The purpose of this NOFO is to fund nonprofit small business support organization’s capacity-building proposals that enhance existing programs or support the development of new programs and services for Washington County businesses and entrepreneurs. The goal is to strengthen economic resiliency across our diverse small business community in Washington County. Funding will prioritize services for communities disproportionately impacted by the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x, immigrant and refugee communities and others.

Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency and corresponding economic downturn, Washington County has been proactively responding with a range of small business support programs. In 2020, the County allocated millions in Federal CARES Act and other funds for small businesses, either directly or through partnerships with a variety of entities—cities, community based-organizations (CBOs), and others. Initially, the County focused on responding to the immediate needs of the small business community by providing emergency aid as well as guidance and resources for safe reopening. This included collaborating with community partners to provide culturally specific resources. One component of these response efforts was the formation of rapid response hubs, or Business Recover Centers (BRCs). By partnering with business support organizations, the BRC’s led efforts to support small businesses through the early stages of the pandemic. The BRCs helped small businesses access free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and acted as a one-stop triage unit where small business and entrepreneurs could get select business assistance services or referrals to other specialized business support organizations.

Recognizing the negative economic impacts of the pandemic and the disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities, in September of 2021 the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Washington County Economic Development Program for small businesses and entrepreneurs with a focus on equity. Guided by the BCC adopted, nationally recognized ARPA framework (See Appendix A: Resources), an allocation of funds was made available for enhanced business support services tailored to communities disproportionately impacted by the negative impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. Depending on resource availability, these include funding capacity building efforts for nonprofit small business support organizations who offer technical assistance and/or culturally specific services to those communities.

Working Definitions

Washington County uses the following working definitions in developing our funding approach to an equitable economic recovery. These definitions are presented to support organizations as they develop their proposals for submission.

Capacity building

• In the context of this funding opportunity, capacity building refers to efforts aimed at strengthening an organization’s operations, existing expertise, and resources to increase the quality of service and the number of people served.

Economic resiliency

• A community’s ability to foresee, adapt to, and leverage changing economic conditions so that they have the capacity to respond to whatever chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience and emerge stronger, improving the conditions of people’s environments over time.

Equitable economic development

• Economic development promotes economic well-being and improves quality of life outcomes in communities by creating and retaining jobs, enhancing wealth, and providing a stable tax base. Equitable economic development is achieved when every member of the community is able to share in and benefit from economic growth taking into account historic barriers to access, current conditions, and persistent racial disparities.

Citations

Interactive Capacity Guide (candid.org)

Strategies to Bolster Economic Resilience (naco.org)

Social Determinants of Health - Healthy People 2030 (health.gov)

100 Resilient Cities - The Rockefeller Foundation (rockefellerfoundation.org)

International Economic Development Council (iedconline.org)

GARE Equitable Development (racialequityalliance.org)