economic recovery resources for Businesses, Non-Profits

The City of North Bend recognizes the hardships our local businesses and non-profit organizations have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the City strives to offer resources to assist businesses in recovery.  

This page provides guidance and resources for employers, non-profits and business owners.

Downtown North Bend, Holidays

grants & programs

  • State of Washington Tourism (SWT) will host Tourism Day in Olympia on March 14, 2023. The industry advocacy day will include scheduled legislative calls for industry members and an industry reception on the evening of March 14 at the Doubletree Hotel. The reception will include an optional tabletop trade show, food, wine, and networking. Visit the SWT website as more details come available on this event, such as registration and a group room block at the hotel for the nights of March 13 and 14.
  • Small Business Administration's National Cyber Summit: Watch a recording of the National Cyber Summit recording for tips and resources to keep your small business cyber secure. View the recording here.
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloans: The SBA Microloan Program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand. The average microloan is about $13,000. Learn more here.
  • DOSH Safety and Health Consultation Program: The purpose of the DOSH Consultation Program is to provide guidance to employers and employees in preventing the occurrence of injuries and illnesses, and managing industrial insurance claims and rates, which may result from exposure to workplace hazards.  Services are available to employers to assist them in establishing workplace safety and health programs to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of hazards. Request a no-cost consultation here.
  • OneEastside SPARK: Winner of the 2022 International Economic Development Council Bronze Award, OneEastside Spark is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing consulting, programming and tools to address areas of need amongst businesses and non-profits.
  • U.S. DOL Extends Grants for ESD's SharedWork Program: The extensions for the Improved Administration go through June 30, 2023, and Promotion/Enrollment through December 31, 2023. This is a great time for eligible businesses/employers to protect their business by applying for an approved one-year plan at no-cost impact to the business. Visit the SharedWork Program for more information or call 800-752-2500 (option 3) for new plan inquiry.
  • Updates and Resources for COVID EIDL Borrowers: FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - The COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program provided billions of dollars in funding to help small businesses recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.COVID EIDL loans have a 30-year maturity term and a fixed interest rate. Payments were automatically deferred for 30 months from the date of the note. The SBA began approving COVID EIDL applications in Spring 2020 - meaning the end of the deferment period for those early loans is rapidly approaching. Business owners should start preparing to make payments. Learn more here. 
  • T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined: A free advanced training series customized for small business owners' needs.
  • Employee Retention Credit (ERC): The ERC is a refundable payroll tax credit worth up to $26,000 per W-2 employee. The ERC can still be claimed in 2022 despite ending on October 1, 2021. Employers can retroactively go back to March 13, 2020, and claim wages until October 1, 2021. Learn if you qualify here.
  • Funding Opportunity for the Preservation of Affordable Multifamily/Rental Housing: The funding is intended for applicants at risk of losing affordability due to expiration of use restrictions that otherwise require affordability for low-income households. The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) outlines specific information regarding eligibility, funding requirements and priorities, the process for submission and dates of significance. The application period opens May 12. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Read the notice here.
  • Free Digital Tools for Small Businesses: The Small Business Digital Alliance (SBDA), a new public-private co-sponsorship between the SBA and Business Forward, Inc., published a comprehensive suite of free resources to help small businesses expand their customer base, manage their growth, find and retain talent, and enter new markets. Small businesses can navigate the SBDA national members’ tools and resources through the library for more personalized learning by visiting smallbusinessdigitalalliance.com. The library will be updated monthly with new resources throughout the year.
  • Small Business Flex Fund: A simple and flexible loan for small businesses and nonprofits in Washington. Eligible organizations can apply for low interest loans of up to $150,000. Eligible organizations will experience low interest rates, longer payback timelines, and community-based lenders with decades of experience helping businesses like yours to thrive.

Saving Water Partnership: Looking for an opportunity to save your business money and resources? As a member of the Saving Water Partnership, North Bend businesses have access to special rebates, free water use assessments and more! Learn more here: https://www.savingwater.org/businesses/

Saving Water Partnership

PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS

  • Need Masks? We Can Help: North Bend City Staff are handing out free cloth face masks to residents and businesses. Should you wish to pick up masks for your family or business, or request a local delivery, email Erin Mitchell.
  • SmartWA Business Decision Support System: SmartWA uses numerous data sources and artificial intelligence to provide small businesses most impacted by the pandemic with real-time outlooks about public health, economic and community conditions by county and industry. The decision support system features an interactive simulator that provides industry-specific predictions about which safety protocols are most likely to increase customer traffic in specific sectors.
  • The CISA Cyber Essentials Guide: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Cyber Essentials is a guide for leaders of small businesses as well as leaders of small and local government agencies to develop an actionable understanding of where to start implementing organizational cybersecurity practices. Download the Cyber Essentials Starter Kit, the basics for building a culture of cyber readiness.
  • Protect Yourself Financially from the Coronavirus Information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  • COVID-19 resource list for impacted Washington businesses and workers Information from the Governor’s office
  • Vaccine Locator

Growing Your Business

  • Quarterly Business Bulletin: Want to share something innovative your team is doing? Stay up to date on local business news? Keep the Bulletin on your radar. To request to share local business news, email mnoll@northbendwa.gov.  See the November 2022 Bulletin here.
  • StartUp Washington - Washington State Department of Commerce 
  • SCORE Greater Seattle: Small business consulting
  • SnoValleyJobs.com: Access for local businesses to connect with potential applicants! If you are a member of the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce and conduct business in the City of North Bend or Snoqualmie, you are eligible to post your business' position for hire.  
  • SnoValley Chamber of Commerce: A regional Chamber that connects the business community with elected officials at the state, regional and local levels to ensure voices are heard and needs met. The Chamber unites members who believe in creating a vibrant local business community. Not a member? Click here to learn how to join. 
  • Snoqualmie Valley Innovation Center: Every Friday, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. A local nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs with mentors to discover, launch or further enhance physical products and/or technology-powered services to support innovation in the valley community. 
  • The North Bend Downtown Foundation: The NBDF actively builds community, supports economic development and champions downtown revitalization. Not a member? Email the NBDF for information, at Info@northbenddowntown.org.

Additional Resources

  • PLEASE JOIN: North Bend Business Outreach Meeting: January 19, 7:30 a.m., at the North Bend City Hall. Sponsored by the City of North Bend, these meetings serve as a direct avenue for business owners like you to meet up, to be informed of actions the City is considering that impact commercial and business property, to discuss other important topics that relate directly to North Bend businesses, and to communicate with your local government. We recognize that City operations can be a tough but necessary part of community and commercial growth, and hope these meetings continue to provide you with an opportunity to voice your concerns, offer solutions and connect with us and your business community. For current project updates, check out the Project Development Map. To receive meeting notifications for future meetings, email Economic Development Manager, Mark Noll (MNoll@NorthBendWA.gov). 
  • Labor Partnerships and Worker Organizing Toolkit: The Small Business Administration in collaboration with the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service released a first-of-its-kind digital toolkit for employers seeking guidance on responding to their employees who are interested in exercising their right to form or join a union. Learn more here.
  • Coronavirus Resource Guide - Industry Resource from wahospitality.org: A variety of business resources, with a focus on the hospitality industry. 
  • WA Small Business Guide: The Washington Small Business Guide provides answers to questions surrounding starting, expanding and growing a small business. Review the Guide here.