Covid-19 Small Business Resources

Bellingham, Whatcom County, & Washington State

Updated: August 23, 2021

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Summit Bookkeeping is actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation and acting in the best interest of our employees, clients, and community. To help small businesses during this time, we’ve compiled a list of resources to provide guidance and assistance.

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We will be updating this list as we find new resources. If there are any additional resources you are aware of, please let us know! We hope to make this list as useful as possible for everyone in our community.

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General Resources

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Washington State Resources​​​​​

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Washington State Health Department​

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Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)

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Employment Security Department (ESD)​

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Department of Revenue (DOR)

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Department of Commerce
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Whatcom County Resources

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Whatcom County Health Department

 

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Loans, Grants, and Credits

[Open] Small Business Flex Fund

Qualifying small businesses owners and non-profits can apply for a low interest (between 3-4.5%) loan of up to $150,000 with a loan term of 60- or 72-months. This fund is a public-private partnership aimed at helping those in low-income communities recover and grow as the state reopens. 

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[Open] COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

Small businesses in Whatcom County that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of Coronavirus can apply for an SBA Disaster Assistance loan. The EIDL maximum loan amount has been increased to $500,000, which means that businesses that received the loan previously for less than $500,000 are likely eligible for an increase. The SBA is now reaching out directly to loan borrowers via email to provide more details about how businesses can request an increase. Borrowers should expect to receive emails from @sba.gov or @updates.sba.gov addresses.

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Employee Retention Credit

The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit for employers that was implemented under the CARES Act to encourage businesses to keep employees on payroll during COVID-19. 

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WECU Business Relief Options

WECU is offering local businesses business relief options, including the PPP loan, for those impacted by the Coronavirus. Existing WECU Business Members will receive priority for loan support.

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[Closed] Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)

A new grant administered by the SBA targets shuttered venues due to COVID-19. Eligible entities for the SVOG include live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria, motion picture operators, talent representatives, and more.

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[Closed] Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

As part of the CARES Act, the PPP is a loan designed to provide an incentive for small businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The loan is currently available to eligible businesses for first and second draws. 

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We’re in this Together

At Summit Bookkeeping, we are committed to providing our clients and community with the resources they need to grow their business and navigate through complex situations. If you have any additional questions for us during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We will continue to remain open and available for assistance at this time.