The money is being made available as part of another $8.1 million in CARES Act funding through Clark County
VANCOUVER — Using CARES Act dollars, Clark County has funded an additional round of $8.1 million in grants to support Clark County businesses and nonprofits with up to 100 employees.
The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) is collaborating with the Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) to administer the new grant, which will provide additional funds of up to $30,000 for each business or nonprofit to support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
Upon meeting eligibility requirements, funds of up to $30,000 will be distributed to local businesses and nonprofits located in Clark County. These entities must have a public-facing facility, with up to 100 employees currently with the company or nonprofit.
To learn more and apply, visit CREDC.org/COVID19Grants or VancouverUSA.com/COVID19Grants.
The applications are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis until November 1st or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
The CREDC and GVCC strongly encourage businesses that previously applied for the Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant (WWSBEG) or the Clark County Main Street Support Program (CCMSSP) through CREDC to apply for this additional round of funding—whether the business received an award or not as this grant increases the amount of funding a business can receive to a total of $30,000.
Additionally, the Chamber is providing a program designed to support businesses affected by the pandemic while providing discounts to consumers.
Through the ‘Keep It Local – Clark County’ initiative, companies can receive funding to cover twice the monetary value of a 50 percent discount offered to their customers. The funding will be allocated before the promotions.
(Note: Funds received as part of this grant or the ‘Keep It Local – Clark County’ initiative may not exceed $30K in total funding received. If you would like to take part in this program, please check the appropriate box when you apply.)
Grant funds can be used to cover expenses connected to the COVID-19 emergency and necessary to continue/re-open business operations.
Eligible expenses can include, but are not limited to, payroll, consulting, marketing and training, rent, supplies, utility bills and office equipment.
John McDonagh, President/CEO of the Chamber adds, “this is a significant amount of money for a local business. This particular grant will cover a wider scope of expenses than some of the other grants that were either restricted to payroll or rent.”
Expenses must have been incurred from March 1st through November 30, 2020.
Applications are only being accepted through either CREDC.org/COVID19Grants or VancouverUSA.com/COVID19Grants. CREDC and GVCC are individual granting entities collaborating to administer this grant through separate agreements with partners at Clark County.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email within 48 business hours of submission. Due to the volume of requests, specific information about individual applications will not be included.
If selected as a finalist, businesses and nonprofits can expect to hear back from CREDC or GVCC by the week of November 9, 2020 with next steps on how to accept the grant.
Direct questions to the CREDC team info@credc.org or the GVCC team at Chamber@VancouverUSA.com.
About CREDC
Since 1982, the Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) has served as Clark County’s leading economic development organization, connecting companies to the resources they need to expand or locate in the region. As a private-public partnership, we leverage the expertise and collaboration of over 140 investors and strategic partners to advance the economic vitality of Clark County while maintaining our exceptional quality of life. www.credc.org
About GVCC
The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1890, aimed at advancing and strengthening the regional business community through member services, public affairs advocacy and community building. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. GVCC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate while improving Southwest Washington’s infrastructure and quality of life. For more information, please visit VancouverUSA.com.
