Tag: COVID-19 general support

Small Business Flex Fund Info Webinar

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The Washington State Small Business Flex Fund is a new loan program for the smallest Washington businesses and nonprofits affected by COVID-19. To be eligible to apply, small businesses and nonprofits must employ 50 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, have annual revenues of less than $3 million per year, and experience a direct economic disruption as a result of COVID-19.

Should you apply? What should you prepare if you decide to apply?

This webinar will provide information about the loan program and application process and help you prepare to apply.

Some of the topics covered will be:

  • The Flex Fund
    • Eligibility
    • Loan Size
    • Use of Funds
    • Term & Interest
    • Step by step in the pre-application portal and moving to the lender’s application
    • What is and is not required to apply
    • What will cause a declined application
  • Key Parts of a Loan Application
    • Short Form Business Plan
  • Underwriting Tips
    • What does a lender look for

Questions will be answered as time allows.

 

Presenters are Steve Burke and Jerry Petrick, Washington SBDC Certified Business Advisors. See more information about Steve Burke at https://wsbdc.org/south-seattle/ and Jerry Petrick at https://wsbdc.org/vancouver-2/

ScaleUp Training Series: The Rebuild Edition

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ScaleUp Business Training is provided through funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

This training is focused on teaching proven strategies to small businesses that will increase resiliency and spur growth, even in the face of a global pandemic.
The three-hour online courses are held weekly, allowing up to 100 businesses around the state to improve their strategic thinking and decision-making, create operational efficiencies, and strengthen the bottom line in times of uncertainty.

This 8-week program provides tangible tools to examine strategic alignment, optimize market strategy, and master finances. Participants will also learn how to drive performance using metrics, build organizational systems that increase capacity, and develop strategies for automating important parts of their business.

ScaleUp is delivered in a hybrid of virtual live instruction combined with self-paced learning modules to make the program as accessible as possible for business owners strapped for time. The curriculum is based on the Thurston Center for Business Innovation’s highly respected ScaleUp program, which uses the Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac® Growth Venture coursework.

The ideal candidate for ScaleUp: The COVID Edition is the president/owner of a Washington State business that has been in operation for two years and has annual pre-covid revenues in excess of $100,000.

Course topics include:

Organizing and creating business systems to get more done in less time.
● Strategies for increasing revenue.
● Strengthening your product and/or service.
● Creating your own competitive advantage in the marketplace.
● Designing a marketing strategy that increases sales leads.
● Understanding financial statements and key business drivers and metrics.

ScaleUp is a partnership between the Washington State Department of Commerce, Thurston EDC Center for Business Innovation, and the Economic Development Administration.

Business Growth and Development Strategies

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Could you use a boost to keep your business going and growing? This webinar is designed to give business owners hope and options to survive and thrive in challenging and normal times.

Topics include:

Traits of the successful business owner

Business planning

Funding & Capital Infusion including what you can do to prepare for a loan

Financial discipline

Managing Debt

Cashflow forecasting

Managing the Supply Chain, Inventory & Profit Margins

Understanding the Business Market

Managing Human Resources

Working with Landlords

 

The presenters are Steve Burke and Ron Nielsen, Washington SBDC Certified Business Advisors. See more information about Steve Burke at https://wsbdc.org/south-seattle/ and Ron Nielsen at https://wsbdc.org/wenatchee/

A Zoom link for the webinar will be sent prior to the event to those who register.

Our Zoom security protocols require each participant have a Zoom account and be signed into their account from their computer or mobile device. https://zoom.us/

#WeGotThisWA: De-escalation and Communication- Part 2

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In this follow up session to our #WeGotThisWA: De-escalation Strategies webinar, trainer Andy Prisco will focus specifically on how staff can develop effective communication skills regarding COVID safety and vaccine verification requirements. He’ll begin by reviewing the ‘IRPD’ de-escalation response formula introduced in the first session and then work through some common scenarios around COVID safety, role playing with our moderator on some effective ways to respond. We will finish with time for Q&A from attendees.

It is recommended that those who did not view the initial webinar do so before this next session, so the foundations of meaningful de-escalation can be reviewed.

#WeGotThisWA: De-escalation Strategies

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We want to help you and your staff feel confident enforcing COVID rules and policies with your customers, like mask wearing or proof of vaccination. This webinar will feature specific strategies and information that can help you develop skill in managing these interpersonal interactions at your business.  Topics will include self-regulation during particularly challenging situations and verbal de-escalation methods that are anchored in best-practices.

