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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2024

Washington State Microenterprise Association awards $2 million to 80 nonprofit organizations serving microbusinesses in Washington State.

State funds will support projects that strengthen small businesses in rural and urban communities throughout Washington

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) has approved $2 million in small grants to 80 nonprofit organizations to help business owners strengthen their business skills, innovate and access financing to create jobs and grow local economies in every region of the state.  

This program is funded through the Washington State Department of Commerce. Grant awardees include Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDO) or Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESO), Small Business Resiliency Partners (SBRN), community development financial institutions, economic development districts, chambers of commerce, and nonprofit organizations that serve Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), veterans, people with disabilities, returning citizens, LGBTQ+ and other very small businesses.

The purpose of these grants is to extend business training programs, technical assistance and financing support to very small businesses throughout rural and urban communities in Washington, especially those owned by people who are members of historically marginalized communities. These programs will serve small businesses, especially those with five or fewer employees. These businesses include childcare, small scale manufacturing, tourism, home building/construction, agriculture and food, clean materials/clean tech, creative economy and the arts, and many others.

WSMA helps nonprofit business technical assistance providers throughout Washington with training, small grants, networking and support with resource coordination via Evergreen BizLink.

For more information, contact Lisa Smith, WSMA Executive Director at (360) 480-8048 or lisa@wamicrobiz.org.

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