Economic and business Resilience Newsletter




Secretary of State

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Future Effective Dates

*Do you need documents filed before January 1, 2024? Don?t wait for the last day!*

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* Take advantage of a filing early with a future effective date.
* The future effective date can be up to 90 days in the future from the date the documents are received by our office.

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Expect higher volumes as the Corporations & Charities Division approach their busy season due to the holidays, winter, and end of the year deadlines.? ?This will ensure your business documents are filed and effective when you need them.

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Corporate Transparency Act ?CTA?

*Effective January 1, 2024,*?businesses will be _required_ to submit a?Beneficial Ownership Information ?BOI? report to the?U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ?FinCen?.

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* ALL new businesses will have 30 days to submit the BOI report.
* ALL currently registered businesses are required to submit the report by January 1, 2025.

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The Office of the Secretary of State *does not* *file the BOI report*; however, visit their website for helpful information about the reporting requirements.

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*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Employment Security Dept.

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Unemployment Insurance Navigator Program

Earlier this fall, the Employment Security Department (ESD) invited community organizations to participate in the Navigator Program.

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Community organization ?Navigators? who participate in the program will receive grant funds to help potential claimants in their communities file unemployment claims. They will also help claimants better understand unemployment claim processes and related services.

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*What Navigators will do?*

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* Conduct targeted outreach, education and support in communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.
* Help the ESD lower or remove existing barriers to unemployment benefits for people in disadvantaged communities.
* Improve benefit availability and accessibility to all qualified Washington workers.
* Receive training to ensure they understand how applying for and receiving unemployment benefits works.
* Meet regularly with ESD staff (virtually or in person) to share best practices and review challenges.
* Provide feedback and suggestions on how ESD can improve its services for everyone.

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For more information about the Navigator Program, contact?the UI Navigator Project Manager: Rafael Colon [email protected].

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Unemployment Taxes: ePay Service No Longer Available Effective Nov. 1st

*Use EAMS to pay unemployment insurance taxes!*

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Do you pay your unemployment taxes using ePay? If so, you will need to submit payments through Employer Account Management Services [ [link removed] ] using a Secure Access Washington account.

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Don?t have a Secure Access Washington account? Signing up is easy. You?ll need your name and email address.?If you do not use ePay to pay your unemployment taxes, this change does not affect you.

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*Questions? *Contact the Account Management Center at? [email protected].







Dept. of Enterprise Services

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*Contracting Opportunities for Small, Diverse, and Veteran-Owned Businesses*

*Reserved awards in each county for WA small, veteran-owned businesses?*

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*Now accepting bids: Vehicle Maintenance and Repair??*

DES is now accepting bids for solicitation 15722 for vehicle maintenance and repair. This contract will have reserved awards in each county for Washington small and certified veteran-owned businesses. Vendors may be awarded in multiple categories. This contract is a fantastic opportunity for small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses to get involved in state contracting.

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Solicitation 15722 has four categories:

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* Maintenance for light-duty internal combustion engine vehicles.
* Repair for light-duty internal combustion engine vehicles.
* Body repair for light-duty internal combustion engine and electric vehicles.
* Maintenance and repair for electric vehicles.??

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Businesses should log in to WEBS [ [link removed] ] and search for solicitation 15722 to place a bid. Not registered in WEBS??Registration is simple and only takes about 10 minutes. You only need your business name, contact information, and tax ID number (TIN).

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*What are reserved awards? *?

"Reserved award" means at least one Washington small or certified veteran-owned business will be awarded on the contract. This is one of the ways the enterprise supplier diversity policy gives small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses equitable access to state contracts and creates durable change in state spending with these businesses. Learn more about the supplier diversity policy. [ [link removed] ]

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*Vehicle maintenance and repair informational sessions*

On Nov. 15, we are hosting free informational sessions in Yakima for the vehicle repair and maintenance solicitation. Sessions are available in English and Spanish.

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At these sessions, we will help potential bidders understand how to read and navigate solicitation 15722. We aim to ensure everyone has the knowledge to submit a complete bid, including first-time bidders.


* Register for English Session [ [link removed] ]
* Reg?strese para la session de Espa?ol [ [link removed] ]

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*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






WA Healthplanfinder

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Open Enrollment for 2024 Health Insurance at wahealthplanfinder.org
It?s Open Enrollment Time!

Starting Nov. 1, Washington residents can sign up for health and dental coverage on Washington Healthplanfinder for the 2024 plan year. On Washington Healthplanfinder, employers and their employees can shop, compare, and select a plan that fits their budget and individual health care needs.

Through Washington Healthplanfinder, eligible customers can access federal tax credits and Cascade Care Savings to lower their monthly cost of insurance. Visit wahealthplanfinder.org [ [link removed] ] to learn more about available savings and find the right plan!

*New this year!* This open enrollment, everyone who lives in Washington state can buy health and dental insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, regardless of immigration status.

*Need Help?*?Assisters are available at no cost to help understand coverage options, find financial assistance, and enroll into coverage!

"Share this information with your employees and ensure they have the coverage they need for 2024!"

*Questions on how you can support your employees sign up for health coverage? *Contact [email protected].



