Economic and business Resilience Newsletter




January 2024





Dept. of Commerce

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Startup Washington Blog [ [link removed] ]

Making and keeping business resolutions for the coming year is a powerful strategy that can propel you toward greater growth and success. In an ever-evolving business landscape, adaptability and innovation are key.?

Visit the Startup Blog for five practical Small Business New Year?s Resolutions for 2024 and more helpful tips for your business.

*Visit Startup Washington* [ [link removed] ]






Department of Enterprise Services

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Washington state Dept. of Enterprise Services [ [link removed] ]
How About Doing Business With the State?

State agencies are actively seeking to spend money with small, diverse,?and veteran-owned Washington businesses*.*?

*What qualifies as a small, diverse, or veteran-owned business?*


* Small business means the primary location is in Washington state and the business has 50 or fewer employees or a gross annual revenue of less than $7 million.?
*

Diverse businesses?are at least 51% owned by minorities, women, and other under-represented communities.


*

Veteran-Owned businesses are incorporated in Washington and must be at least 51% owned by a veteran to qualify for certification.

*Learn more about state contracting:*


* Attend a free, virtual webinar:?State Contracting Opportunities & Open House. [ [link removed] ]
* Get?tips for small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses [ [link removed] ].
* Register in?Washington's Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) [ [link removed] ]

*Featured contracting opportunities:*


* _Flooring and Installation Services [ [link removed] ]_
* _Paint, Paint Supplies & Painting Services [ [link removed] ]_
* _Vehicle Maintenance and Repair [ [link removed] ]_
* _IT Project Management Services [ [link removed] ]_

Stay informed and subscribe to the??monthly email bulletin for small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses [ [link removed] ].

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Office of Minority & Women's Business Enterprises

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OMWBE and Bayley Construction [ [link removed] ]
Certification with Bayley Construction

*How to Get Certified and How It Could Help Your Business*

Bayley Construction, in partnership with Washington State Office of Minority & Women?s Business Enterprises (OMWBE), is hosting an in-person event for small, diverse businesses to learn about the benefits of OMWBE certification.

This Certification 101 event is open to non-certified businesses and certified businesses and will provide an overview of the certification process and how it can help small businesses thrive by increasing access to government contracting.


* *When:* February 7, 2024 | 11AM ? 1PM PST
* *Where:* 8005 SE 28th Street, Mercer Island, WA 98040
* Light refreshments will be provided.
* *Register Here [ [link removed] ]*

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Secretary of State
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Annual Reports May Be Filed Up to 180 Days Early

*Have You Looked To See When Your Expiration Date Is?*


*

Is Your Annual Report Due? [ [link removed] ]

To ensure your business's smooth operation, filing your annual report promptly is crucial. By doing so, you can avoid delinquency fees and prevent the loss of your business. Our office allows you to file your report 180 days before the due date.

We encourage customers to use a calendar reminder every year to get their report in well before to mitigate any risk of delinquency or loss of status/business.

This will not affect your expiration date for the next year, your business' expiration day will always remain the last day of the month it first formed, registered, or incorporated. Most Annual Reports update the business?s record immediately.


* What is an Annual Report? [ [link removed] ]
* File online using the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) [ [link removed] ]
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Looking For The Most Up-To-Date Information?

*Check Out Our Website For Alerts and Important Notifications!*

New information, alerts, and possible system outages will be provided on the Corporations & Charities Division webpage at www.sos.wa.gov/corporations [ [link removed] ].

You can also find helpful tips, reminders, and general filing information through our Frequently Asked Questions [ [link removed] ]. Our dedicated customer service representatives are readily available to answer questions via chat, telephone, or email.?

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Employment Security Dept.
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Paid Leave: Collective Bargaining Agreements Provision Expired Dec. 31

*More Workers Will Be Eligible To Participate in 2024*

The Paid Leave law [ [link removed] ]?about collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) has changed. Workers who were previously excluded from Paid Leave because of a CBA are eligible for the program beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

Visit paidleave.wa.gov/CBA [ [link removed] ]?to learn what you need to do in 2024 to collect premiums and submit reports for these employees.

"Note: This CBA change only applies to Paid Leave. These employees are excluded from the WA Cares Fund until the CBA expires or is opened or renegotiated."

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Unemployment Insurance (UI): Changes for Tax Reporting

If you file a UI tax report, you will soon have the option to include *either* job titles *or* Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes for each employee. This option will start with your fourth-quarter 2023 tax report.

All employers currently are required to include on quarterly tax reports the SOC codes [ [link removed] ] for their employees. Starting with your fourth-quarter report, our system will include a place to enter job titles.

*Job titles and SOC codes are different*

A SOC code is a six-digit number that describes someone?s work. A job title is a word or several words that describes a person?s role in a business.

