Spokane Workforce Council Introduces Business Investment Grants to Support Underserved Small Businesses

Spokane, WA – April 11, 2024 – Spokane Workforce Council is thrilled to announce the launch of the Business Investment Grants (B.I.G.) opportunity, a funding initiative that will support small businesses serving Spokane County. This program invites business owners to apply for a grant of up to $15,000 and prioritizes businesses that are 51% or more owned and operated by individuals from Black, Indigenous, and Latino/a/x communities.

Funded by the Washington State Legislature and the Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Plan, these funds will be used to address racial, economic, and social disparities created by the historic design and enforcement of state and federal criminal laws and penalties for drug possession (the war on drugs). Bianka DeSure, Program Coordinator for the B.I.G. opportunity, emphasized its significance for small business owners facing challenges to their growth.

“Spokane Workforce Council recognizes the need to address the legacies of systemic discrimination and inequity that are still having negative economic impacts across our community,” said DeSure. “This grant program is an investment in Spokane’s future and represents a tangible step towards advancing economic prosperity within communities that have historically been marginalized.”