December 31, 2020--Press release issued by WA. Commerce
Newest $100 million grant round prioritized industries with disproportionate impacts such as restaurants, fitness centers and indoor entertainment venues
OLYMPIA, WA – The state Department of Commerce today announced that approximately 7,830 small businesses will receive a Working Washington grant. Gov. Jay Inslee announced the new round of business assistance in November and approved $100 million for the grants.
Public health measures have disproportionately impacted certain industries such as full-service restaurants, fitness centers and indoor entertainment venues like bowling alleys. This recent round of grant funding prioritized small businesses in those sectors and that have less than $5 million in annual revenue.
Commerce awarded approximately 7,200 businesses a $12,500 grant. In addition, it awarded $4,500 to approximately 630 businesses that received a recent $8,000 business resiliency grant and happened to also meet the priority criteria for the Working Washington grant. This ensured resiliency grant recipients received the same funding amount they would have received had they applied for a Working Washington grant.
Commerce launched the Working Washington Round 3 application portal on Dec. 2 and received more than 28,000 applications by Dec. 16. Commerce was able to fund all eligible businesses within the priority sectors. The largest share of grants – more than half – went to full-service restaurants. Fitness centers followed as the next largest category. Grants are going to businesses from every county in the state. Commerce is preparing a more detailed overview of the grant distribution to be posted online next month.
“The economic impacts of the pandemic are felt far and wide, there’s no doubt. And while some industries have been able to pivot their operations and continue to bring in enough revenue to stay afloat, those options aren’t available for many others,” said Lisa Brown, Commerce director. “Small businesses are the heartbeat of our local communities and our state economy. Throughout the country and in every part of our state, small businesses are struggling. We appreciate the governor providing this unprecedented level of grant funding, and hope the state Legislature and Congress continue to make business support a priority in the coming weeks.”
Small businesses that applied should check their email for notifications. Commerce is working to distribute funds to businesses as soon as possible and can process payments within a few days of receiving final documentation from business owners.
The two earlier Working Washington grant rounds were for $10 million each, making this third $100 million grant round the largest to date. Approximately 1,400 businesses received Round 1 awards and 1,570 businesses received Round 2 awards.
State teams up with Safe Start Fund to provide 24 partnership grants to nonprofits, local governments and educational service districts to develop community-based plans for expanding child care capacity
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced a second round $1.8 million in grants to 24 organizations. The organizations are leading collaborative efforts to expand child care capacity in communities throughout the state. Grantees will receive just over 38% of the award from state general funds administered by Commerce, and a nearly 62% match from the generous donors who supported the Safe Start Fund for a Healthy Economic Transition and Recovery.
“This pandemic has impacted individuals and businesses in very different ways, among them a concerning trend in women leaving the workforce due to extraordinary demands on families to teach and care for children at home. A robust and equitable economic recovery depends on families having access to affordable, quality child care,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown.
Access to affordable quality child care has been a growing challenge for the past several years. The pandemic significantly exacerbated those problems.
Brown cited data from a child care industry assessment study commissioned by the state Child Care Collaborative Task Force that showed one in five parents turned down a job offer or promotion because of child care issues. Additionally, she points to the alarming “shecession,” in which four times more women than men left the workforce last September. Women have disproportionately suffered pandemic-related job losses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since February 2020, women have lost nearly 5.8 million net jobs, accounting for 53.9% of overall net job loss nationwide since the start of the crisis. The numbers are worse for Black and Latina women, with about 1 in 9 unemployed – a rate more than 1.5 times higher than for white men.
Commerce awarded $1.36 million in the first round of grants announced Sept. 10. This second round of community partnership grants will fund projects in Benton, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Pierce, San Juan, Skamania, Snohomish, Skagit, Walla Walla, Whitman and Yakima counties. Grant information is posted here.
