Emergency Management Division

Private Sector Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PSPR2)

Seminars for Resilience

The Public/Private Partnership (P3) Program Managers of Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington, in partnership with CISA, and the private sector, have developed a nine session, virtual seminar series designed for companies and organizations interested in enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the impact and recovery of an active shooter or other mass casualty event. 

The first series, entitled “Mass Casualty Impact and Recovery”, will examine how businesses can better prepare, respond, and recover from active shooter and other mass casualty events. Each 90-minute seminar will include subject matter experts from business and the government sharing critical infrastructure best practices, valuable lessons, and planning resources and tools to assist with mass casualty impact and recovery.

View the Flyer:  Mass Casualty Impact & Recovery

When:  March 16h - November 16th, every Thursday at 9:00 a.m.

Where:  Virtual via Microsoft Teams live

Registration:  Register Here

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Department of Commerce

Washington Hospitality Grant Program 

Opening March 14th!

This program offers one-time grants to eligible restaurants, hotels, motels, and other qualifying businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts.

The grant program is intended to support eligible small businesses that can demonstrate a 25% reduction in revenues as a result of the pandemic. A portion of funding is designated to reimburse lodging establishments that experienced losses during the state’s eviction moratorium pursuant to the governor’s proclamations.

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Small Business Disaster Relief Grants

Applications due March 31st!

Commerce has $9.7 available for grants to small businesses with annual gross receipts of $5 million or less that have sustained a reduction in business income or activity as the result of:

• Natural disaster such as flood, earthquake, or a comparable
• Human-caused disaster such as a major utility disruption resulting in property damage or prolonged outages

Grant limit is $75,000 per business. Funds may be used to reimburse the following eligible expenses:

• Payroll
• Utilities and rent
• Marketing and advertising
• Building improvements and repairs
• Replacing damaged inventory and equipment
• Other operational and business expenses related to a qualifying disaster

Questions? Contact the Associate Development Organization (ADO) representing your county.

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Employment Security Department

ESD Changes the Way They Use SSNs

ESD is changing the way they use Social Security numbers in emails, letters, and other correspondence.

This change will start by July 1. In most cases, ESD will use the last four digits of a Social Security number to identify an employee or customer.

The change comes as result of House Bill 1455, which requires ESD to use other personal identifiers in its correspondence to prevent identify theft. ESD will still collect Social Security numbers – the law changes only how we share them.

If you think this change might affect your business processes, forms, files, or software, please make any necessary updates. You do not need to contact ESD.

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New Training Videos for EAMS Now Available

ESD has uploaded eleven videos about how to use its upgraded Employer Account Management Services system.

Employers and others use EAMS to file quarterly wage reports and pay unemployment taxes. The upgraded EAMS is designed to perform better and improve your experience.

 Common topics include:

• Using EAMS
• How to add and remove an employer in EAMS
• How to import wage data from a spreadsheet 

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Paid Leave: What to know in 2023

ESD has updated tools and documents on Paid Leave’s website to keep up with the changes implemented in January. You will find a wide range of resources that you can use to become familiar with your role as an employer, the benefits available to your employees and grants available to small businesses.

Here are just a few of the resources now available in the Help Center:

• Employer toolkit
• Voluntary plan guide
• CSV wage report template
• Paycheck insert
• Mandatory poster

Many other resources are available for employers, including a premium calculator and information and tools in Spanish.

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Department of Enterprise Services

Bid Opportunity for IT Development Services

DES posted the RFP for solicitation 16322, IT Development, to WEBS.

There are four categories in this solicitation:

• Web Developer
• Application Developer
• Software Tester
• IT Architect

Businesses must be registered in WEBS to view and bid on the solicitation. When you login, search for solicitation 16322.

Read about the ITPS rebid project.

Learn how to do sell your goods and services to government entities in Washington state.

Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance

Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR)

SBRR workshops are provided by members of the Washington state Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT).

Start a Business in WA: This free, one-hour workshop will give you a solid understanding of the registration, licensing and other regulatory requirements to help you get started.

When:  Wednesday, May 19th

Where: Virtual via Zoom live

Registration: Register Here

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ORIA Information Center 

ORIA's IC Team are knowledgeable and ready to help you.  We know regulations and you know your business - together we will make an effective team that will help keep your business on track with government regulations.  

Contact us with your questions at 800-917-0043 or email [email protected].

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Tips & Reminders

‘Achieve More’ Grant for Women and Minority-Owned Businesses

Applications due March 19th!

The Washington Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center has allocated $200,000 to provide direct business resiliency grants that help minority and woman-owned businesses “achieve more.”

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Training Opportunities

• SBA Seattle District Wednesday Webinars
• Washington Small Business Development Center
• Dept. of Labor & Industries
• Office of Minority's & Women's Business Enterprises
• Washington Center for Women in Business
• SCORE

Training Series - Are You Ready for 8(a) Certification?

Have you been in business for at least two years? Are you ready to grow your small business? Are you interested in contracting opportunities with the Federal government?  The federal government aims to award 13 percent of all federal contracting dollars (15% by 2025) to certified small, disadvantaged businesses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) Business Development program is a nine-year program created to assist businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Once certified, 8(a) program participants are eligible to receive federal contracting preferences, receive training, and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the American economy.

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It's Time to Celebrate the Famed Irish Holiday! 

Check out the events and celebrations set to take place all across the state!

• Washington's St. Patrick's Day Events

Newsletter Team

This newsletter is a collaborative effort by the following state agencies:

The Governor’s Office

Department of Commerce

Employment Security Department

Department of Labor & Industries

Secretary of State’s Office

Department of Revenue

Emergency Management Division of the Military Department

Our mission:

• To preserve the established connections to businesses for future communication of emergency related information.
• To make it easier for businesses to access state services & resources.
• To provide the latest cross-agency news affecting small businesses.