Help offered to 'historically marginalized communities'

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Commerce is providing funding and assistance to nonprofit groups from “historically marginalized communities” to help with language barriers.

They are “groups of people who have historically been prevented from participating fully in various decision-making or policy-making processes. This can apply to ethnic or racial communities, people with disabilities, Indigenous groups, LGBTQIA+ and others,” stated spokesperson Penny Thomas.

The state is soliciting community-based nonprofit organizations interested in joining the agency’s Small Business Resiliency Network to provide culturally- and linguistically- appropriate outreach, translation, education and other assistance to small business owners.

“The pandemic revealed enormous disparities in who is most likely to be able to find and successfully apply for help, and who is often left out. This is especially true for small business owners in many racial, ethnic and underserved communities,” said Jessica Camacho, the Business Resiliency Network’s director. “We’re expanding this network to help ensure an equitable economic recovery and future for all our communities.”

The state launched the Small Business Resiliency Network in 2020 and grew to 31 organizations that provide services in nearly 40 languages.

The Department of Commerce is seeking to expand the network and seeking organizations with small business and nonprofit competence in “racially, ethnically or otherwise diverse communities who historically have been had limited access to and have been underserved by mainstream resources.”

Organizations must show they are:

• Recognized as a trusted community messenger organization representing and serving historically marginalized and underserved communities

• Registered in the state of Washington as a nonprofit organization

• Physically located with services provided in Washington State

• Led by a board of directors, executive leadership, and staff that are at least 51% representative of the community or communities they serve

Contract funding amounts and specific scope of work will be negotiated with accepted organizations. The amount of funding awarded to a specific organization will be based on a variety of factors including reach, number of businesses served, staff time dedicated to the work and the depth and breadth of services provided.

Detailed information and application instructions are found in the solicitation form on the network webpage.

Applications are due Jan. 7.