Owners of small businesses on the Olympic Peninsula can get free professional legal and/or marketing services as well as bookkeeping classes through a new partnership.
Economic Development Council entities in Clallam, Grays Harbor and Jefferson counties, as well as Peninsula College and Grays Harbor Colleges, announced last week the roll-out of a collaborative grant program called Olympic Peninsula Small Business Boost.
The partners were awarded $1.3 million from Department of Commerce to offer free professional legal and marketing services — including simple website development — to under-served businesses within those counties through June 1, 2023.
In addition, free bookkeeping services will be available to help the small business get set up in QuickBooks.
The grant also provides online bookkeeping classes to 20-plus students living in those counties. Students will receive free online training, a monthly stipend and a laptop computer with QuickBooks and MS Office that is theirs to keep if they complete the class.
Starting in April 2023, these certified bookkeepers will work as interns at small businesses who request bookkeeping support. Each student will be supported by the colleges’ technical experts and will earn $50 per hour, funds paid for by the grant.
“This is a win-win-win for our community,” Clallam EDC executive director Colleen McAleer said in a press release.
“Each of our communities lacked enough bookkeepers to serve small business requesting help. Now we can help those businesses and train a cohort of professionals at the same time.
“These newly minted entrepreneurs will likely have a dozen or more clients to launch their own business.”
Those interested in applying for bookkeeper training can fill out the application at cognitoforms.com/ClallamEDC/OlympicPeninsulaBookkeeperBoost. Applicants must apply by Dec. 15.
Small business owners can apply for the program at cognitoforms.com/ClallamEDC/OlympicPeninsulaSmallBusinessBoost. Applications are due by Dec. 31.
Requests for proposals (RFPs) for local marketers and attorneys will be published soon, program organizers said. To receive an RFP, contact Ted Hennessy, Olympic Peninsula Small Business Boost Program Manager, at Thennessy@Clallam.org.
