Yakima Times

City of Yakima issued the following announcement on Sept. 18. 

The City of Yakima has dedicated $1 million for small business assistance with no repayment requirements. Grant funds are from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Businesses within the city limits can apply for up to $10,000 for eligible expenses such as business rent/mortgage, business utilities, business insurance, and other operating expenses incurred on or after March 27, 2020.

Applications and additional information are available in English and Spanish at https://www.yakimawa.gov/media/small-business-cares-grants/

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 15th, the Yakima City Council approved an agreement for the Yakima County Development Association (YCDA) to assist in administering the grant funds. Business owners can contact YCDA at 575-1140 if they have questions or need assistance in completing the application.

Eligibility requirements include:

Be a for-profit business with a valid business license

Have a physical location in the city limits of Yakima

Have been in operation for at least one year as of September 1, 2020 (businesses that started operations after September 1, 2019, are ineligible)

Have 25 or fewer employees, part-time or full time, including the owner(s) as of the application date

Have had to close or reduce capacity to operate due to COVID-19

Priority will be given to small businesses that have not received other federal or state assistance. In cases where assistance provided was less than $10,000, a small business may request the difference between what it already received and $10,000 and be given priority for that amount.

Applications must be submitted by 5 pm on Friday, October 2nd, to be considered in the first round of ranking and awards.

After the application closes on October 2nd, businesses will be ranked on the information provided in the application. The highest-ranked business will be funded first, then the second-highest business, and so on, until funding runs out.

Awarded businesses will receive notification by Friday, October 9th.

Previously, the Yakima City Council in July set aside $480,000 to aid small businesses with 5 or fewer employees. It was funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a federal program intended to expand economic opportunities for low and moderate-income persons.

Click https://www.yakimawa.gov/media/covid19/ for more about the City of Yakima response to COVID-19.

City of Yakima Small Business CARES Grants – News Release

Original source can be found here.