Since SOC codes are numbers, they are easier to use. Job titles vary across employers. They are useful when a job is:


* Unique or new.
* Isn?t included in the list of SOC [ [link removed] ] codes.

*Reporting penalties begin in 2024*

Starting with your first-quarter 2024 tax report, we need to assess a penalty if you knowingly fail to report the SOC code or job title for each employee.

Washington state law requires that we assess this penalty, per Substitute House Bill 2308 [ [link removed] ].






Dept. of Labor & Industries
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*Ready to Develop a Return to Work Plan?? *

*Schedule An Early Return To Work Consultation Today!*

Early Return to Work Consultation is a team of highly skilled professionals that can help employers build and implement a return-to-work program at their business. Services also include educating employers about L&I?s financial incentives programs, creating light duty opportunities, conducting ergonomic evaluations, and completing job analyses and non-claim-specific job descriptions. ?

*Schedule a no-cost consultation:*


* "Build a Return to Work Plan for Your Business [ [link removed] ]"

*Register for an upcoming webinar:*


* "Prepare for the Unexpected: How to Develop a Return to Work Culture. [ [link removed] ]"

*Register for an in person training at L&I?s Tumwater headquarters:*


* Contractor Training Day, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, [ [link removed] ]?the session's title is:?"Build a Healthy Business! Learn How to Develop a Return to Work Plan."





Dept. of Revenue
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DOR has several events throughout the year aimed to assist businesses with their tax reporting responsibilities and questions. We offer a variety of in-person, virtual and pre-recorded classes. Visit dor.wa.gov/Education [ [link removed] ] to sign up today.






Washington Health Benefit Exchange
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*Time Is Running Out To Get Health Coverage For 2024!*

Washingtonians have until Jan. 15th to sign up for health and dental plans on "Washington Healthplanfinder" [ [link removed] ] for the 2024 plan year. Don?t miss the chance to get the coverage you and your employees need!

Federal and state subsidies are available to lower an eligible customer?s monthly cost of insurance. Visit "wahealthplanfinder.org" [ [link removed] ] to learn more about available savings and find the right plan!

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

*Need help enrolling?* We have assisters throughout the state available to help at no cost with application questions, understanding tax credits and signing up for coverage.


* Find a Washington Healthplanfinder Assister [ [link removed] ]

*Questions on how you can support your employees sign up for health coverage? *


* Contact [email protected].

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance (ORIA)

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ORIA Mission, Vision [ [link removed] ]
The Information Center (IC) Team?

*Let Us Do the Research For You!*

The Information Center (IC) Team is a free customer service center available by phone, text, chat and email, and a great place for entrepreneurs and small businesses to ask questions regarding starting or operating a business. Our team of professionals are friendly, expert researchers, and eager to provide information and connect you with programs, training, and resources to help you achieve your goals.?

*Contact the IC Team* [ [link removed] ]

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Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR)

Business.wa.gov [ [link removed] ]

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

?

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



*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]

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Small Business Guide

Washington state Small Business Guide [ [link removed] ]

The *Small Business Guide * [ [link removed] ]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'll find valuable information and resources.

?

The business guide is readily accessible online, but it's 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.



*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] ]
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Are You Ready to Export??

Embark on your export journey with confidence! Discover your partners and unlock essential resources and tools to support you every step of the way. Join us for an enlightening webinar where you?ll learn that expanding into international trade doesn?t have to be a solo experience.

The Washington SBDC International Trade Certified Business Advisors [ [link removed] ] are NASBITE Certified Global Business Professionals and have additional experience in mentoring businesses and professional development in international trade. We are here to help you navigate the complexities of international trade and establish a strategic plan for meeting short-term and long-term goals.

This week's webinar will feature a conversation with Washington SBDC advisors Christy Mastin [ [link removed] ], Allan Peterson [ [link removed] ] and Ellie He [ [link removed] ].


* Wednesday, January 24, 2024| 10 am - 11 am PST
* *Register Here [ [link removed] ]*
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Wednesday Webinar Series [ [link removed] ] with SBA Seattle District Office [ [link removed] ] is an ongoing series of free, virtual, webinars covering a variety of topics to benefit small business owners.

On the fourth Wednesday of each month is Are You Ready to Export? [ [link removed] ] where we will be focusing on export assistance, featuring conversations with different members of the Washington Export Outreach Team (WEOT). [ [link removed] ]?






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

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

*Our Mission:*

* 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] ]"*

*Contact the newsletter team at:?"[email protected]. <[email protected]>"*


ORIA Connecting People with Information






Stay Connected with ORIA:
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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of the Governor / Office of Financial Management ??PO Box 40002 ? Olympia, WA ??98504-0002 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]