RISE-WA: Rural Investment for Small-Business Empowerment
Are you an owner of a Small*, Women, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned business (S/W/BIPOC) in rural Washington?
If you answered yes, then we encourage you to learn more about our RISE-WA Accelerator!
Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is proud to announce that we have been awarded a Washington State Department of Commerce Small Business Innovation Fund (SBIF) grant. PNWER will leverage the success of the recently completed Congregate Solutions Accelerator project and begin a new phase focused on underserved rural communities. PNWER will focus on assisting rural Small, Women, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned businesses (S/W/BIPOC) in Washington State. Through this project, PNWER will facilitate new business relationships between technical assistance solution providers and small under-resourced businesses to provide direct financial support, mentorship, and industry expertise. The purpose is to accelerate post-pandemic recovery in these under-resourced businesses and communities and provide needed guidance and services to help them expand and grow their businesses. Connecting S/W/BIPOC businesses with technology and technical assistance providers based on their needs will help to increase revenue and jobs for participating small businesses and increase tax revenue in rural areas.
If you answered yes, then we encourage you to learn more about our RISE-WA Accelerator!
Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is proud to announce that we have been awarded a Washington State Department of Commerce Small Business Innovation Fund (SBIF) grant. PNWER will leverage the success of the recently completed Congregate Solutions Accelerator project and begin a new phase focused on underserved rural communities. PNWER will focus on assisting rural Small, Women, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned businesses (S/W/BIPOC) in Washington State. Through this project, PNWER will facilitate new business relationships between technical assistance solution providers and small under-resourced businesses to provide direct financial support, mentorship, and industry expertise. The purpose is to accelerate post-pandemic recovery in these under-resourced businesses and communities and provide needed guidance and services to help them expand and grow their businesses. Connecting S/W/BIPOC businesses with technology and technical assistance providers based on their needs will help to increase revenue and jobs for participating small businesses and increase tax revenue in rural areas.
Request for Proposals (RFP)
|
Interested in Applying for the Accelerator?
What is the RISE-WA Accelerator?
The Accelerator is a project funded by a Small Business Innovation Fund grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce.
The goal of the project is to bring technical solution providers and technology entrepreneurs together with rural Small, Women, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned businesses (S/W/BIPOC) in Washington State to utilize innovation and technology of the urban tech sector to improve pandemic resilience and business recovery. The project will facilitate new business relationships between technical assistance solution providers and under-resourced businesses to provide direct financial support, mentorship, and industry expertise to small business owners and entrepreneurs and accelerate the post-pandemic recovery in these under-resourced businesses and communities.
The Accelerator is a challenge-based accelerator. A "challenge-based” accelerator means that we will work with businesses on the main challenges that are currently barriers to growing and expanding their businesses.
We want to hear from you, the business owner, about the challenges that you are facing!
The goal of the project is to bring technical solution providers and technology entrepreneurs together with rural Small, Women, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned businesses (S/W/BIPOC) in Washington State to utilize innovation and technology of the urban tech sector to improve pandemic resilience and business recovery. The project will facilitate new business relationships between technical assistance solution providers and under-resourced businesses to provide direct financial support, mentorship, and industry expertise to small business owners and entrepreneurs and accelerate the post-pandemic recovery in these under-resourced businesses and communities.
The Accelerator is a challenge-based accelerator. A "challenge-based” accelerator means that we will work with businesses on the main challenges that are currently barriers to growing and expanding their businesses.
We want to hear from you, the business owner, about the challenges that you are facing!
Who Should Apply?
Our project is aimed at helping Small*, Women, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned businesses (S/W/BIPOC) in rural Washington. If you are a S/W/BIPOC business owner in Washington State and your business operates in any of the following counties, then we encourage you to apply!
Washington Rural Counties:
Washington Rural Counties:
|
|
|
Has your business experienced any of the following challenges?
|
|
Running a business is challenging especially in rural communities where access to helpful resources might be scarce.
We want to help!
*"Small business" as defined by State of Washington RCQ 39.26.010 (22):
"Small business" means an in-state business, including a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, that:
(a) Certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it is owned and operated independently from all other businesses and has either:
(i) Fifty or fewer employees; or
(ii) A gross revenue of less than seven million dollars annually as reported on its federal income tax return or its return
filed with the department of revenue over the previous three consecutive years; or
(b) Is certified with the office of women and minority business enterprises under chapter 39.19 RCW.
"Small business" means an in-state business, including a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, that:
(a) Certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it is owned and operated independently from all other businesses and has either:
(i) Fifty or fewer employees; or
(ii) A gross revenue of less than seven million dollars annually as reported on its federal income tax return or its return
filed with the department of revenue over the previous three consecutive years; or
(b) Is certified with the office of women and minority business enterprises under chapter 39.19 RCW.
Why Should You Apply?
Benefits:
- Direct Financial Support
- S/W/BIPOC businesses can receive up to $20,000 in technical assistance.
- S/W/BIPOC businesses can receive up to $10,000 for time spent in the 8-week accelerator.
- Mentorship
- Industry & Subject Matter Expertise
- Technical Assistance
- Pilot Project with Solution Provider
How to Apply?
When does the Accelerator take place?
The Accelerator is an 8-week program starting on March 15 and running until May 10. The program will include weekly sessions and workshops on a range of topics based on feedback we receive from you as well as one-on-one sessions with your mentor and/or innovative partner.
Remember, you can reimbursed for your time up to $10,000!
Participation is remote and will take place over Zoom or by phone. In-person meetings can arranged if needed.
Remember, you can reimbursed for your time up to $10,000!
Participation is remote and will take place over Zoom or by phone. In-person meetings can arranged if needed.
This project was supported by Grant No. SLFRO0002 awarded by US Dept. of Treasury. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Dept. of Treasury. Grant funds are administered by the Small Business Innovation Fund, Washington State Department of Commerce.