Recent Updates
Personal Protective Equipment Order Portal
Thurston Strong is researching ways to bulk-purchase and distribute PPE in the very near future. In the meantime, if your business or household needs gear, you may be able find it here: https://www.reboundandrecovery.org/ppe-connect/
Port of Olympia Receives Grant for East Bay Study
The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) has announced a $50,000 grant to support development of an East Port Peninsula Development Plan. This study encompasses a plan for development along the East Bay waterfront, to include an analysis of infrastructure investments required to facilitate the development outlined in the plan. CERB funds are matched by $16,667 in local resources. This project was identified as a top priority by the public as part of the Port of Olympia Vision 2050 initiative.
ArtsWA CARES Act Relief Grants Available
Information provided City of Olympia
ArtsWA has announced funding resources for non-profit and sponsored arts groups and organizations facing financial hardship due to economic impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding, in the form of grants, is provided by the CARES Act via the National Endowment for the Arts: https://www.arts.gov/news/2020/national-endowment-arts-announces-cares-act-funding-support-arts-jobs-and-help-sustain.
For more information: https://www.arts.wa.gov/cares-act-relief-grants/
Is Your Favorite Local Restaurant Open? Check Here for Answers.
Thanks to a collaborative effort between the Cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County, you can check the link below to see which area restaurants are open. This data is updated regularly, so be sure to check back periodically – especially now that Thurston County has been approved for Phase 2 of the Governor’s reopening plan, and more restaurants make a comeback. https://arcg.is/18Hf0W
Unemployment Snapshot
Washington State has begun releasing preliminary unemployment data. We will share detailed information – e.g. unemployment impacts by industry and occupation, demographics, etc. – here as it becomes available. For now, here are a couple of graphs confirming what most of us suspected: a quick and dramatic loss of jobs here and everywhere.
Between mid-March and the end of April, Washington shed some 527,000 jobs statewide. By far, the majority of those jobs were in service industries vs. goods-producing industries.
Just over 20,000 jobs were lost over that same time period in Thurston County, which, at nearly 15%, places us almost in the dead center of unemployment impacts among Washington’s thirty-nine counties:
Of course, what is particularly striking about the current unemployment rate is just how fast it hit. The graph below shows how we went from historic lows in unemployment during the first quarter of 2020, to an unprecedented spike in the month of April:
In our next update, we will provide updates on actions local partners are taking to respond to the impacts of this pandemic, as well as some potential initiatives to help facilitate our economic relaunch.
Thurston County Submits Application to Enter Phase 2 of Reopening
Thurston County has requested State approval to enter Phase 2 of reopening, which would allow for limited expansion of service offerings including hair and nail salons, in-store retail purchases, pet grooming and restaurants operating at 50% capacity among other business openings. The State aims to respond to County applications within one to three days, though there is no official timetable. Social distancing remains strongly encouraged. Each Phase of reopening is projected to last three weeks (four phases in total expected as of today).
For more details, visit: https://www.theolympian.com/news/coronavirus/article242997516.html.
For questions regarding reopening phases or protocols, please contact the State here.
You can also review a continually-updated list of local resources on reopening from the landing page of this website or at http://thurstonchamber.com/smart-restart-toolkit/
A New Way to Visualize Coronavirus Facts and Figures
If you’re still tracking coronavirus impacts, consider visiting the Information is Beautiful website to see risk, impact and other data laid out in some interesting and comparative ways: https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/covid-19-coronavirus-infographic-datapack/
Farmers Market Exploring Online Marketplace
The Olympia Farmers Market is offering select sales of cut flowers, plants, soap and facemasks on-site, and monitoring State guidance with the goal of expanding the number of craft vendors and days of operation as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Market is exploring the feasibility of an online marketplace that would allow customers to pre-order goods safely and conveniently while we await a return to normal. If and when the marketplace goes live, we will post the link here.
More Than $100 Billion in PPP Funds Still Available for Small Businesses
The US Small Business Administration (SBA) reports more than $100 Billion in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds are still available for small businesses, sole proprietors, independent contractors, self-employed persons, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 501(c)(19) veterans organization, and Tribal businesses. PPP loans may be converted to forgivable grants when meeting certain requirements.
To find a local lender, search here: https://www.sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&pageNumber=1
If you are a community and economic development partner with clients or constituents that would benefit from learning about SBA resources in other languages, most are available here:
Grant Opportunity Available for Child Care Providers
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families has a grant opportunity available to all licensed child care providers. If this is applicable to you (or your provider), you can learn more here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADEL/bulletins/28bd1d3
Recent Posts
Personal Protective Equipment Order Portal
Port of Olympia Receives Grant for East Bay Study
ArtsWA CARES Act Relief Grants Available