Second round child care partnership grantees are:
African Community Housing and Development, $100,000 – Hope Learning Center Partnership project serving South King County
Boys and Girls Clubs of Skagit County, $64,440 – Sedro-Woolley Learning Centers project serving Sedro-Woolley, Skagit County
Clallam County Economic Development Council, $70,000 – Clallam Child Care Alliance project serving Clallam County
Community Child Care Center, $62,775 – Community Early Learning Needs project serving Pullman and Whitman County
Community Minded Enterprises, $63,470 – Tri-Cities Child Care Needs Assessment project serving the Tri-Cities area in Benton and Franklin counties
Empowering Youth and Families Outreach, $66,600 – EYFO Extended Care Pilot Program with Bellwether Housing project serving South Seattle, King County
Everett Community College, $100,000 – Everett Child Care Expansion Planning project serving Everett and Monroe, Snohomish County
First 5 FUNdamentals, $78,408 – From Crisis to Stability—Reforming Child Care for Long-Term Success project serving Pierce County
Healthy Ferry County Coalition, $87,000 – Ferry County Child Care Planning project serving Ferry County
Horn of Africa Services, $90,000 – HOAS Child Care Partnership project serving King County
Hugging Tree Legacy, $66,576 – Jefferson County Child Care Expansion project serving Jefferson County
Joyce Sobel Family Resource Center, $26,985 – Finding a Local Solution to Rural Service Industry Child Care Needs project serving San Juan Island, San Juan County
Kittitas County Health Network, $69,350 – Collaborating to Increase Access to Child Care Opportunities in Kittitas County project serving Kittitas County
Machinists Institute, $90,000 – Child Care in the Trades project serving Washington state
New Birth Home Now, $90,000 – New Birth Center for Community Inclusion (NBCCI)/Renton Innovation Zone Partnership (RIZP) Collaborative Partnership for Early Learning Expansion project serving Skyway-West Hill, King County
North Central Educational Service District, $87,600 – Family, Friends and Neighbor (FFN) Opportunities for Ongoing Learning project serving Okanogan and Ferry counties
Orcas Island Community Foundation, $68,000 – Collaborative Planning for Early Childhood Education Access and Quality project serving Orcas Island, San Juan County
Play Frontier, $28,185 – Advancing Child Care Access in Rural Washington project serving the Columbia Gorge in Skamania County
Reclaiming Our Greatness, $73,975 – Student Family Support Program project serving Seattle, King County
Start Early (Ounce of Prevention Fund), $100,000 – Developing a Pipeline of Family Child Care through ParentChild+ Engagement project serving King, Pierce and Yakima counties
Walla Walla Community College Foundation, $84,000 – Feasibility of a Valley-Wide Affordable and Accessible Child Care System project serving Walla Walla Valley in Walla Walla County
Washington STEM, $100,000 – State of the Children in Southwest Washington project serving Clark County
Workforce Southwest Washington, $52,560 – The Business Case for Child Care project serving Cowlitz County
Yakima Valley Community Foundation, $90,000 – Economic and Racial Equity for Family Home Providers project in Toppenish and Wapato, Yakima County
“Funding through this program will help us gather more information and develop a plan to address a long-standing need in our community to increase access to quality and affordable child care so children learn and develop, parents can work to support their families, and our local businesses can maintain the staffing necessary to provide necessary services to the community,” said Robin Read, Executive Director of Kittitas County Health Network.
Commerce established the Safe Start Fund in partnership with Seattle Foundation to support economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with a public health and equity focus. The Safe Start Fund accepts contributions from individual donors, foundations and corporations, including donations through All in WA, a broad-based philanthropic platform promoting cause and community funds to support workers, families and communities impacted by COVID-19 across Washington state.
“Child care providers are essential members of our communities, particularly as we move from emergency response to a focus on longer term recovery. We know that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, half a million children in Washington state lacked access to licensed care and the crisis only caused those inequities to grow,” said Tony Mestres, President and CEO of Seattle Foundation. “These child care partnership grants will allow families and caregivers to return to work by providing quality education and care for our region’s youngest learners, especially those in underserved areas and remote communities.”
Seattle Foundation is hosting the All In WA campaign, on behalf of the nearly 50 cause and community funds, including the Safe Start Fund.
Commerce also thanks The Ballmer Group for their leadership in promoting economic mobility for children and families, both here in Washington and nationwide, and for their generous funding through the Safe Start Fund to support these crucial investments in childcare capacity.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
Inslee announces one-week extension of statewide restrictions.
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced a one-week extension of the "Stay Safe–Stay Healthy" proclamation, along with the statewide restrictions imposed. The extension of the statewide restrictions will now expire on January 11, 2021. No changes were made in the proclamation aside from the expiration date.
