Washington State Microenterprise Association ~ Official

📢 Grant opportunity for new producers! This AgWest Farm Credit opportunity celebrates the ingenuity and passion of new producers and helps them bring dreams to fruition! Available funds The New Producer grant is awarded to 30 recipients in the amount of $15,000 each. Timeline The application window for the 2025 New Producer Grant will be open from March 1 and close on May 31. For questions and inquiries please contact [email protected] or apply below!

🚨 Last chance to apply! 🚨 Time is running out! Applications for the 2025 Micro Business Accelerator close on 2/28 at 8 AM PST—don’t miss your shot to level up your business! Ready to take the next step? Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gSgisKWD ✨ Brought to you in partnership with Kitsap Bank, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, Kitsap Community Resources BE$T Program, Kitsap Small Business Development Center, Rice Fergus Miller, Inc. - a B Corp, Spark Commons, and Vibe Coworks Executed by Matchstick Lab, the Micro Business Accelerator is generously funded by the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) with funding provided by the Washington State Microenterprise Association ~ Official (WSMA), thanks to a grant made by the Washington State Department of Commerce #smallbusiness #businessgrowth #businessopportunity #supportsmallbusinesses #kitsap #kitsapcounty #kitsappeninsula #KitsapMBA2025

📢 BIG NEWS! The Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) has awarded $2 million in small grants to 46 nonprofit organizations in Washington State that provide business training, technical assistance and support with accessing financing for small businesses, especially those with five or fewer employees. This current grant cycle is made possible through the support of the Washington State Department of Commerce Funding for ESOs in this grant cycle will provide business services to entrepreneurs in nearly every industry sector in Washington including, but not limited to, small scale manufacturing, creative economy, food-based, tech, maritime, life sciences, agriculture, childcare and more. Thank you and congratulations to all our amazing grantees and partners! We look forward to sharing their innovative and inspiring work with you all throughout the year. To read our full media release please visit https://bit.ly/41nTGrT

Good Food Connections is just around the corner! Join us on Monday, February 24th, at Hideaway Cellars in Seattle! This annual gathering brings our Good Food community together around a shared table. We invite farmers, seafood harvesters, artisans, chefs, buyers, and community food stakeholders for a day filled with: 💬 Panels and presentations on key topics including consumer trends, economic outlook, food waste prevention, permitting, and more. 😋 Tasting & Trade Show Explore tastes from local food artisans making products to source for your retail store, restaurant, school, or community food distribution. Learn about available resources from providers offering funding, consulting, packaging, and more. 🤝 Networking Meet new people and check in with partners and old friends. Use our matchmaking wall to share or find resources and opportunities. 🥕 Locally Sourced Breakfast & Lunch Stay nourished throughout the day with breakfast and lunch prepared by Herban Feast, featuring ingredients from regional producers. 🌐 Find the full details and agenda at goodfoodconnections.org. Good Food Connections has been made possible with support from King Conservation, Washington State Microenterprise Association ~ Official, Eat Local First - Washington's source for local food, Public Health – Seattle & King County, Communities of Opportunity, Cascadia Produce, Washington Dairy Products Commission, Farmstand Local Foods, LLC, Peterson Cheese, and Duna Fisheries. Thank you for your support!

MasonEDC is looking forward to our upcoming SBA Workshop we are hosting in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration on SBA Programs, Contracts, and Funding Opportunities. Mason County business owners and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend this FREE workshop where they will hear from organizations such as USDA, Washington APEX Accelerator, Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE Mentors, Washington Center for Women in Business, and Washington State Microenterprise Association ~ Official. Representatives from Kitsap Bank, Kitsap Credit Union, Northwest Access Fund, and Coastal States Bank will also be in attendance. The workshop will feature informative presentations and valuable networking time with our esteemed resource providers. Register for this FREE event here: https://lnkd.in/gV2326wT

Eager to join the growing number of small businesses providing retirement plans for their employees, but don’t know where to start? Take advantage of Wednesday Webinars with SBA Seattle this week to learn first steps and more! Wednesday Webinars are an ongoing series of free, virtual webinars covering a variety of topics to benefit small business owners. This week's guest speaker is Clive Mitchell, Senior Benefits Advisor with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, will cover a variety of options for small business employers and allow time for Q&A. When: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST REGISTER at www.sba.gov/event/59064 #WAMicroBiz #WASmallBusiness #ESOs

Need help to start or grow your business? Check out your local library!  The Seattle Public Library, Spokane County Library District, and the Sno-Isle Libraries, are just a few of the dozens of libraries that provide computers, printing, and online business resources, accessible to anyone with a library card! Staff can also connect you to business support in counties throughout Washington State. Visit your local library online or in-person today to start and progress in your business journey! #WAMicroBiz #WASmallBusiness #ESOs #LocaLibrary

Open Enrollment ends Wednesday January 15! Don’t miss your chance to sign up for health and dental insurance. Visit wahealthplanfinder.org to get the coverage that best fits your needs and get covered for 2025.

Eager to engage with the innovation economy? Determined to see that creative ideas make it to market? The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced the upcoming launch of the 2025 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) for entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) focused on innovation-driven startups and entrepreneurs in underserved regions, industries, and communities to launch, grow, and scale. The application portal opens January 8 and closes January 31. The 2025 competition offers $75,000 to $150,000 in awards for ESOs to accelerate the growth and maturity of innovation ecosystems in two stages. The SBA encourages submissions from a broad range of organizations with a collaborative vision to nurture a national ecosystem for equitable access to entrepreneurship! For more info: https://lnkd.in/e6YawAWy #WAMicroBiz #WASmallBusiness #ESOs

COMING IN 2025!  Starting January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Washington State will be set at $16.66. Employers are required to compensate employees with this minimum wage for all hours worked, which includes time spent on opening and closing the business, mandatory training sessions, and meetings. Please note that some cities may impose higher minimum wage rates than the statewide standard. In 2025, cities such as Bellingham, Burien, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila will feature minimum wages that exceed the state’s requirement. For more information, visit L&I: https://lnkd.in/gJqiqYCF #WAMicroBiz #WASmallBusiness