Ready for Business Fund Is Distributing More Than $200,000 in Cash Grants to 76 Small Businesses in Washington

LGBTQ-, BIPOC-, women-owned, and small businesses throughout the state are receiving financial assistance from GSBA and Comcast relief effort

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Submitted by Comcast

The Ready for Business Fund – a relief program launched by GSBA, Washington State’s LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce, and Comcast – is distributing $2,500 and $4,000 cash grants to 76 small businesses throughout Washington state. The Ready for Business Fund was founded in the summer of 2020 with an initial $100,000 investment from Comcast and designation of GSBA as the fund manager. To date, the fund has supported more than 200 small businesses in Washington with nearly $1 million in financial support and wraparound services.

The Ready for Business Fund was renewed this year with an additional $75,000 in funding from Comcast and GSBA, reprising its role as the program and fund manager. Grants from the Ready for Business Fund will be made possible by more than $150,000 in additional donations from Pepsi, T-Mobile, US Bank, Meta, and Verity Credit Union and a $100,000 grant from King County. These funds will now support small business owners across all industries, including local restaurants, bookstores, bistros, shops and stores, which are an important part of the social fabric in our communities.

“GSBA recognizes the importance of investing in the small businesses that are critical to a thriving community and economy,” said Ilona Lohrey, GSBA president and CEO. “We are proud to once again partner with Comcast to grow our Ready for Business Fund to support a diverse group of business owners who need our help now more than ever.”

The Ready for Business Fund was created to support small businesses in Washington, especially those owned by LGBTQ people, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), and women, who are at greater risk in today’s uncertain economy. Grant recipients also include small businesses located in rural areas of Washington that lack proximity to resources.

“We’re grateful for our continued partnership with the GSBA to recognize so many resilient small businesses through the Ready for Business Fund,” said Diem Ly, Community Impact director, Comcast Washington. “We at Comcast believe and act on our shared value that ensuring equitable access to resources for BIPOC and LGBTQ-owned businesses means all of our communities and neighborhoods benefit in the long-run.” Feel free to adjust as you see fit!

“Between recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns over inflation, our small businesses have faced some of the most difficult struggles over the last few years, and it is up to our community to step up and support them. That’s why partnerships like the one between King County, GSBA and Comcast are so imperative right now,” shared King County Councilmember Joe McDermott.

GSBA assembled a selection committee consisting of diverse community and business leaders to evaluate the applications received. Notifications to grant applicants about the status of their application have begun and awards will be delivered beginning this week. All grant recipients will also receive wrap-around services, including GSBA membership and consulting.

Ready for Business Fund grant recipients include:

Business NameLocation
Nature’s TwistAuburn
Sparks DesignsBellingham
Seattle SpartansBothell
Amano SeattleBurien
Ballyhoo TheatreEdmonds
KO-AM TVFederal Way
Yolo West Coast LLCFederal Way
Issaquah Eataeries, LLCIssaquah
That Curl GirlKennewick
The honest beautyKennewick
South 2 West Boiled Peanuts, LLCLynnwood
Burial Grounds Coffee CollectiveOlympia
RUZICKA CPA, PLLCOlympia
Strong Family Bonds LLC dba SGT. Hart’s BOlympia
Quiet GlamourPuyallup
Paunchy ElephantRenton
Basecamp Books and bitesRoslyn
bedhead fiberSeatac
Fruit and Flower DBA FloretSeatac
23rd Ave BrewerySeattle
A.L.A. Consulting FirmSeattle
Aide-mémoireSeattle
All Things AutoSeattle
BlendilySeattle
Dreams Unlimited LLC dba Modern Mind LabsSeattle
Inclusive Data LLCSeattle
Jasmine Nicole Luxury PerucasSeattle
Local Yokels/Savory Sound Foods LLCSeattle
LOLiDESeattle
Melted PorcelainSeattle
Orange Tea SchoolSeattle
Soul CollectiveSeattle
Sound Therapeutic AcupunctureSeattle
The Green Deli StoreSeattle
Victoria Odell Real EstateSeattle
Windhorse RocksSeattle
WithTheRainSeattle
Aluel CellarsSeattle
Aluel Cellars BallardSeattle
BADBAR LLCSeattle
Bakehouse Inc. DBA Flora BakehouseSeattle
Biang Biang NoodlesSeattle
Big Little NewsSeattle
Conviviality Inc. DBA Cafe FloraSeattle
EL CHITO LLCSeattle
Get In My Belly CateringSeattle
GigRoster™ Professional EntertainmentSeattle
Honest BiscuitsSeattle
King DonutsSeattle
Lillie’s Passion LLCSeattle
Moon Village BakerySeattle
Queer/barSeattle
Reclaim Clay CollectiveSeattle
Rita’s Fine Foods Inc. dba Glo’sSeattle
Seeking FermentsSeattle
Stone Way Eateries, LLCSeattle
Tert I Inc dba The WildroseSeattle
The City Catering Company, Inc.Seattle
The Cuff ComplexSeattle
The Shanghai Pearl PresentsSeattle
The Station Coffee Shop LLCSeattle
The WoodsSeattle
Tutta Bella Culinary, LLCSeattle
U14 LLC dba UnionSeattle
NW ROOFING SERVICESSnohomish
Atomic Threads BoutiqueSpokane
Stage Left Theater AssociationSpokane
BodiedbyJalee LLCTacoma
Diane ruff studioTacoma
ME RestaurantsTacoma
Munch MobileTacoma
Lucina-SeleneTulalip
All The WishesVancouver
DC VisitationVancouver
Panache.Vancouver
Professional Latino Services LLCVancouver

More information is available at theGSBA.org/ready-for-business.

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