THIS IS AN ARCHIVED NEWS STORY FROM 2020 AND THE CONTENTS OF THIS ARTICLE MAY NO LONGER APPLY. FOR THE LATEST COMMUNITY NEWS CLICK HERE.

The City of Newcastle is committed to supporting its small business community and facilitating a successful recovery from the impacts inflicted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. That’s why the City has established the Newcastle Small Business Rapid Relief Program, providing emergency grants to assist small businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19.

The City distributed $70,000 worth of grants to our community during the first round. With additional funding now available, the City is re-opening the application process to new businesses. Businesses who received funding in the first round do not need to re-apply. They will still be considered for additional funding. This emergency program will provide working capital grants – in amounts generally limited to about $5,000 – to small, locally-owned businesses that meet specific criteria as detailed below.

To apply, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a current Newcastle business with a valid Newcastle business license and a brick-and-mortar storefront

• Locally owned and managed from the greater Puget Sound area with local decision-making authority

• Must have no more than 25 full-time employees

• Ability to demonstrate loss of income due to COVID-19

• Must be a business in good standing (for example, have current Newcastle business license; City taxes and fees paid; current on all State and regulatory requirements; not facing pending litigation or legal action, including Newcastle code enforcement)

To learn more about the program and submit your application, please go to newcastlewa.gov/grants.