By Pepper Fisher
OLYMPIC PENINSULA – As we reported to you a number of weeks in the past, the Financial Growth Councils of Clallam, Grays Harbor and Jefferson Counties, in addition to Peninsula and Grays Harbor Schools, are collaborating in an revolutionary grant program known as Olympic Peninsula Small Enterprise Enhance.
The companions had been awarded $1.3 million from the Division of Commerce to supply free on-line bookkeeping lessons to twenty college students residing in these counties. These 20 slots have already been stuffed.
The opposite aspect of this job-producing program is the profit it would convey to underserved native enterprise homeowners, who’re being provided free bookkeeping, authorized and advertising and marketing providers (together with web site growth) by June 1, 2023.
However time is working out for companies to use for these free providers. The deadline is December 31. Clallam EDC Govt Director Colleen McAleer says there’s room for round 70 extra companies in Clallam County to participate.
“Should you’re a enterprise that’s fairly refined, this program isn’t designed for you. It’s designed for people who don’t have the flexibility to pay for authorized providers or in depth advertising and marketing providers. You probably have a web site, that’s nice. But when it’s minimal, I believe these of us undoubtedly ought to apply to make their web site and advertising and marketing presence extra sturdy.”
McAleer says this program is specializing in small and upstart companies as a result of it was the bigger companies that benefitted probably the most from the PPP loans and different packages provided throughout the pandemic.
“The legislature recognized that the extra refined companies that had workers to do these items, had been those that knew the right way to apply for PPP loans, knew the right way to apply for the ERC credit. They usually’ve acquired loads of funding. And so, that is designed for these actually small companies that missed out.”
Once more, time is working out to use for these free enterprise providers being provided at clallam.org and clicking on Small Enterprise Enhance. McAleer added that in the event that they nonetheless have openings on the finish of the yr, they may prolong the deadline.
“And so, I identical to to say to of us if this doesn’t apply to you, take into consideration who it does apply to. Who you possibly can contact and inform them to go to clallam.org and fill out this software.”
