In October and November, the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce administered $600,000 in financial support to 64 businesses in crisis due to government mandated COVID-19 closures.

The Franklin County Rapid Response Business Grant was funded through the CARES Act. The Franklin County Board of Commissioners selected the Regional Chamber to help distribute the funds on October 20. The application was available in both English and Spanish on the Chamber’s website from October 20 through November 20, and publicized through television, radio, print, digital, and direct mail advertising.

The Chamber received 137 applications for the grant from Franklin County business owners. To select grant recipients, the Chamber developed application scoring criteria to best determine businesses in greatest need. An evaluation panel met every week for five weeks to review applications and select grant recipients. $120,000 was awarded by the evaluation panel each week. The evaluation panel consisted of Regional Chamber President & CEO, Lori Mattson, Chamber Board Chair, Chris Rivard, as well as representatives from the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Pasco Development Authority, Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Connell Chamber of Commerce, and Tippett Company.

Though this grant has closed, the Regional Chamber continues to help struggling businesses find funding through the weekly COVID-19 Business Resource Guide and the daily Rapid Response Call Line.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors approved the following statement regarding the Chamber's position on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI):

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) nationwide on September 16, 2020 are celebrating the contracting success of our small business clients with the first annual National PTAC Day.   National PTAC Day will unite the ninety Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) across the country and the tens of thousands of clients they serve by sharing small business success stories and notable economic impact that PTAC clients have created within their communities. 

Join us in celebrating National PTAC Day by attending our special PTAC Day webinar:
2020 National PTAC Day Webinar
September 16th at 11:00 AM Pacific Time
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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Businesses are invited to join government marketplace experts from around the country for a fun, interactive, and enlightening event!  Hosted by the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, participants will have a chance to test their knowledge of the federal government marketplace while hearing top tips from PTAC counselors across the country.  Businesses with all levels of government contracting experience are welcome to participate in this free event. 
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If you can't make it, please show your support by tweeting or posting on other social media about your contracting success or how PTACs have helped your business by using the #PTACDay.  ​

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), in collaboration with FEMA, are offering free No Contact Infrared Thermometers to qualifying small businesses located in Benton and Franklin Counties. Small businesses may qualify if they specialize in one of the following areas: Construction, Manufacturing, Retail, Health Care/Mental Health services, Restaurants/Food Service, Grocers/Convenience Stores, Personal Services, Dog Groomers and Agriculture (with between 10 and 49 employees). 

Benton County Business: Please contact Jody O’Connor, PTAC Counselor, at jody.oconnor@tricityregionalchamber.com. 

Franklin County Business: Contact the Tri City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, at 
509-542-0933

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) have once again partnered to offer $30,000 in grants to local small businesses through the “Small Business Incentive Program” (SBIP).

The Small Business Incentive Program was launched in 2011. Since its inception, the program has presented 300 grants to small businesses, totaling $270,000. The program is designed to strengthen and support small businesses in the Tri-Cities.

New this year: Winners will select from one of three COVID-19 Relief Packages valued at $1,000:

• Retrofit Grant – For the installation of new safety equipment, and/or modifying existing facilities with plexiglass, hand washing stations, no-touch doors, walk-up windows, etc.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Screening Tools Grant – for the purchase of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, thermometers, etc.
• Rent Assistance Grant – For rent due directly to the applicant’s landlord

Following is the eligibility criteria for the Small Business Incentive Program:

• The applicant must be an established small business and a member of the Tri-City Regional Chamber.
  • Non-members that have been in business at least 18 months may still qualify for the program upon joining the Regional Chamber prior to the application deadline.
• The applicant must be organized as a for-profit business
• Applications must be complete
• Applicants must have 30 or fewer full-time equivalent employees and annual revenue less than $3,000,000.
• Funds are good toward purchases made after August 12, 2020

SBIP applications will be accepted from 8 am on Thursday, July 9 through 5pm on Friday, July 31. In an effort to provide value and streamline the process during this challenging time, qualifying applications will be numbered and entered into a drawing. 30 winners will be selected at random during the drawing on August 12 at 1:30 pm. The drawing will be broadcast live over Zoom.

Members must apply for a grant through the online application form. Printed applications will not be accepted. Applications must submitted by 5 pm on Friday, July 31, 2020.

For questions about the program, please contact Logan LaPierre, Program Manager, at logan.lapierre@tricityregionalchamber.com.

Jody O’Connor, the Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Counselor housed at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, helped a local client earn a government contract worth over $400,000.

Patriot Rooter & Irrigation, LLC secured the contract with The Northwest Fisheries Science Center at the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration laboratory in Seattle. This is Patriot Rooter’s third federal contract award.

“Securing Federal contract awards for a small business comes with a lot of hard work; PTAC has not only provided to us the opportunity to compete in this unfamiliar arena but more importantly actually win federal contracts,” said Francisca Garrison, CEO of Patriot Rooter & Irrigation, LLC.    

The Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) helps businesses at no cost to find, bid, win and perform on federal, state and local government contracts. For more information, visit washingtonptac.org.

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: Benton County Commissioners, Franklin County Commissioners, and Benton-Franklin Health District

Contact:
Benton-Franklin Health District PIO
Eoc.pio@bfhd.wa.gov
509-460-4200

July 2, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Benton and Franklin Counties were approved today to move to modified Phase 1 of the state’s Safe Start Phased Reopening Plan. Washington State Secretary of Health John Weisman’s approval of the counties’ applications allows limited and modified openings for some businesses and personal activities in Benton and Franklin Counties effective at midnight tonight.

Activities allowed include:

• Construction as permitted in Phase 2 guidance (new construction projects can occur)
• Manufacturing as permitted in Phase 2 guidance (non-essential manufacturing)
• Restaurants for outdoor seating only at 50% of existing outdoor capacity
• In-store retail at 15% indoor capacity with indoor activities limited to 30 minutes
• Personal services at 25% indoor capacity
• Dog groomers at 25% indoor capacity
• No gatherings with people outside of the household except for small behavioral health support groups of fewer than 5 people

Businesses that are allowed to reopen are required to follow the state Department of Health’s specific guidance but must adjust their occupancy to the levels identified above. Before opening, businesses must do the following: 

1. All businesses must sign a business pledge that they will following all COVID-19 guidance. Spanish business pledge
2. Complete a COVID-19 Safety Plan and submit it by email or in person to Benton or Franklin County. Spanish COVID-19 Safety Plan
3. Post the COVID-19 Safety Plan at the front of the business
4. Require face coverings for employees and customers
5. Post signs stating that face coverings are required. English Mask Required Sign Spanish Mask Required Sign

Plans must be submitted to the county in which the business is licensed.

• Benton County – please email to covidplan@co.benton.wa.us or drop in large yellow postal box in the drive lane at the side of Benton-Franklin Health District.
• Franklin County – please email to covid-19businesssafetyplans@co.franklin.wa.us or use the Franklin County Treasurer drop box located in courthouse parking lot next to security building labeled COVID 19 business plans

Washington Department of Health will continue to closely monitor the status of COVID- 19 in Benton and Franklin Counties especially hospitalizations. If hospitalizations for COVID-19 significantly increase throughout the course of implementing this plan, the state will consider a strict lock down of the counties, including closure of nearly all businesses.

The Benton-Franklin Health District Board of Health wants to remind the public to continue to follow all the precautions in Phase 1, including wearing face coverings in public, staying at least six feet away from other people, practicing excellent hand hygiene and staying home when they’re sick. More information on COVID-19 can be
found on Benton-Franklin Health District’s website at www.bfhd.wa.gov/covid-19.