Sound Publishing has launched a local stimulus program to help businesses adapt in a rapidly evolving economic environment.

Based in Everett, Sound is the publisher of the Sequim Gazette Peninsula Daily News, The Daily Herald and the Daily World in Aberdeen, and provides local news, information and advertising to more than 35 communities in Washington.

Sound will make up to $500,000 available to locally owned and operated businesses through monthly grants ranging from $500 to $20,000.

The program will provide matching advertising credits for use in print and digital products. The grants will be awarded immediately and will be effective in January, February and March.

“This stimulus program follows the highly successful grant program that we launched in May of this year,” said Josh O’Connor, president of Sound Publishing.

“While providing nearly $300,000 of much-needed marketing grants to local advertisers, we gained great insights into the challenges that small business owners are facing,” O’Connor said.

“We’ve developed our stimulus program to meet those challenges and help local business not only recover, but flourish, in today’s business climate.”

Applications are due Monday, Jan. 4. Grants, upon approval, can be used from Jan. 1-March 31.

“The goal of the local business stimulus program is to assist our clients and small businesses effectively communicate with their customers, regardless of the external challenges they face,” said Carrie Radcliff, the company’s advertising director.

“The Daily Herald has made significant investments in multi-platform communication technologies that allow our clients to have one–on-one conversations with their customers, which is essential in these business conditions,” Radcliff said.

“We’ve heard from partners big and small how significant the grant program was at a time when they needed it the most,” Radcliff said of the earlier program. “Now it’s time to focus on the future and help them move forward.”

To apply, go to www.soundcommunitygrant.com.