$100 million available to support businesses affected by pandemic; informational webinar March 30

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce is administering a new grant opportunity for businesses in the hospitality and lodging industry that suffered business losses due to the pandemic. The application portal is open now through April 6, 2023. Apply at wahospitalitygrants.com.

Learn more at an upcoming informational webinar:

WA Hospitality Grants Program: Application Assistance

March 30, 2023 2pm - 3pm

This informational webinar will cover program details along with application questions and assistance with the creator of the application portal, FORWARD.

Register here

To learn more and subscribe to email updates about the program visit wahospitalitygrants.com.

Who can apply

The grants are open only to:

• Restaurants; food stands, trucks and carts
• Caterers, bars, saloons, lounges, and taverns
• Snack and non-alcoholic beverage bars
• Licensed alcohol producers where the public may taste, sample or purchase products
• Hotels and motels (except casinos),
• Inns and bed and breakfast establishments that have a least five private lodging rooms or onsite sales of food and beverage that account for at least 25% of gross receipts or sales
• Bakeries, brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms, breweries, microbreweries, wineries and distilleries are also eligible to apply if onsite sales to the public comprise at least 25% of gross receipts or sales.
• Bowling alleys and convention and visitors bureaus will also be considered for a grant, depending on the availability of funds.

Additional qualifications

• Eligible business must have experienced a 25% or greater loss in gross receipts or sales between 2019 and 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health and safety measures.
  • For businesses that started in 2019, 25% loss must be from any qarter in 2019 to the same quarter in 2020.
  • For businesses that started in 2020, 25% loss must be from the 1st Quarter of 2020 to another quarter in 2020
• Eligible businesses must generate minimum gross receipts or sales of $12,000 in 2019 (or 2020, if the business opened that year); generate at least 51% of revenue in the state, have not permanently closed or intend to close in 2023.
• Eligible businesses must have expenses that are necessary to continue business operations, such as payroll and rent.

The $100 million in grants was provided to the Department of Commerce through the Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which was part of the federal American Rescue Plan.

Funds Designated for Lodging Establishments: Of the amount provided, $15 million has been set aside expressly to reimburse qualifying lodging establishments that experienced economic losses during the state’s eviction moratorium under the governor’s proclamations.

The grants are targeted primarily for small businesses with $5 million or less in annual gross receipts or sales within designated NAICS codes. If Commerce is able to fund all the eligible applicants from the target pool, and funds remain, Commerce may be able to provide grants to additional businesses who have annual gross receipts or sales larger than $5 million.