The Small Business Administration (SBA), in partnership with the US Treasury, opened the preliminary Payroll Protection Program (PPP) application portal on Monday, January 11. This preliminary portal is focused on select minority and disadvantaged business institutions that serve clients seeking a “first-draw” PPP loan. 1/15/21 SBA Round 2 COVID-19 Relief + PPP Application  https://wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/99271349 Contact…

According to Redfin, seventy-two percent (72%) of homes in Lacey sold above list price, and the typical home went under contract in five days, six (6) fewer days than last year. Six of the 10 most competitive cities for buying a home this year are in Washington state, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com). Spanaway, WA—located…

The Olympian – December 27, 2020 Across [Thurston] county, households of all types are getting smaller: 65% of households consist of one or two people (in Olympia it’s closer to 75%) and the average household size has shrunk from 3.1 in 1970 to 2.5 today. Despite these trends, the private market continues to produce larger…

The bill combines coronavirus-fighting funds with financial relief for individuals and businesses. It would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans, along with a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses, restaurants, and theaters and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing…

Located on Zaverl Hall of St. Martin’s University Campus, the Lacey MakerSpace is an “Innovator’s Workshop” that’s open to the public. With high tech fabrication tools and education resources, become empowered as a maker, innovator or small business. See how you can bring your idea to life! website link Video made by North Thurston Public…

New Working Washington Business Grant and Loan Funding Announcement The Thurston EDC is working closely with the Department of Commerce in order to share with the Thurston County business community the most up-to-date information regarding the disbursement of additional Washington State CARES funding. We hope to have additional information this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Please…

RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES Through the City of Lacey’s partnership with Thurston Strong, a FREE initial supply of PPE is available to businesses restarting.  Here is a link to that information.  To order PPE, please follow this link. One of the City of Lacey’s economic development community partners, Enterprise for Equity is offering free classes to…

NEW GRANT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE NOW! The Department of Commerce is offering a new Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant (WWSBEG) to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Small businesses who qualify for the grant program and are located within Thurston County can apply here:  http://startup.choosewashingtonstate.com/covid-grants/ which will link to a Commerce page…

To assist small, locally owned Lacey-based for-profit businesses, the City of Lacey committed  $1 million to the COVID-19 Lacey Small Business Stabilization Grant Fund, an emergency fund that provided working capital grants in amounts up to $10,000 to qualifying small businesses. Those fund s have now all been awarded or committed.  

One of the many effective tools of economic development is placemaking: creating an environment that is attractive, welcoming, engaging, and makes people want to gather. Many successful historic downtowns are examples of successful placemaking. Most of Lacey developed well after World War II, and was incorporated as a city in 1966: a time when most…