March 23, 2021
Business and Community Updates
Working WA 4.0 Grant Portal Opening Monday, March 29th
The Washington State Department of Commerce sent out a press release today announcing the new Working Washington 4.0 small business grant program. The application portal will be open for 12 days starting Monday, March 29 and closing Friday, April 9th. Applications will be handled by the Department of Commerce through an online portal.

Port staff will be available to help answer questions regarding eligibility, the grant process, information needed for the application form, etc. Please call Melody at 509-382-2577 or email her at melody@portofcolumbia.org for assistance. We have a direct line to the Department of Commerce that we can use to seek answers to your questions.

Grant Summary
  • Link to grant application portal: https://commercegrants.com/
  • The application portal opens Monday, March 29th, and closes Friday, April 9th.
  • Applications can be saved and edited in the online portal until you officially submit it.
  • Working Washington 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 grant dollars received by your business will be subtracted from this grant award.
  • Information will be asked regarding PPP and EIDL loan receipts, but these funds will not be subtracted from the grant award. It is for informational purposes only.
  • You must know your UBI number, the NAICS code for your industry, and have 2019 and 2020 revenue numbers.
  • Award funds have to be distributed by the end of June, 2021, and they are hoping to have them out by the end of May.
  • Find eligibility info here

Award priority will be given in this order:
  • Industries that had to close as a result of safety and public health measures.
  • Size of the business (measured by 2019 revenue).
  • Lost revenue between 2019 and 2020 as well as added expenses to maintain safe operations

A Shuttered Venue Operators Grant portal will open on April 8th. This grant program will be targeted to live venue operators and promoters, theatrical producers, performing arts organization operators, motion picture theater operators, museum operators and talent representatives who were impacted by COVID-19. Qualifying applicants who applied for a PPP loan after Dec. 27, 2020, can also apply for this grant, with the eligible award being reduced by the amount of the PPP loan.
Business & Community Updates
  • Washington State has not yet released unemployment rate numbers for February, so we have no update.
  • In a return to normalcy that many are looking forward to, Skyline Junior Club fudge eggs go on sale this Friday! See flyer for locations to purchase these solid fudge seasonal goodies. Proceeds benefit community projects, youth and charities.
  • A new restaurant is coming soon to downtown Dayton! Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.
  • The Port is investigating two potential federal funding opportunities for funding to construct the proposed public broadband network in the City of Dayton and surrounding areas. We are currently working to secure matching funds that will be required for any funding we may be awarded.
  • The Friends of the Touchet Valley Golf Course have been working hard to facilitate improvements to our golf course, including a new irrigation reservoir. See Waitsburg Times story here. The Touchet Valley Golf Course Board has secured a new concessionaire that will be on hand April 1st to begin collecting greens fees. More information about the new food establishment will be forthcoming.
  • Columbia Family Clinic has a new primary care provider, Lindsay McLaughlin. See Dayton Chronicle story here.
  • A Touchet Valley Trail public information meeting is in the planning stages. More information will be sent out as details are finalized.
Now Entering Healthy Washington Reopening Phase 3
All counties in the State of Washington have now moved to phase 3 in the Healthy Washington reopening protocol, which means 50% occupancy in restaurants, limited attendance at sporting events, and more.

Housing & Utility Assistance
While things feel like they are starting to move toward normal again, a great deal of financial harm is being felt by many citizens in the community. When residents can't pay their rent or utilities, there is a ripple effect on landlords, cities, utility companies, and our economy. Click on the image to find a comprehensive list of housing and rent assistance options for our region.