The City of Sequim and the Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce Announce the COVID-19 Small Business Rapid Relief Program
The City of Sequim and the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce are partnering to provide the COVID-19 Small Business Rapid Relief Program (CSBRRP). The Sequim City Council approved the City Manager to move forward in developing the program at their April 27 meeting. The program will be funded with $250,000 out of the City of Sequim Rainy Day fund and will be administered by the Chamber of Commerce. The maximum funding per business is $15,000. The City will monitor the need and success of the program and the Council may make additional funds available in the future if needed.
“As a small business owner, I know how government helps and hinders small businesses. Here in Sequim we are trying the change that! ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ need help NOW. We know how important our main street is and that small businesses make up the heartbeat of our precious town. The Small Business Rapid Relief Program will help keep that intact,” said Sequim Mayor William Armacost.
Eligibility Requirements
The grant program is intended to provide funding to support the brick and mortar costs associated with running a small business. Qualified businesses must have less than 50 employees, have a physical location inside the Sequim city limits and a Sequim business license as of March 1, 2020, must have been in business for one full calendar year, and be in compliance with all State licensing and other regulatory requirements.
Priority will be given for businesses that have been prohibited from operating during the COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, those who have registered with the Small Business Development Council (SBDC), Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE), SCORE, or other approved business advisor, and those who have an established business plan. Program operational needs, direct services, capital or equipment expenditures are all eligible for funding. Payroll or other employee-associated costs will not be funded under this grant due to the availability of other funding sources.
Franchises, national chains and any businesses owned or partially owned by an individual or immediate family member who is a member, manager, or director of the Chamber Executive Committee, or a Sequim City Councilor or employee are not eligible for this grant.
Application Window
The application window for the grant program will run from Monday, May 4 until the end of the business day on Friday, May 15. Following the application period, a committee comprised of the Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and one member from the Sequim City Council will review the applications and score them with established criteria. Applicant interviews, decisions, and awards will be made within two weeks after the application window has closed. The application and complete guidelines are available on the Chamber of Commerce website https://sequimchamber.com.
“We are designing the process to focus on those companies with no sustainable income during this emergency. We also want this process of evaluation, followed by receipt of funds, to happen at high velocity that is not typical of government programs,” said Sequim Deputy Mayor Tom Ferrell. “We want main street to be intact for the return to normalcy.”
The COVID-19 Small Business Rapid Relief Program is designed to enhance the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Relief Fund (SSBRF) with some differentiating criteria for business qualification. Chamber staff will review all current applications for the SSBRF and determine if the applicant may qualify for the new CSBRRF program. They will contact the applicant with any questions or clarification needed. A new application is not needed.
Please contact the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce at (360) 683-6197 with questions.