"Our consistent mission has been keeping Washingtonians safe and ensuring health care system and hospital capacity," Inslee said. "We understand the profound impact COVID is having on our healthcare system, families, and businesses, but I am heartened by the number of Washingtonians who continue to do the right thing. If we continue distancing from others, wearing facial coverings and avoiding social gatherings, we will make it to the other side of this pandemic together.”
An updated reopening plan is currently being developed to provide a pathway for businesses and workers impacted by this order to reopen safely. The updated plan will be released next week.
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-one-week-extension-statewide-restrictions
Inslee issues, updates COVID-19 proclamations.
Gov. Jay Inslee today issued a new proclamation delaying implementation of the Uniform Guardianship Act. He also extended two proclamations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-issues-updates-covid-19-proclamations
3) TODAY'S HEADLINE NEWS...
WORLD HEADLINE NEWS:
Iran execution of child offender breaks international law: UN rights office.
The execution of an Iranian man for a crime allegedly committed when he was 16 years old has been condemned by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and raised concerns over violations of his right to a fair trial.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1081202
Argentina: ‘Ground-breaking’ new abortion law crucial to ending gender discrimination – UN experts
The year drew to a close in Argentina with “a ground-breaking law” that legalizes abortions up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, in a move that independent UN rights experts called on Thursday, “a crucial step in eliminating discrimination against women and girls”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1081192
United Nations, African Union reiterate commitment to Sudan, as joint mission ends operations.
The United Nations Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission have reiterated their commitment to continue to support Sudan consolidate peace as the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping mission in the country’s Darfur region ends its operations on Thursday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1081182
US pardons Blackwater guards: An ‘affront to justice’ – UN experts.
Five independent UN experts condemned United States President Donald Trump’s pardoning of private security contractors, convicted in 2015 for war crimes in Iraq, on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1081152
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
On Wednesday, December 30, 2020, the President signed into law:
S. 212, the “Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2020,” which amends three existing statutes promoting Native American business, economic development, and trade development--WH press release dated 12.30. 20
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/bill-announcement-123020/
Memorandum on Extension of Memorandum on Visa Sanctions--WH press release issued 12.30.20
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-extension-memorandum-visa-sanctions/
Justice Department Secures Relief for U.S. Army National Guard Reservist on Employment Discrimination Claim Against Luxury Jeweler Harry Winston
The Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced today that they resolved a claim that luxury jeweler Harry Winston Inc. violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by refusing to offer full-time employment to U.S. Army National Guard Reservist John A. Walker because of his military service obligations.--DOJ
USDA Approves Maine to Accept SNAP Benefits Online
USDA is expanding access to innovative online food purchase program--USDA press release issued 12.31.20
https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/12/31/usda-approves-maine-accept-snap-benefits-online
BUSINESS & FINANCE:
Statement of Daniel Francis, Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, Regarding the Announcement That the Parties Have Abandoned CoStar Group Inc.’s Acquisition of RentPath Holdings, Inc.
Justice Department Seeks Forfeiture of Third Commercial Property Purchased with Funds Misappropriated from PrivatBank in Ukraine
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida alleging that commercial real estate in Cleveland, Ohio, was acquired using funds misappropriated from PrivatBank in Ukraine as part of a multi-billion-dollar loan scheme. --DOJ
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending December 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 787,000, a decrease of
19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 803,000 to
806,000. The 4-week moving average was 836,750, an increase of 17,750 from the previous week's revised average. The
previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 818,250 to 819,000. --Dept. of Labor
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/ui-claims/20202341.pdf
(4) IN OTHER HEADLINES
27 GOP Pa. Lawmakers Urge McConnell to Contest Electors---NEWSMAX
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/republican-senate-majority-leader/2020/12/31/id/1003808/
Mitch McConnell: Democrats want ‘socialism for rich people’ with $2,000 checks--Washington Times
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/31/mitch-mcconnell-democrats-want-socialism-rich-peop/
China evicts American woman barred from leaving country
A court in China has evicted an American woman from her house in Beijing even as the Chinese authorities refuse to allow her to leave the country, despite public appeals and private lobbying from the United States.--Washington Examiner
Donald Trump Has Been The Most Illuminating President In Decades
In all Trump gave us — the good, the bad, the hilarious, and the unsettling — his administration brought much-needed clarity to the GOP and the country.--The Federalist
Free Bible Studies from WBS
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