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King County board sets launch plan for $50,000 small-business grant program
Summary
The King County Economic Opportunity Board refined rules for a $50,000 business development grant program — endorsing a $20,000 per-project cap, a 1:1 matching requirement and a May 1 target opening for pre-applications and full applications via Google Sites/Forms.
The King County Economic Opportunity Board on April 7 finalized key details of a $50,000 business development grant program designed to support existing small businesses across the county.
Board staff told members the county has $50,000 set aside for the program and outlined a two-step application process: a brief pre-application to screen candidates and a full application that will require a business plan, project budget spreadsheet and documentation showing the applicant’s required 1:1 match. "We have $50,000 set aside for the program," a staff member said during the discussion.
To spread the funding among multiple recipients, the board agreed a preliminary per-applicant cap of $20,000. Staff explained that a $20,000 cap with a 1:1 match creates projects that typically total about $40,000 and would allow multiple awards from the $50,000 pool.
The board also settled on logistics for intake and review. Members agreed to host program materials on a county landing page built with Google Sites and collect applications through Google Forms that will implement the pre-application and full-application workflow. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to give a roughly five-minute presentation to the board before final selection.
Although the county commission previously approved the funding, board members confirmed that this board will determine awardees. Staff said the campaign will be marketed through county email updates, the chamber of commerce and social media; the communications team will prepare flyers if needed. The group targeted May 1 as the opening date for applications if website and marketing copy are ready on schedule.
Staff emphasized program rules that will be enforced in the full application: itemized budgets, a breakdown of grant versus matching funds, and a rule barring reimbursement for work done or invoices issued prior to the start of the grant program.
Next steps: staff will finalize the Google form and landing page text, circulate materials to board members for quick review, and proceed toward a May 1 application opening if the materials are complete.
