Recent Updates
[CLOSED] Target Zone Business Start Up Grants Now Available
[CLOSED TO NEW APPLICATIONS]
Thurston Strong is pleased to announce a new opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs: Target Zone Business Startup Grants. The application portal will be open March 1 through May 1, 2022. Award recipients are expected to be announced on or about June 1, 2022.
The Thurston County Target Zone Business Startup Grant program is a critical component of the broad Thurston Strong Economic Response, Recovery and Reset Plan. The goal of the Startup Grant is to address economic inequity by investing in the areas and people most vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applicants will be considered eligible if they or the operation is within the identified target zone – areas characterized by one or more of the following:
- Poverty rate above 20%
- Above average share of employment in industries threatened by economic disruption
- Above average share of housing cost-burdened households
- Above average share of households without health insurance
Alternatively, a prospective applicant may also be eligible for a business startup grant if they are a Thurston County resident and have a verifiable income at 65% or lower than the median income (AMI) for Thurston County.
This initiative is supported by federal ARPA funding awarded through Thurston County. The Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) will oversee the project on behalf of the Thurston Strong partnership and serve as direct contact for applicant and media inquiries. For more information, please contact the Thurston EDC: Michael Cade, Executive Director, mcade@thurstonedc.com, 360-464-6085 or, Mayra Pena, BIPOC Business & Community Liaison, mpena@thurstonedc.com, 360-464-6036.
Some Existing Business Grant Resources Still Available
Additional, but limited funding remains for other Thurston Strong business grant categories, including:
- Small and minority-owned businesses
- Farm and food system businesses
Links to guidelines and applications are posted on the landing page of www.thurstonstrong.com.
New Small Business, Nonprofit and Agriculture Grant Resource Available Now
Thurston Strong is pleased to announce a new round of grant assistance for small businesses, nonprofit organizations and food system entities impacted by the COVID pandemic. Pandemic challenges persist and many independent enterprises and service organizations have been disproportionately impacted. This round of funding provides an extended bridge to sustain our entrepreneurial and employment tapestry, while adding capacity for entities who continue to answer the call for emergency assistance.
Business and Nonprofit grants are funded by Thurston County through a portion of the County’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation. Business and Food System grants are administered by the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC); Nonprofit grants by the Community Foundation (CF).
Please review each section carefully to determine which grant option might fit your situation.
Prospective Applicants
Please keep in mind that ARPA rules require grant applicants to demonstrate COVID-specific financial harm – i.e., applicants will need to provide documentation of economic injury such as lost revenues or increased costs due to COVID. Grants will only be issued to qualifying entities that can confirm COVID related revenue losses or expenditures. We understand this can be confusing and have reactivated our support center. Please call 1-888-821-6652 for any questions or technical assistance.
Microbusiness Grants
Approximately $5 million available for small and minority-owned businesses. All Thurston County based businesses are eligible for grants up to $10,000 based on demonstrated COVID-related impact. Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted. Disproportionately impacted industries are encouraged to apply early, including: accommodations and food service; entertainment and recreation/tourism; personal services; small scale manufacturing; and select professional services.
This grant is administered by the Thurston Economic Development Council. For more information and/or to apply, please visit https://www.thurstonstrong.org/guidelines-thurston-strong-small-business-grant/.
Nonprofit Grants
Approximately $810,000 available. All Thurston County based 501c3 nonprofits are eligible for grants up to $20,000 based on demonstrated COVID-related impact. Grants are available on a first-come, first-served based until funding is exhausted. Nonprofits actively involved in ongoing COVID-response and recover efforts are encouraged to apply early. This grant is administered by The Community Foundation. For more information about Thurston Strong grants and/or to apply, please visit https://www.thurstonstrong.org/thurston-strong-nonprofit-grant-guidelines/.
Food Systems Grants
Approximately $1 million total available on a first-come, first-served basis. All Thurston County based food system partners are eligible. This includes farms, cooperatives, farmers markets and any entity involved in food processing and/or value ad production that uses Thurston County based ag inputs. Individual business grants available up to $10,000 based on demonstrated COVID-related impact. Farmers’ Markets and Food Cooperatives are eligible for higher funding depending on size of operation.
This grant is administered by the Thurston Economic Development Council in cooperation with the Thurston WSU Ag Extension Office. For more information and/or to apply, please visit https://www.thurstonstrong.org/thurston-strong-ag-business-grant-guidelines/.
