Aug 6, 2025 | Community Activities, Economic Development, Education, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Mentoring, Networking, Starting a Business
By Jacquie Goodwill The longest running all-government- and non-profit-run small business fair in Washington State. The journey to starting your business often feels like a long and winding road trip. There seems to be so many proverbial stops along your route before...
Jun 1, 2023 | Access to Capital, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Starting a Business
I usually quote George Carlin, but here’s a recent banger from Harvard’s Kennedy School: Although nearly 40% of all privately held firms in the United States are founded by women, only 2% of U.S. venture capital financing is allocated to female-founded firms. Read...
Sep 7, 2022 | Access to Capital, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Rebuilding a Business, Starting a Business
Are you a small business owner in need of some jet fuel to boost your website? A new Commerce program may have up to $4,000 worth of free jet fuel for you. Whether you need an e-commerce site built from scratch, are already selling online locally or nationally, or...
Aug 2, 2022 | Access to Capital, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Rebuilding a Business
There could be funding available to your small business. We’re looking at you, restauranteurs in Benton County. And martial artists in Thurston County, contractors in Walla Walla, stylists in Yakima, and a beloved movie theater in Stevens County. Those are just a few...
Jun 1, 2022 | Access to Capital, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Networking, Rebuilding a Business, Starting a Business
One of the biggest advantages of joining the Department of Commerce has been gleefully learning about the state’s lesser-known resources. These smaller, inaudible humming engines do great things to empower and incentivize businesses owned by minorities, women...
May 2, 2022 | Access to Capital, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Starting a Business, Uncategorized
Unless you’re to the manor born, the biggest challenge your small business can face is access to capital. Seed money, dough to grow, pump-priming startup funds. Banks typically don’t like to fund entrepreneurs needing less than $50,000. No one should ever use a credit...
