WASHINGTON STATE–The Department of Commerce’s Small Business Innovation fund offers an Impact Grants to businesses in Walla Walla, Columbia, and Garfield counties. The DWWF Impact Grant supports BIPOC entrepreneurs, women-owned small businesses, and businesses located in underserved, low-income, rural parts of the state. Application deadline is February 28, 2023.

Program Guidelines

Membership and business development awards will be made to qualified businesses, and eligibility is based on accurate and complete submission. Businesses located within Walla Walla, Columbia, and Garfield counties are invited to apply. Priority will be given to entrepreneurs of color, women-owned, rural, and veteran-owned businesses, and other enterprises in under-served and rural places. All awardees certify that they are promoting the best interests of the community.

Growth Stage Businesses: any business that does not have sales or revenue; or with less than $100,000 of gross sales last year; or less than two years in business. Ineligible Businesses: Entities that are tax-exempt organizations, non-profits, or charitable trusts are not eligible to participate. Full eligibility guidelines, including for-profit enterprises that are not eligible to apply, can be found below. For more information or questions regarding your eligibility, please contact: [email protected]

What Organizations are Eligible to Apply?

The DWWF Impact Grant supports BIPOC entrepreneurs, women-owned small businesses, and businesses located in underserved, low-income, and rural parts of the state.

A privately owned and operated for-profit enterprise, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, social purpose corporations, or Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), is subject to the further limitations expressed below. This includes for-profit enterprises that are still in the idea stage.

What Organizations or Groups are Not Eligible?

Entities that are tax-exempt organizations, religious organizations, non-profits, or charitable trusts are not eligible to participate.

Employees, officers, and directors of Downtown Walla Walla Foundation (DWWF), competition committee members and judges, other parties determined non-independent of DWWF, and members of their immediate families and households are not eligible to participate.

Additionally, any legal entity for which one of the persons mentioned above in this paragraph owns 20% or more of the ownership or voting interests is not eligible.

The following types of for-profit enterprises are not eligible to apply: multi-level marketing (MLM) organizations, political advertisers, marijuana dispensaries, manufacturers or retailers of drug paraphernalia, gun manufacturers or retailers, fireworks manufacturers or retailers, tobacco/vape manufacturers or retailers, illegal products or services providers, adult entertainment companies, including, but not limited to gentlemen’s clubs, adult toy stores, adult magazines, and adult programming services are not eligible to apply. https://www.downtownww.com/impact-grant

For more details including eligibility criteria and applications, go to: https://www.downtownww.com/impact-grant

Application deadline February 28, 2023.