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New Economic and Business Resilience Newsletter Header [ [link removed] ]




Washington state Department of Labor and Industries [ [link removed] ]
Department of Labor & Industries

lni.wa.gov [ [link removed] ]



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Minimum wage increase coming in 2026

Increase also changes minimum salary for overtime exempt workers

Washington's minimum wage will rise by 2.8% next year to $17.13 per hour, effective January 1, 2026.

State law requires L&I to calculate the minimum wage for the coming year using the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) [ [link removed] ]. L&I compares the CPI-W from August of the previous year to August of the current year to determine if a change is needed. L&I adjusts the minimum wage based on the percentage increase in the CPI-W.

For 2026, all employers must pay overtime exempt workers at least 2.25 times the minimum wage. That means an exempt employee will have to earn at least $1,541.70 a week ($80,168.40 a year).

Click the button below to read the lastest News Release.

*Read More* [ [link removed] ]






Office for Minority and Women's Business Enterprises logo [ [link removed] ]
Office of Minority & Women's Business Enterprises

omwbe.wa.gov [ [link removed] ]



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Virtual Small Business Lending Series Sessions 3 & 4 [ [link removed] ]

*Virtual Small Business Lending Series Sessions 3 & 4*

This series is an on-going effort to address access to capital for small businesses. Connect with small business lenders participating in the Linked Deposit and other loan programs. 

*Why should you attend?** *


* Learn about loan programs for your stage in business.
* Access to capital for early-stage businesses and those thinking about starting a business *(Session 3)*.
* Access to capital for established businesses to fund business growth, mobilize new project(s), or stabilize cash flow fluctuations* (Session 4)*.

*Join us from:*


* 10AM -11:30 a.m. on October 23rd for *Session 3* | Register Here [ [link removed] ] 
* 3PM - 4:30 p.m. on October 23rd for *Session 4* | Register Here [ [link removed] ] 

For more information, contact [email protected].






WAHBE Corporate Logo [ [link removed] ]
Washington Healthplanfinder

wahbexchange.org [ [link removed] ]



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2026 Open enrollment is coming, Nov. 1!  

Open enrollment is the time to sign up for health and dental insurance on Washington Healthplanfinder™ for the 2026 plan year. Small Business owners can shop, compare and select an individual plan that fits their budget and health care needs.

Monthly savings are available for eligible households and are only available through Washington Healthplanfinder. Customers are encouraged to visit wahealthplanfinder.org [ [link removed] ] or connect with a trusted resource in their community [ [link removed] ] early to learn what savings and plans are available to them.

Small business owners don’t forget to share this information with your employees and ensure they have the coverage they need for 2026!

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






Washington state Department of Enterprise Services [ [link removed] ]
Department of Enterprise Services

des.wa.gov [ [link removed] ]



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State Contracting Opportunities & Open House

Our State Contracting Opportunities & Open House is a monthly free training for small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses. Join us to discuss a variety of topics, including:


* Introduction to state contracting
* How to find upcoming contracting opportunities
* Where to get technical assistance
* Where to find additional training

And, of course, we allot time to answer your questions.

*Next session:*


* Thursday, October 16, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
* Virtual via Microsoft Teams | Register Here [ [link removed] ]

We look forward to seeing you. Please share with your networks!






Washington Secretary of State [ [link removed] ]
Corporations & Charities Division

sos.wa.gov/corps [ [link removed] ]



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*NEW! UPDATED FEE*

Same Day Service Fee for in-person services conducted at our Tumwater office

The Same Day Service Fee of $150 will take effect on *Wednesday, October 8, 2025*.  The Same Day Service Fee increased 10/1/2023 per WAC 434-112-080 [ [link removed] ]. System limitations delayed implementation of the full increase.

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Keeping your business information current

Business owners should update information - such as registered agent details, principal office addresses, and contact emails - whenever changes occur, not only during Annual Report filings [ [link removed] ]. This will ensure you receive important notices promptly and assist in keeping your business in good standing in Washington.

