Lacey to tap $1 million fund to help its small businesses
In an effort to help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak, Lacey City Council is expected to approve next week a proposal that would allow the city to tap a $1 million fund for small business grants.
The City Council considered the proposal during its Thursday night work session and seemed anxious to put it into action.
“We need to get this up and running quickly because small businesses are already taking a huge hit,” Councilman Lenny Greenstein said.
Restaurants and bars were ordered shut by the governor for two weeks to limit the spread of coronavirus, and other businesses have followed suit to observe social distancing guidelines public health agencies have provided.
Although restaurants are still allowed serve take-out meals, Greenstein said restaurant owners tell him the “take out” side of the business is a fraction of their normal operations.
By providing grants, businesses can keep the doors open and mitigate other expenses, such as paying leases, or loans, or hanging on to essential employees, said Rick Walk, the city’s community and economic development director.
Not all of the details have been ironed out. There was talk of funding 50 businesses, and perhaps another 50 after that, and grant sizes of $10,000. Financial institutions also might step up and provide matching funds.
The city will work with the Center for Business & Innovation, which, along with the Thurston Economic Development Council, is housed in the Lacey campus of South Puget Sound Community College.
CB&I director Kaylee Purcell urged business owners to go to the Thurston EDC website and fill out an “economic injury form.” From there, they can process those applications according to Lacey requirements, she said.
To be eligible, the business must operate in the city, have a business license, and have been in business before March 1, Walk said.
What about Lacey residents?
The City Council also plans to vote on a resolution next week that would provide some utility bill relief. The resolution is expected to offer flexibility in terms of paying bills and suspending penalties, City Manager Scott Spence said.
Meanwhile, Councilwoman Carolyn Cox pointed out the council spent a lot of time Thursday night talking about ways to help the business community, but spent no time on the health of the community, such as the “public health threat posed by the unsheltered people trying to survive out there.”
One example she provided: those living in a homeless encampment near the state Department of Ecology.
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services recently received a $1 million grant to help the homeless, Cox said. One idea, which could also help struggling restaurants, is to order box lunches and deliver them to the camps, she said.
By doing that, the homeless can shelter in place, Cox said. “We keep them safe and the community safe,” she said.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
