Support for POC and Women-Owned Businesses
The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is proud to partner with the City of Tacoma and Comcast to help bring more support to our POC and female business community! The mission of the Thrive Tacoma Business Fund is to provide direct financial support for small POC-owned and women-owned businesses, many of which are still struggling with the impacts of COVID-19.
Grants will be awarded to qualified applicants on a lottery basis. 20 grants of $5,000 each will be awarded.
The fund is made possible by a generous donation from Comcast, and is administered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber in partnership with Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Mi Centro, and The Black Collective.
Grants will be awarded to qualified applicants on a lottery basis. 20 grants of $5,000 each will be awarded.
The fund is made possible by a generous donation from Comcast, and is administered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber in partnership with Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Mi Centro, and The Black Collective.
Requirements:
To request funds, you must meet the program requirements, submit required documentation, and submit your application by August 31st, 2023 at 11:59pm PST. Funds are available on a limited basis to POC and female small business owners operating in the City of Tacoma. Submitting an application is not a guarantee of assistance. For your privacy, information collected will remain confidential, used only to meet record-keeping requirements, and withheld as applicable from disclosure.
The minimum requirements are (businesses must meet each requirement to be eligible for the Thrive Tacoma Business Fund):
To request funds, you must meet the program requirements, submit required documentation, and submit your application by August 31st, 2023 at 11:59pm PST. Funds are available on a limited basis to POC and female small business owners operating in the City of Tacoma. Submitting an application is not a guarantee of assistance. For your privacy, information collected will remain confidential, used only to meet record-keeping requirements, and withheld as applicable from disclosure.
The minimum requirements are (businesses must meet each requirement to be eligible for the Thrive Tacoma Business Fund):
- Your business must be physically located within Tacoma city limits (areas such as Fircrest, University Place, Parkland, etc. do not qualify)
- A majority (51%) of your business ownership must identify as POC or women
- Your business must have 15 or fewer employees
- Your business must be for-profit (Nonprofit organizations are not eligible)
- Your businesses must have a current City of Tacoma business license active or renewed prior to the application period (July 24th, 2023)
- Your businesses must have been in operation on or before 9/12/22
If you need assistance completing the application please contact Sydney Forrest at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
sydneyf@tacomachamber.org or (253) 627 2175
Or contact one of the following organizations for assistance:
sydneyf@tacomachamber.org or (253) 627 2175
Or contact one of the following organizations for assistance:
- The Black Collective:
Michael Jordan
Business Operations Specialist
(253) 993-0885
mjordan@bcbnavigator.org
- Asia Pacific Cultural Center:
Faaluaina Pritchard
(253) 383-3900
faaluaina@asiapacificculturalcenter.org
- Mi Centro:
Jennifer Ochoa
253-301-8567
Jennifer.ochoa@micentrowa.org
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Are businesses located in areas such as Fircrest, University Place, and Lakewood eligible to apply?
No. Only businesses located within the Tacoma city limits are eligible for this fund. You can check to see if your business is located within the Tacoma city limits here.
Are home-based businesses and mobile businesses such as food trucks eligible to apply?
Yes, home-based and mobile businesses are eligible if the business has a City of Tacoma business license.
Are non-profit organizations eligible to apply?
No, this fund is available only to for-profit businesses.
What documentation will I need to provide for eligibility?
In order to be selected as a recipient for this fund you will need to provide an up-to-date W9 form for your business and a copy of your City of Tacoma business license. Note: your City of Tacoma business license is different than a State of Washington business license. You must have a City of Tacoma business license that is active or renewed prior to the application period beginning 7/24/23.
How do I check if I have a City of Tacoma business license and where can I find it?
You can call the City of Tacoma Tax & License Office to see if you have a current Tacoma business license at (253) 591-5252. You can print a copy of your Tacoma business license here.
How will recipients be chosen?
Once the application period closes, recipients will be chosen via a random lottery system and notified through the contact information provided on the application.
Are businesses located in areas such as Fircrest, University Place, and Lakewood eligible to apply?
No. Only businesses located within the Tacoma city limits are eligible for this fund. You can check to see if your business is located within the Tacoma city limits here.
Are home-based businesses and mobile businesses such as food trucks eligible to apply?
Yes, home-based and mobile businesses are eligible if the business has a City of Tacoma business license.
Are non-profit organizations eligible to apply?
No, this fund is available only to for-profit businesses.
What documentation will I need to provide for eligibility?
In order to be selected as a recipient for this fund you will need to provide an up-to-date W9 form for your business and a copy of your City of Tacoma business license. Note: your City of Tacoma business license is different than a State of Washington business license. You must have a City of Tacoma business license that is active or renewed prior to the application period beginning 7/24/23.
How do I check if I have a City of Tacoma business license and where can I find it?
You can call the City of Tacoma Tax & License Office to see if you have a current Tacoma business license at (253) 591-5252. You can print a copy of your Tacoma business license here.
How will recipients be chosen?
Once the application period closes, recipients will be chosen via a random lottery system and notified through the contact information provided on the application.
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Comcast, through Comcast Rise, is a major donor to the Thrive Tacoma Business Fund.
Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment. These are the cornerstones of Comcast RISE, a multi-year commitment to provide grants, marketing, creative, media, and technology services to small businesses owned by people of color including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American among others or women. |
