EDC oversees $700,000 in relief funds

DAVENPORT-- The Lincoln County Economic Development Council has closed the books on 2020, ending a year that did not go as planned. Due to the pandemic, the EDC set aside previously scheduled projects and focused their attention on obtaining and utilizing Coronavirus Relief Funds. Since Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order took effect in March, the EDC has facilitated over $700,000 in grant awards.

The federal CARES Act provided for Coronavirus Relief Fund payments to state and local governments to combat the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. The EDC helped the State Department of Commerce administer two state-funded small business grant programs that resulted in nearly $300,000 going to Lincoln County businesses. The EDC also facilitated three grant programs for Lincoln County Commissioners, who allocated $261,000 of the county’s Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) for local business support. Additionally, Almira, Harrington, Odessa and Sprague partnered with the EDC to distribute a combined $56,000 in CRF grants to their local businesses. Grants from the Innovia Foundation and the Tri County Economic Development District brought another $30,000 in small business funding to Lincoln County bringing the total in grants to $647,000.

Lincoln County Commissioners also allotted $65,000 to Lincoln County’s food banks and other eligible nonprofits.

The small business assistance grants were focused on reimbursement of operating costs incurred while businesses were negatively affected by the pandemic or the state’s response to the pandemic, filling a gap that unemployment insurance and the Payroll Protection Program did not cover. The nonprofit grants went to organizations to help with utilities and other costs associated with facility support and maintenance. Lincoln County Chambers of Commerce also received small grants to replace revenue lost due to fundraising event cancellations.

Going into 2021, the EDC will continue to monitor pandemic recovery resources to keep local businesses informed. If you own a business that has been negatively affected by the pandemic and you are not on the EDC’s affected business list, email your business name and contact information to EDC Director Margie Hall at Margie@LincolnEDC.org and get announcements and opportunities sent directly to your inbox.