Do you run a small business in Lacey hurt by COVID-19? Now, there’s money for that
Sitting six feet apart, and before an audience of only internet or TV viewers, Lacey City Council approved a series of measures Thursday afternoon to help businesses and residents hurt economically by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The biggest step of the meeting was approving a $1 million fund to help small businesses. But before they approved it, the council first threw cold water on some elements of the proposal.
The money will be administered by the Thurston Economic Development Council’s Center for Business & Innovation in Lacey, which will approve grant sizes of $10,000 based on requirements set by the city. One of the proposed requirements was that the business have five or fewer full-time equivalent employees, but several council members thought that was too restrictive.
“I want to raise that number right way,” said Councilman Lenny Greenstein, echoing comments made by Mayor Andy Ryder.
The requirement was adjusted to this: the business must have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, but priority will be given to those businesses with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
Other requirements: must be a current Lacey business, with a business license and physical location in place before March 1. Businesses also need to complete an “economic injury worksheet,” which can be found on the Thurston Economic Development Council website.
The economy has been brought to a screeching halt by the pandemic, generating business closures and an alarming number of statewide layoffs. Employment Security announced Thursday that jobless claims soared more than 800 percent for the week that ended March 21.
“Expediency is a big part of this,” said Mayor Ryder about the fund, also noting that even before the crisis a lot of small businesses were “operating on such small profit margins.”
He added: “We’re trying to keep businesses alive during this time.”
Other steps taken Thursday to help businesses and residents:
▪ Lacey businesses can defer first-quarter business and occupation tax payments until July 31.
▪ The Lacey plastic bag ban has been suspended for the duration of the crisis, meaning grocery stores are not required to charge five cents for a paper bag. They also can provide plastic bags due to a paper bag shortage caused by stores not allowing personal bags.
▪ No new interest charges or late fees will be added to delinquent utility bills and no enforcement action will be taken.
The council also approved a $50,000 contribution to the United Way of Thurston County COVID-19 Response Fund. Some of that money will benefit Senior Services for South Sound’s “meals on wheels” program, which has seen demand for meals jump to 1,400 from 700, City Manager Scott Spence said.
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