If you need to update your information outside your Annual Report filing period, submit a Statement of Change for Registered Agent updates. If you also need to update the principal office address, file an Amended Annual Report. Both can be filed through our online filing system (CCFS) [ [link removed] ].






Washington state Department of Social and Health Services [ [link removed] ]
Department of Social & Health Services

dshs.wa.gov [ [link removed] ]



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Reporting Bonuses and Lump-Sum Payments to the Division of Child Support

As an employer, you are required to report bonuses and lump-sum payments over $500 to the Division of Child Support if your employee has a current Washington state withholding order that includes a payment amount for past-due support. Lump-sum payments include bonuses, vacation cash-outs, severance, and commissions.

To learn more, visit DCS’s webpage [ [link removed] ] or contact us at [email protected] or 360-664-5338.






Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance [ [link removed] ]
Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance

business.wa.gov [ [link removed] ]



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Small Business Resources & Requirements

Free Workshops

Small Business Liaison Team Circle Logo

The Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT) [ [link removed] ] is a partnership of 29 state agencies working to improve access to regulatory information, education, and agency resources for business communities across the state of Washington.

The Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR) [ [link removed] ] free workshops provide vital information on regulatory requirements, state permits, business structures, employee hiring and retention, and available resources to help businesses grow and thrive.



Starting a Business in Washington - Live Webinar

Join this free, one-hour webinar to gain essential knowledge for starting a business in Washington. It covers planning, registration, and licensing requirements. You'll also connect with members of the Small Business Liaison Team, your go-to resource for navigating the complexities of regulatory requirements and enhancing your business practices.

*Webinar Details*


* *When:* Wednesday November 5, 2025 | 1-2 p.m.
* *Where:* Via Zoom | Register Here [ [link removed] ] 

To learn more about upcoming webinars and workshops, click the button below.

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]


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The Small Business Guide

The Small Business Guide [ [link removed] ] is broken into six sections, based on your stage of business. Whether you’re launching a new business, managing an existing one, or looking to expand, you’ll discover valuable information and resources here. The guide offers essential details, links to important resources, and a clear outline of the steps needed to start and run a business in Washington State.

Small Business Guide [ [link removed] ]

The Small Business Guide is now available in the following languages:

English [ [link removed] ], Spanish [ [link removed] ], Russian [ [link removed] ], Korean [ [link removed] ], Vietnamese [ [link removed] ], Samoan [ [link removed] ], Somali [ [link removed] ], and Tagalog [ [link removed] ], Ukrainian [ [link removed] ],  and two volumes in Braille Ready Format Braille - Volume 1 [ [link removed] ] and Braille - Volume 2 [ [link removed] ].






Impact Washington Manufacturing Month [ [link removed] ]

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October is Manufacturing Month – a time to recognize the vital role manufacturers play in Washington's economy and communities.

In Washington, manufacturing is more than just production — it’s a cornerstone of our economy:


* The sector contributed an economic output of *$68.3 Billion *in 2024, comprising 8% of Washington state GDP.
* Nearly *276,000 people* work in manufacturing employed by 7K manufacturers, earning on average *$114,639 annually*, among the highest manufacturing annual earnings in the country.
* Our state is home to a diverse mix of industries, from aerospace and wood products to food processing and advanced manufacturing.

*Explore the events for Manufacturing Month by clicking the button below!*

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






Find Events & Training Opportunities





* SBA: Upcoming Events Calendar* [ [link removed] ]


*SCORE: Business Training* [ [link removed] ]


*WSBDC: Events Calendar* [ [link removed] ]




*OMWBE: Workshops & Events* [ [link removed] ]


*OMWBE: Bids & Contracting Opportunities* [ [link removed] ]


*WCWB: Events* [ [link removed] ]




*L&I: Workshops & Training Center* [ [link removed] ]


*DOR: Events & Workshops* [ [link removed] ]


*DES: Events & Meetings* [ [link removed] ]






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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] ]

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