Most businesses out of luck for state funding

Just eight out of 34 businesses, or 34 percent, of Point Roberts businesses who applied for funding from the Working Washington Border Business Relief Program received any money from the program.

The program was part of the state’s series of Working Washington grants aimed to bring relief to businesses during the pandemic. Applications opened for two weeks in mid-October, with all businesses awarded seeing the money by the end of 2021, said department of commerce spokesperson Penny Thomas.

The eight successful grantees received a total of $130,018 in funding. Businesses  were able to request funds in $10,000 ranges up to $50,000. In funding rank (with requested amount following), the following businesses received:

Bald Eagle Golf Course

$39,000 ($40,000+)

Point Roberts Marina

$39,000 ($40,000+)

Kiniski’s Reef

$20,000 ($40,000+)

Larry’s Liquor Locker

$20,000 ($40,000+)

Perk You Up Cleaning

$6,772 ($10,000+)

BM Charmed

$3,247 ($10,000+)

Breakwaters Bar & Grill

$2,000 ($40,000+)

In Whatcom County, 107 of 455 applicants were awarded border town grants, or 23.5 percent of those who applied. Statewide, about 20 percent of applicants received the grant.

Blaine and Birch Bay businesses received $226,639 in this go-around. Whatcom County received $1.47 million in grants, meaning Blaine and Birch Bay businesses received 15.3 percent of the county’s grants.

The top recipients in Blaine and Birch Bay were:

Big Al’s

$29,000 ($40,000+)

Birch Bay Waterslides

$26,500 ($40,000+)

Tru-Line Laser Alignment

$20,000 ($20,000+)

Hill’s Chevron

$20,000 ($40,000+)

Tahara Consulting LLC

$20,000 ($40,000+)

5dpackages

$20,000 ($40,000+)

Inficom, Inc.

$15,685 ($30,000+).

Black Forest Steakhouse

$12,000 ($40,000+)

Statewide, businesses were awarded $2.6 million. Whatcom County, by far, received the most grant money and number of businesses awarded, 206, than any of the other nine counties eligible for the grant. Skagit County had the second highest number of businesses to receive grants, at 23.

Nearly one-third of the 62 Blaine and Birch Bay businesses that applied for the grant received an award.

Thomas said award amounts varied significantly because of several factors such as the department subtracting businesses’ previous Working Washington grants and the amount requested.

Grants were awarded based on whether the business was located within 20 miles of the U.S./Canada border; industries that have been greatly impacted by the closure such as retail and tourism; business size; lost revenue between 2019 and 2020 or added expenses; and businesses in rural, low-income and/or underserved communities such as minorities and veterans.