Washington Coronavirus Response Business Resilience Newsletter
In this issue...






* COVID-19 Updates [ #COVID ]
* Great Shake Out Day [ #shake ]
* Training, Workshops & Events [ #training ]



* Workers Comp & Minimum Wage Updates [ #wc ]
*

New Supplier Diversity Procurement Policy [ #des ]




* Flex Fund Program Extended [ #flex ]
* SOC Code Reporting [ #soc ]
* SBRR [ #sbrr ]
* Feedback [ #feedback ]





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COVID-19 Updates
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COVID-19 Case Numbers as of 11:59 pm on October 4th

* Confirmed Cases:?1,820,468
* COVID-19 Deaths:14,284?

For the most recent number of cases by county, demographics, and more statistics, visit the Dept. of Health COVID-19 Data Dashboard [ [link removed] ].

?

COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Expires Oct. 31st but the?Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) will Remain in Place?

Governor Jay Inslee has announced plans to lift the COVID-19 state of emergency Oct. 31. Though the Washington state emergency orders are ending, coronavirus remains a workplace hazard and employers must take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.?


* Learn more about HELSA [ [link removed] ]
* Learn more about Governor Inslee's plan? [ [link removed] ]

?

Safety & Accident Prevention Programs?must include?COVID Protocols

Every employer is required to create a written Accident Prevention Program (APP) to address the safety and health hazards found in their workplace. Businesses must now make sure that their safety plan (APP) includes COVID protocols. [ [link removed] ]


* COVID-19 Basic Requirements for All Workplaces [ [link removed] ]
* Accident Prevention Program Resources [ [link removed] ]
* Sample Safety Programs & Plans [ [link removed] ]
* Request Consultation [ [link removed] ]





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WA Health Benefit Exchange - "WaHealthPlanFinder"
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2023 Open Enrollment Starts Nov 1st

Open enrollment (Nov. 1 ? Jan. 15) is when Washingtonians can sign up for health and dental coverage on "Washington Healthplanfinder" for the following plan year.?

You and your employees can shop, compare, and select a plan that fits your individual budget and health care needs.

In addition to federal tax credits, a new state subsidy, Cascade Care Savings [ [link removed] ], is available for 2023 and may further lower monthly premium costs. Customers must enroll in a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan and meet income requirements to qualify.


*

Assisters are available [ [link removed] ] to help answer questions, shop plans,

understand financial help, and get you enrolled.


*

How can you support your employees sign up for health coverage?

Contact:[email protected].

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






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Dept. of Labor & Industries
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Proposed Increase in Workers' Comp Rates for 2023

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is proposing a 4.8% increase in the average price employers and workers pay for workers' compensation insurance next year. If adopted, the increase would mean employers and workers would jointly pay an additional $61 a year, on average, for each full-time employee within a business.

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]


Minimum Wage for 2023 to be $15.74 per hour

The 8.66 percent rise is directly linked to the cost of common goods such as housing, food, and medical care as reflected in the Consumer Price Index.

*Read More* [ [link removed] ]






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Employment Security Dept.
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Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)

Code Reporting Requirements

SOC is a federal coding system that helps government agencies and private businesses compare occupational data.??All employers must report SOC codes when they submit their quarterly unemployment tax reports starting with their fourth quarter 2022 report.

Reporting SOC codes is?*now required*, but don?t worry, ESD is here to help!


* View our most recent webinar?slide deck [ [link removed] ].
* Search [ [link removed] ]?for occupational titles and codes.
* Questions? [email protected].

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






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Department of Commerce
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Flex Fund Program Extended through March 2023

The Small Business Flex Fund launched last year as part of a pandemic recovery program. The Fund currently has nearly *$45 million in available loans *for eligible small businesses, and they have extended application deadlines through *March 2023* so that more business owners can take advantage of this unique public-private partnership.


* Frequently Asked Questions [ [link removed] ]
* Borrowers' Stories [ [link removed] ]
* Get Support [ [link removed] ]

*Apply Now* [ [link removed] ]






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Emergency Management Division?
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The Great WA Shake Out ? Earthquake Drill & Tsunami Siren Test

We encourage people to drop, cover and hold on wherever they are ? work, home, school, walking in park or at a shopping mall. Practicing builds muscle memory for when the real earthquake comes. If Oct. 20 does not work for you, you can take part at a time that is more convenient for you - it is most important that you just practice.

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






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Dept. of Enterprise Services
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Increased Equity for?Small, Diverse, Veteran-Owned Businesses

Using small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses by state government has been low for 20 years. Last fiscal year, state government spent $817 million on goods and services through DES-managed contracts. Less than 1% of that amount was with businesses that are owned by women, people in racial minorities and veterans. Only 6.8% of that amount was with small businesses. The data clearly shows that what we are doing right now does not work.

The success of small, minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses makes Washington?s economy and our families more resilient, strengthens our communities and improves the quality of life for all Washingtonians.


* The new enterprise supplier diversity procurement policy takes effect April 1, 2023.
* It requires all state agencies to include supplier diversity considerations in all aspects of their goods and services procurements.
* The goal for this new policy is durable change.
*

Get email alerts [ [link removed] ] about opportunities for small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses to get contracts training and opportunities.?

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]






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Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance
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Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR)

Free Workshops

SBRR workshops are provided by members of the?Washington state Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT). [ [link removed] ]

The workshops provide helpful information around the regulatory relationship with the government and requirements that businesses can use to save unwarranted penalties, and teach best practices, bottom line cost-saving programs, business solutions, consulting services, and more.

?

*"Start Your Business in WA"?*


* Next live webinar is *Tuesday, Dec. 6th, 2022 at noon*
* Click Here to Register Online [ [link removed] ]

"*Grow Your Business in WA* "


* As a pre-recorded video:?Watch Here [ [link removed] ]
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View Event Calendars & Training Opportunties
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Office of Minority's & Women's Business Enterprises [ [link removed] ]

Washington Center for Women in Business [ [link removed] ]

SCORE [ [link removed] ]

Washington Small Business Development Center [ [link removed] ]

Dept. of Labor & Industries [ [link removed] ]

Dept. of Revenue [ [link removed] ]

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Newsletter Team
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This newsletter is a collaborative effort by the following state agencies:


* The Governor?s Office [ [link removed] ]
* Department of Commerce [ [link removed] ]
* Employment Security Department [ [link removed] ]
* Department of Labor & Industries [ [link removed] ]
* Secretary of State?s Office [ [link removed] ]
* Department of Revenue [ [link removed] ]
* Emergency Management Division of the Military Department [ [link removed] ]

*Our mission:*


* Preserve the connection to businesses that have been established as a resource for future emergencies.
* Make it easier for businesses to access the state services they need.

We intend to provide a newsletter?that caters to businesses by providing multi-agency content related to doing business in WA. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be a special focus on the impacts the pandemic has on businesses.? This Newsletter is not intended to replace agency newsletters, instead, it will aggregate cross-agency business-related information.

"This Newsletter is published by the Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance [ [link removed] ] (ORIA). Content contributors are limited to state agencies we do not accept content from other sources."

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