A total of 74 small businesses in the City of Yakima are moving to the next phase of the City’s $480,000 small business grant program.
The money comes from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a Federal program intended to expand economic opportunities for low and moderate-income persons. The Yakima City Council agreed to make the funds available to the smallest businesses in the City.
Eligible businesses can receive reimbursements of up to $10,000 for expenses related to COVID-19.
The Yakima County Development Association (YCDA) is assisting the City with administering the application and grant funding process. The deadline was July 31st for small businesses to apply. This week YCDA completed the first round of verifying the applicants.
“The Yakima City Council is to be commended for setting aside these funds to help the City’s smallest businesses during the COVID-19 crisis,” said YCDA Executive Director Jonathan Smith. “Based on YCDA’s experience with the other grants we have been managing, I anticipate there will be enough dollars to fund all 74 applications.”
A breakdown of the types of businesses among the 74 applicants include:
- 27 cosmetology/tanning/tattoo
- 15 Restaurant/Bar
- 11 Service
- 5 Retail
- 5 Childcare/Early Learning
- 4 Transportation
- 3 Automotive
- 2 Construction
- 1 Entertainment
- 1 Orchardist
This grant program helps business owners who may have been left out of other financial assistance programs. The smaller the business, the more priority it is given. The lower the business owner’s income, the more priority their application is given.
Click https://www.yakimawa.gov/ for more about the City of Yakima and its response to COVID-19.
Click https://www.chooseyakimavalley.com/ for more about YCDA.