Relief for Small Businesses and Non-Profits

• Lease Amendment and Eviction Information

  Lease Amendment Toolkit

  • Communities Rise has developed a Commercial Lease Amendment Toolkit to help small businesses and nonprofits as they negotiate with landlords for rent extensions and relief.

  King County

  • Starting March 18, 2020 King County Sheriff’s office generally will not be enforcing eviction orders in King County until further notice. However, eviction notices can continue to be filed with King County Superior Court.

  
  

• Utilities

  If your business needs help paying its utility bills, contact your service provider immediately.

  • Washington State

    Energy, water and landline telephone companies are prohibited from disconnecting any residential customers from energy, landline telephone or water service due to nonpayment on an active account, except at the request of the customer; refusing to reconnect any residential customer who has been disconnected due to nonpayment; charging fees for late payment or reconnection of energy, landline telephone or water service; and disconnecting service to any residential customer who has contacted the utility to request assistance from the utility’s COVID-19 Customer Support Program.

  This proclamation extends until December 31, 2020. It does not relieve customers from the obligation to pay for utility services.

  • Puget Sound Energy

    Puget Sound Energy will not be disconnecting customers for non-payment during this time and will work with customers on options such as payment plans.

  
  

• Taxes

  Washington State Department of Revenue Business Relief

  • The Washington State Department of Revenue is offering filing extensions and penalty waivers for state-level B&O taxes for eligible businesses.

   

  Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Coronavirus Tax Relief

  • Filing and Payment Deadlines
    Most federal tax filing and payment deadlines from April 1, 2020, to July 14, 2020, were postponed to July 15, 2020. The postponements are automatic and apply to all taxpayers.
  • Paid Leave for Workers and Tax Credits for Small and Midsize Businesses
    The U.S. Treasury Department, IRS, and the U.S. Department of Labor announced that small and midsize employers can take advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees.

  
  

Relief for Employees

• Unemployment and Insurance
  • The new federal stimulus bill changes and extends CARES Act unemployment benefits. Latest updates here. (Updated Dec. 28, 2020)

   

  • The Employment Security Department of Washington State (ESD) has expanded unemployment benefits to people affected by COVID-19. For more information and to apply for unemployment, visit ESD’s website.

   

  • Washington Healthplanfinder is the state’s health insurance exchange and has opened a special enrollment period for qualified individuals. For more information visit Washington Healthplanfinder’s website.

   

  • Unemployment Law Project provides low-cost representation and free advice and counsel to people in Washington State who have been denied unemployment benefits or whose award of benefits is being challenges. More information is available here.

  
  

• Housing Assistance

  King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program

  • Update: this program is not accepting entries at this time. If funding becomes available in 2021, the program may reopen.
  • Opportunity to receive rent assistance and eviction prevention services. Details here.

  Mortgage Assistance

  • • • If you need help and assistance with your mortgage, visit Washington State Department of Financial Institutions for a list of resources, including who to contact for urgent support.

  Evictions

  • • • Any eviction orders received by the King County Sheriff’s Office will be reviewed. Additional information here. 

   

  Housing Counseling from HUD

  • • Find a housing counselor through HUD who can help answer the questions of current and prospective homeowners and renters. Further information here.

  
  

• Utilities Assistance

  Public utilities in Washington state are offering relief to their customers during the COVID-19 crisis. For assistance, contact your utility company.

  • Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has options for keeping your utilities on. More information here.
  • The U.S. federal government has energy assistance programs for low income individuals. More information here.

  
  

• Additional Support for Families and Individuals

  Washington Connection

  • Washington Connection offers a fast and easy way for families and individuals to apply for a variety of services such as food, cash, child care, long-term care, and Medicare Savings Programs. More information here.

   

  Food Lifeline

  • Food Lifeline will continue distributing thousands of emergency food boxes to anyone needing help keeping food on the table during this crisis. More information here.

  
  

• Job Opportunities

  Public Sector

  • City of Bellevue
  • City of Kirkland
  • City of Redmond
  • Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD)

   

  Private Sector

  • Amazon Delivery
  • Fred Meyer
  • PCC Community Markets
  • QFC 
  • Safeway
  • Albertsons
  • Thinkspace

   

  Job Boards

  • Idealist
  • Port Jobs 
  • WorkSource Seattle-King County

  
  

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• PPE

  • COVID-19 Supply Resources for Employers

    Business Health Trust has compiled a list of supplies that are available for members to purchase from member companies throughout Washington.

  • Hazardous Waste Management Program (King County)

    King County’s Hazardous Waste Management Program offers a voucher incentive program for eligible businesses to purchase PPE and make other improvements. Eligible businesses can receive up to $599 cash back for these improvements.

  • Masks & Face Coverings

    Seattle Protects is a resource offered by the City of Seattle that provides links to vendors for purchasing face coverings in bulk for a business or organization.

  • PPE Marketplace

    The PPE Marketplace is a resource offered by the Association of Washington Businesses that connects businesses with manufacturers that supply PPE.

  • PPE and Other Supplies

    Organizations whose lines of business are included state guidance are eligible to order personal protective equipment from King County Office of Emergency Management when it cannot be obtained from other sources, and if the organization ordering the supplies is making efforts to limit the quantities of PPE it uses.

   

  
  

Free Advising for Businesses

• What are my options?

  Have questions about federal business assistance programs?

  Redmond-East King County SBSC and (re) Startup 425 in partnership with Business Impact NW offer free, one-on-one support, helping you navigate tools such as SBA loans and grant options. Information on how to reach out below.

  Redmond-East King County SBDC

  Sign up for advising here | Phone: (425) 214-4418

  (re) Startup 425

  Contact the Business Response Team here.

  
  

Additional Resources

• Recovery Hub (U.S. Small Business Administration)

  Is your small business looking for help or guidance? The SBA’s Recovery Hub can help you identify funding options, get training to build business resiliency, and access resources tailored for underserved communities.

  
  

• Further resources for businesses, employees, and non-profits

  COVID-19 Small Business and Nonprofit Legal Clinic 

  Communities Rise provides a virtual legal clinic to help small businesses and nonprofits navigate COVID-19 pandemic related issues. The program offers a free, 60-minute phone or video call consultation with a lawyer.

   

  County Business Resources from Washington State Department of Commerce 

  Discover resources for small businesses that are available in your county.

   

  COVID-10 Handbook for the Creative Sector 

  This handbook provides information on personal health & safety, guidance on how creative businesses can safely re-start, sources of financial support for individual artists and creative workers, as well as sources of relief for businesses and organizations in the creative sector.

   

  Rebound & Recovery

  Provided by the Association of Washington Businesses, Rebound & Recovery is here to help Washington state employers reopen their doors and help the economy recover.

   

  Unemployment Insurance Webinars 

  The Employment Security Department of Washington State offers free webinars for customers to learn more about the state’s unemployment insurance.