Resources for Businesses

Last updated January 27, 2022. Please check back for updates as more resources are identified.  

COVID-19: Resources and Relief for Businesses

This page is dedicated to help businesses stay in business. For additional support, please contact:  

James Palmer
Economic Development Specialist
Email James Palmer
360-631-0050

Reopening Guidance for Business and Workers

On June 30, 2021, Washington state fully reopened under the Washington Ready guidance, and all industry sectors previously covered by the Roadmap to Recovery Phased Reopening (with limited exceptions for spectator events) returned to usual capacity and operations. Washington Ready guidelines did change guidelines regarding the use of facial coverings, which will continue under current guidance.

Spectator Events

Governor Inslee announced specific guidance for spectator events on September 28, 2021. Details regarding these guidelines are available here.

Monroe CARES Grant Program

On Wednesday, June 17, the City of Monroe announced the establishment of of the Monroe CARES grant program to disburse $110,000 in CARES Act funds to businesses and non-profits affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The program will disburse funds through two grant programs: The Small Business Relief Grant will make available $60,000 for Monroe businesses, and the Community Relief Grant will make available an additional $50,000 for non-profit organizations that serve Monroe’s most vulnerable residents. 

Guidelines, eligibility information and the application for the Small Business Relief Grant can be found on the grant’s webpage.

Community Relief Grant guidelines and eligibility criteria are under development and will be announced in early July.

Monroe Business Newsletters

The June 2020 Monroe Economic Development Special Phase 2 Newsletter includes important updates for businesses reopening in Phase 2. Governor Inslee announced on Friday, June 5 that Snohomish County would be moving to Phase 2 effective immediately. This special edition newsletter provides details and links to general and industry-specific guidelines businesses must follow to reopen in Phase 2, and helpful information for businesses to confirm or ascertain their maximum capacity details.

The June 2020 Monroe Economic Development Business Newsletter includes important updates on Snohomish County’s application for a variance to advance to Phase II, financial resource and assistance programs, and announcements regarding events taking place in Monroe.

The May 2020 Monroe Economic Development Business Newsletter includes important updates regarding the Safe Start Washington phased economic reopening, the metrics used to determine the appropriate time to transition between phases, guidance for businesses reopening in Phase 1 and much more.

Resources for Monroe Businesses and Workers

This document will help Monroe Businesses and their workers identify and navigate the various Federal, State and local assistance programs being made available during the COVID-19 crisis.  These programs include loans, grants and special considerations for filing taxes and unemployment insurance for businesses as well as information on extended and enhanced unemployment benefits, cash grants, payment moratoriums, student loan relief and other programs for individual workers.

The city hosted a Virtual Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, April 14, in which Mayor Geoffrey Thomas and Economic Development Specialist James Palmer provided further details of the relief programs described in the Business Resources section below. Click here to access the presentation from the Town Hall.

Essential Business vs. Non-Essential Business 

On March 23, 2020, Governor Inslee issued a Proclamation directing all residents immediately to heed current State public health directives to stay home, except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors and additional sectors as the State Public Health Officer may designate as critical to protect health and well-being of all Washingtonians. This order goes into effect Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at midnight (2400 hrs).

If your business provides an essential service please register with the State using this form. While registering does not guarantee you will be permitted to operate, it provides consistency about how these decisions are made. We are awaiting additional details about how the order will be implemented.

Business Resources

There is relief available, and resources to help you better understand COVID-19 from a business perspective.

Federal

State 

Local 

US Chamber of Commerce announces Save Small Business Fund

The US Chamber of Commerce has announced the Save Small Business Fund to provide grants to US small businesses in "economically vulnerable communities" impacted by the COVID-19 shut down (the entire 98272 zip code qualifies). These grants will be on a "rolling basis" meaning a first come first serve basis while funds are available. To qualify you must:

  • Employ between 3 and 20 people
  • Be located in an economically vulnerable community
  • Have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic

The application process opened on April 20; visit the Save Small Business Fund page for more information and to apply.

Working Washington Grant Application Closed

The Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant administered through the Washington State Department of Commerce and Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) closed the application process on Friday, April 10th at noon. EASC received 2,298 applications, of which 145 will be forwarded to Commerce for a final cut. Monroe Businesses submitted 149 applications. The process for EASC to review and score these applications before sending up to Commerce will likely go to the end of April and be submitted to Commerce sometime early May. Awards could be expected to be announced by June.

U.S. Small Business Administration Halts Loan Funding

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that the $300+ billion funding provided in the C.A.R.E.S Act has been exhausted, and the SBA has ceased taking applications for all loans, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Additional funding programs are being debated in the House and Senate, and Congress is expected to hammer out a deal in the coming days. Should additional funding be approved, please remember that the PPP can only be applied for through an SBA-approved lending institution, and borrowers who wish to apply are directed to their lending institution. Some financial institutions are continuing to take applications, but only to fill a queue so that if and when new funding is announced, they will be ready to start processing new loans and send up to SBA immediately. Check with your financial institution to see what their procedures are for taking new applications for PPP loans. The EIDLs are applied for directly on the SBA website, which is no longer taking applications until new funding is appropriated. Keep checking back to the SBA website for the latest information on if and when they will start accepting new applications.

Garbage Service 

Republic Services has temporarily suspended mandatory garbage service for non-essential businesses that have closed during this pandemic. Please contact Republic Services for additional information.    

Join Us

Join and support our local businesses on this newly created Facebook page hosted by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
Monroe’s Delivery & Takeout Options Amid COVID19.