Our presenter, Andy Pisco, is a Fellow with the National Anger Management Association and author of the Crisis Intervention Certification Handbook, Best Practices for First Responders. He also founded the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team program within the State of Washington’s care and services systems and has provided trainings, in-services, and presentations in Crisis De-Escalation to law enforcement professionals, hostage negotiation teams, crisis negotiation teams, Fire/EMS personnel, and psychiatric care and services professionals.

 

Large Employer Vaccine Mandate- What Employers Need to Know

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President Biden announced that all employers with 100 or more employees will be required to ensure their workers are either vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested weekly.

During this session, Christine Thelen with Lane Powell will discuss the requirements of this vaccine mandate, including:

-Pay and paid time off for testing and vaccination
-Vaccination verification
-Testing issues
-Reasonable accommodation & recordkeeping considerations
-Possible impacts of the inevitable legal challenges to this mandate.

Small Business Resources for Veteran & Disabled Entrepreneurs

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During this webinar, you will:

•Learn more about COVID EIDL and how you can take advantage before December 31, 2021
•Discover tools and resources you can use to start and grow your business
•Have your questions answered by SBA leadership and small business experts
•Learn how you can become a vaccine leader in your community
•Get an update regarding programs and recent policy announcements made by the Biden-Harris Administration

Day of Caring – FREE Legal Consultations!

Time: 1-hour appointments available between 3:00 – 7:45 pm

Location: To protect the health of our clients, volunteers, and staff, this legal clinic will be held as Zoom consultations ONLY.

Translation services available upon request.

Communities Rise is partnering with United Way of King County and Ventures to offer free business law consultations to small businesses and nonprofits.

Sign up to meet with a lawyer, at no cost, and ask them your legal questions about your business or nonprofit.  There will be attorneys with expertise in the following areas (including but not limited to):

  • Business Entity Formation – Advising on choice of entity (LLC/PLLC, Sole Proprietor, Partnership, C-Corporation, Social Purpose Corporation) and creation of corporate entity.
  • Advice on Corporate Governance
  • Maintenance and Compliance with State and Federal Law
  • Taxes – Advising on federal, state, and local taxes.
  • Employment – General advice on personnel policies, independent contractor agreements, vendor agreements, employment contracts, and confidentiality agreements.
  • Real Estate – General advice about property leases, purchase and sale agreements.
  • Risk and Liability Assessment – General advice on risk and liability assessment, and insurance coverage.
  • Obtaining 501c3 tax-exemption for Nonprofits

Please register by completing our online google form:

Update: 8/20/21 At this time we are at capacity for nonprofit clients. Please check back later to see if any consultation spots for nonprofits have become available. Feel free to ask about availability for our October and November nonprofit legal clinics.

To register as a small business, click here.

For additional questions please email:  contact@communities-rise.org

If you are an attorney and would like to volunteer at the clinic, please contact. Sarah@communities-rise.org

All legal matters due to Covid-19, please see additional information on our Covid-19 legal clinic by clicking here.

Keep Rising: New Support Coming for Small Businesses

Register here: https://pxlme.me/U0noyQiT

Comcast is committed to supporting small businesses who have been hit the hardest by the economic impact of the pandemic.

About this event:

Comcast, in partnership with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, invite you to a virtual event when we will unveil a new program supporting small businesses in the Seattle and Tacoma metropolitan areas.

It’s high time for action.

Independent small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and today, more than ever, small businesses owned by people of color are hurting. Recently, small businesses have been dealing with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, social unrest, and environmental events.

Learn more at www.comcastrise.com.

National Small Business Week Virtual Summit

Register here: https://pxlme.me/kvsbXY8B

 

Celebrating resilience and renewal

Meet other business owners and get expert advice at this free 3-day conference

 

About National Small Business Week

For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has celebrated National Small Business Week (NSBW), which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. This year is one unlike the half-century that has come before.

We are facing unique challenges together. However, American small businesses continue to play a central role in building a strong country, prepared for any obstacles in the future.

More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create nearly two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of NSBW, the SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others who support entrepreneurship from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and U.S. territories. Additionally, this year’s NSBW will recognize the small businesses who have navigated the coronavirus pandemic while supporting their employees and communities. There will be a number of presenters providing retooling and innovative practices for entrepreneurs as our nation’s small businesses look to pivot and recover towards a stronger economy.

Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st-century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.