The Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation is once again asking for our help for their 3rd annual Homes for Health! This year our advocacy is especially needed as all proceeds will go toward easing the burden the COVID-19 pandemic has created at Pullman Regional Hospital. All funds raised will go directly toward much needed medical equipment, supplies and operations.

Please take a second to read through the PDF below for more information on Homes for Health and available sponsorship packages, as well as a special letter from Chief Development Officer Rueben Mayes. Sponsorship packages start at $125 and will put your name in front of more than 450 healthcare employees while helping to build a stronger and healthier community.

The sponsorship opportunity deadline is Thursday, April 30, 2020.

We urge you to please consider donating to this worthy cause and thank you in advance.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program in Washington State is still being developed by the Employment Security Department (ESD). Here’s what we know right now:

#1 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS: Under the federal CARES Act, independent contractors and self-employed workers are eligible for PUA benefits (unlike regular unemployment that only applies to employees).

#2 ELIGIBILITY: The fact that certain real estate brokerage services can be provided under Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order does not automatically disqualify real estate brokers from being eligible for PUA.

#3 NOT ALL BROKERS WILL QUALIFY: Some real estate brokers will not receive PUA benefits because some brokers will still perform a certain level of work during the COVID-19 crisis, and thus will not be considered unemployed or under-employed. Even though brokers may work less and will have reduced income, that does not guarantee receipt of PUA benefits.

#4 GUIDANCE IS BEING DEVELOPED: ESD is currently developing guidance for self-employed workers to determine what level of unemployment or underemployment would result in a self-employed worker receiving PUA benefits.

#5 YOU CAN APPLY NOW OR WAIT UNTIL LATER: ESD is still developing the system for applications from independent contractors, so you can wait a few weeks or months to apply. The PUA program runs until December 31, 2020. If you believe you may be considered unemployed or underemployed during March or April 2020 because of the COVID-19 crisis, you can apply now following the next steps…

#6 ACTIONS TO TAKE: ESD anticipates self-employed workers being able to apply to PUA benefits on April 20. ESD has directed self-employed workers to first complete the on-line application for regular UI benefits, solely for the purpose of being denied regular UI eligibility. Brokers should visit this website here: https://secure.esd.wa.gov/home/ and obtain a SAW (Secure Access Washington) account. Creating this account is necessary to apply for PUA in the future.

#7 A NOTE ON FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION: When self-employed real estate brokers complete this application process, they should not indicate that they have “worked 680 hours for” the real estate firm where they maintain their real estate license. This part of the regular UI application process is only for employees, not for self-employed workers. Self-employed real estate brokers should check “NO” in response to this question.

Washington REALTORS® will provide an update when new information is available.

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Governor Inslee is offering a new Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant program to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Up to $5 million in funds are provided through the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund and administered by the State Department of Commerce. The grant program will provide a limited number of businesses in Washington’s 39 counties with a grant up to $10,000.

Process

• Small businesses that qualify for the grant program will submit applications through their local county/regional economic development organizations.
• Emails for submitting completed applications to these economic development organizations are listed to the right.
• County/regional economic development organizations will prioritize applications based on the severity of the impact the business is facing due to COVID-19, including from being forced to close by the government-mandated closures, social distancing measures or illness.
• Recommended awards will be sent to the Department of Commerce for review and vetting.
• Qualifying applications will be forwarded to the Governor for review and signature.
• Your local ADO will administer approved awards to the successful company.
• Awards will be approved on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on the availability of funds. The objective is to support businesses through the crisis and enable them to retain as many employees as possible.

Eligibility

• Applicants should have been in business for at least one year.
• Businesses with up to 10 full-time employees (FTEs) may apply for a one-time grant of up to $10,000.
• Funding is not meant to help launch a business, but to support existing businesses who are specifically affected by the COVID-19 crisis and are vital members of their local community.
• Applicants are eligible to receive one Working Washington Grant award during the current budget cycle, which ends on 06/30/2021.

Grant Awards

• County/regional economic development organizations will be asked to verify the size of candidate companies prior to submission.
• For each award, local economic/development organizations are encouraged to be judicious in discerning an appropriate and proportional amount based on necessity to the business and the business’ importance to the local community so as to ensure that this emergency resource can be utilized by companies across communities

Click here for application information and to apply!

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