

PPP FAQ

Where can small businesses learn how to apply for forgivable PPP assistance?

What can small business owners do to get ready to apply for forgivable PPP?

I still have questions and need help with my application. Who can provide me with direct assistance?

Where can I find a lender to process my forgivable PPP loan application?

I already took out a PPP loan. Can I apply for another forgivable PPP loan?

Who can apply for a forgivable PPP loan?

When is the last day I can apply for a forgivable PPP loan?

Where can I apply for PPP loan forgiveness?

What is new about the second round of forgivable PPP loans?

How is the forgivable PPP loan program helping underserved communities?

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) FAQ

What is the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance?

Can I apply for the Targeted EIDL Advance?

I already applied for the Targeted EIDL Advance and haven’t received anything. Should I apply again?

How can I prepare to apply for the Targeted EIDL Advance when it opens to new applicants?

What is the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program?

Who can apply for the COVID-19 EIDL program?

Can I apply for both COVID-19 EIDL and PPP?

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVO)

Who is eligible for an SVO Grant?

When will SVO Grant applications open?

What can my business do to get ready to apply?

When does a business have to have been established to be eligible to apply for an SVO Grant?

My business received a Paycheck Protection Program loan in July 2020. Am I eligible to apply for an SVO Grant?

If a business applied for a First Draw or Second Draw PPP loan on or after Dec. 27, 2020, is it eligible to apply for an SVO Grant?"

Can a business apply for a PPP forgivable loan now and decide later on the loan if it did not receive an SVO Grant? At what stage is a PPP loan considered “received”?

Is a mobile business with no fixed performance space eligible to apply?

What disqualifies an entity from SVO Grant eligibility?

If my business received a grant, loan or other funding from state or local governement, is it still eligible to receive an SVO Grant?"

How do I know that my business has been declined for a PPP loan?

Are eligible entities currently involved in bankruptcy proceedings eligible to apply for an SVO Grant?

Working Washington Grants: Round 4 FAQ

What is the Working Washington Grants: Round 4 program?

Who is Round 4 intended for?

What are the eligibility requirements for this grant program?

What documentation is required for this application?

What can my business do to get ready to apply?

How long will I have to apply once the portal opens?

How are the applications prioritized?

What hours will the Technical Support Centers be open?

Is this grant program first come, first served?"

Can I view the application in a language other than English?

If I applied in a previous round with Commerce, do I have to apply again or will my application roll over?"

What can I use this money for and when does it have to be spent by?

Can the funds be used for future expenses (next year) or just current expenses?

What expenses are classified as ineligible expenses?

Why do only brick and mortar businesses qualify for this grant program?

Do I still qualify for this grant if I received a PPP and/or EIDL loan from the federal government?

I own multiple businesses. Can I apply for each business?

Do religious organizations qualify?