*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






WA Workforce Training & Education Board

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Workforce Development Survey

*Please share your experience to help improve public services*

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Employers, workers, and all community members are encouraged to share their thoughts on Washington?s workforce system.?

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The survey is part of the Workforce Board?s community outreach as the state?s next workforce plan is created. The plan?is being developed now and will guide investments of roughly $1.3 billion in state and federal dollars that serve nearly 500,000 Washingtonians.

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Many Washington employers face a serious shortage of skilled workers, and workers need family-wage jobs that offer stability and opportunities to advance.

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* *Review the plan:* Talent and Prosperity for All (TAP) [ [link removed] ]
* *Questions?* Contact the Workforce Board at [email protected]. <[email protected]>

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*Take the Survey* [ [link removed] ]






Dept. of Commerce

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Cannabis Social Equity Technical Assistance Grant Program

*Consultant Request for Proposals*

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Commerce is initiating this RFP to solicit proposals from consultants or firms to participate in a Cannabis Social Equity Technical Assistance Program.

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Program administration tasks include:

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* Development of comprehensive program in collaboration with Commerce.
* Provisions for online technical assistance in business plan development.
* Implementation of a mentorship program.
* Administration of two (2) grant programs with different criteria.

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A pre-proposal conference will be held on Monday, November 13th.

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*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Small Business Resiliency Network

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Partners of the Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) [ [link removed] ] provide culturally and linguistically relevant assistance and other business support services at no cost to entrepreneurs, small businesses and nonprofits ? with an emphasis on those owned by historically marginalized and underserved persons ? throughout Washington.

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Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month

The Native Business Center [ [link removed] ], proudly serves as the central "hub" for Washington's Native-owned business community. Their mission is to empower and connect Native entrepreneurs and businesses to the tools they need to succeed. Providing valuable services such as funding and grant resources and the latest training opportunities.?Additionally, they maintain a Native Business Directory, making them known within Indian Country and easily accessible to those seeking to support and to collaborate with Native-owned enterprises.

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Native Business Center is powered by Sister Sky Inc. [ [link removed] ], A Native American owned company. The founding partners are citizens of the Spokane Tribe, Spokane, WA and Pauquachin First Nation, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.






Small Business Requirements & Resources

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Business.wa.gov [ [link removed] ]

The Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR) are?*free workshops*?providing you with essential information and resources to help start and grow your business.

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Outreach events are sponsored by the Small Business Liaison Team and hosted by local partners.



*Start a Business in WA*


* Thursday, December 14, 2023 2:00 PM -?Register Here [ [link removed] ]

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**Global Entrepreneurship Month hosted by Commerce and Local Economic Development Organizations**

Join us for?"Entrepreneur Expo: Connect, Learn & Thrive" to hear experts speak on topics such as AI and Gen Z in the workplace while networking with community leaders and fellow entrepreneurs.

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* November 7th, 2023, Mount Vernon
* November 14th, 2023, Spokane
* November 28th, 2023, Aberdeen
* November 30th, 2023, Online via Zoom?
* ?Register for these events today [ [link removed] ] and see the entire list of events around the state. [ [link removed] ]?

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*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]


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Small Business Guide

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The Small Business Guide is broken into six sections, based on your stage of business.? Whether you are starting your business, managing a new business, or expanding your business, you will find valuable information and resources.

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The business guide is readily accessible online, but it is also available in PDF, so you can have it as a printed reference manual.? The PDF is available English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Samoan, Somali, Tagalog and two volumes in Braille Ready Format.

Washington state Small Business Guide [ [link removed] ]

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Tips & Reminders

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*Court Shuts Down Websites of Companies that Targeted *

*Small Businesses with Deceptive Messages*

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Attorney General Bob Ferguson won a court order to shut down the websites and suspend the internet domains of two businesses and their owner that sent hundreds of thousands of deceptive texts and emails targeting Washington businesses and nonprofits.

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*Learn More* [ [link removed]. ]


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WSMA Grant Opportunity:? Strengthening Microenterprise Development

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Thanks to the support from the Washington State Department of Commerce, WSMA is opening this statewide grant opportunity to fund nonprofit organizations that provide business training, technical assistance, and access financing to the smallest businesses in Washington.

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*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Explore Workshops?? Events?? Webinars?? Training

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* Women's Business Center? [ [link removed] ]
* SCORE [ [link removed] ]
* SBA [ [link removed] ]
* WSBDC [ [link removed] ]
* Dept. of Enterprise Services [ [link removed] ]?
* Dept. of Labor & Industries [ [link removed] ]
* Dept. of Revenue [ [link removed] ]
* Office of Minority's & Women's Business Enterprises [ [link removed] ]





Your Newsletter Team

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Washington state Small Business Liaison Team

This newsletter is a collaborative effort by Washington's?Small Business Liaison Team [ [link removed] ]?(SBLT).?

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The SBLT is a partnership between 29 state agencies working together with local economic development partners to support and connect with business owners.

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*Our mission:*

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* To preserve the connection to businesses for emergency related communication.
* To make it easier for businesses to access state services & resources.
* To provide the latest cross-agency news affecting small businesses.


"Published by The Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance? [ [link removed] ]"

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"Contact the newsletter team at:[email protected]."

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