New Resources for Unemployed Workers
Thurston Strong is creating two new worker programs that should be up and running within the next month. If you are in impacted worker or potentially seeking to pursue a new career path, please review the programs below and, if interested, please register with us through the corresponding links so that we may contact you when additional information is available and/or the programs are open for application. These COVID-response programs are made possible by Thurston County, the Cities of Olympia and Tumwater, South Puget Sound Community College and the Port of Olympia.
Job Champions Network
The Job Champions network will offer two pathways. The first pathway will place unemployed individuals into full-time, paid positions with community based nonprofit organizations. The goal is to provide the incumbent worker with job skills and a potential new career direction while also enhancing the capacity of our nonprofit organization to expand their impact as we work through economic recovery.
The second pathway will place long-term unemployed individuals who have had difficulty re-entering the labor market due to COVID, into part- or full-time employment that helps them gain job skills, rebuild their resume and access other wrap-around services. These jobs will also be oriented toward community-betterment activities.
To receive additional information when these programs become available, please register below:
Job Champions Network Sign Up
Worker Training and Education Sign Up
Scholarships Available for Existing Business Technical Training
For existing businesses that may need help transitioning or rebuilding operational models due to COVID, scholarships are available for a range of technical training modules. This includes but is not necessarily limited to: online commerce and market strategies; social media promotion and presence; site reconfiguration planning; important and exporting; and many other programs. Thurston Strong has funding in place to prepay training fees for dozens of local businesses.
To receive additional information about these scholarships, please register below:
Scholarships Sign Up
New BIPOC Business Liaison
New Thurston Strong Business and Nonprofit Grants Coming Soon!
IMPACTED WORKER PROGRAMS
Thurston Job Champions Program- Connect impacted workers to employment within short-staffed nonprofits
- Thurston Strong covers employee salary for one year
- PacMtn/Community Foundation will identify and connect employees with qualifying nonprofits
- Outcomes: Help workers find new career pathways; support and expand nonprofit impact
- Prepaid training, tuition for dislocated workers
- Short-term certifications in construction, health care, technology, logistics, office and other fields
- Supported by South Puget Sound Community College, PacMtn, Thurston Chamber, other partners
- Outcomes: Accelerate worker retraining; address local labor shortages
BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT GRANTS
*Please note, documentation of COVID-19 impacts will be required for all ARPA-funded grants. This could include proof of quarterly losses year over year, demonstration of steep increases in operating costs or other factual evidence. Specific requirements will be included in the grant application when ready. Agriculture and Food Market Reset Grants- For impacted farmers, food producers, food hub partners
- Fund administrators: WSU Extension, Thurston EDC
- Eligible expenses:
- Offset documented losses related to COVID impact
- Offset costs associated with onboarding new or returning employees
- Offset costs associated with market adaptation
- For minority enterprises that were operating pre-COVID now working to stay open or restart
- Fund administrator: Thurston EDC
- Eligible expenses:
- Offset documented losses related to COVID impact
- Offset costs associated with onboarding new or returning employees
- Offset costs associated with market adaptation
- For eligible microbusinesses that were operating pre-COVID now working to stay open or restart
- Fund administrator: Thurston EDC
- Eligible expenses:
- Offset documented losses related to COVID impact
- Offset costs associated with onboarding new or returning employees
- Offset costs associated with market adaptation
- For nonprofits that were operating pre-COVID now working to stay open or restart
- Fund administrator: The Community Foundation
- Eligible expenses:
- Offset documented losses related to COVID impact
- Offset costs associated with onboarding new or returning employees
- Offset costs associated with market adaptation/increased operating costs
Thurston EDC Advancing Thurston Strong Inclusive Economy Goal
New Washington State Small Business Flex (Loan) Fund Portal Now Open
Mobile Vaccine Clinic Returning to LoveOly Summerfest July 31


Mobile Vaccine Clinic Coming to LoveOly Summer Fest THIS Saturday, July 17
- Mobile clinic located steps from beer garden in front of Drees in Downtown Olympia
- Offering the Pfizer vaccine, which means children 12 years and older are eligible
- Vaccines are free, no insurance required
- Walk-ups welcome
- ANY form of identification acceptable (do not need citizenship or driver’s license)
- The mobile clinic will return July 31 (same place/same location) for your second/final shot
Recent Posts
[CLOSED] Target Zone Business Start Up Grants Now Available
New Resources for Unemployed Workers
Scholarships Available for Existing Business Technical Training