A feature of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. (GGHI) is to provide business assistance and resource referral. This monthly Business Assistance Briefing is to share relevant and timely resources to support your business, regardless of size. 

In today’s world it can be hard to navigate the waters when it comes to running your business, gaining access to capital, permitting, marketing woes, workforce needs, or just getting started – GGHI is here to assist. 

ORIA 

The Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA) helps people navigate Washington’s environmental and business regulatory systems. Our information center provides citizens and businesses with information and understanding about local, state, and federal regulatory requirements. Our office collaborates with agencies and stakeholders on ways to improve regulatory systems for more effective services, including for small businesses. Our office is in Olympia, Washington and our services are free. 

Below are a few examples of customer requests:

  • Connecting a small business owner wanting to start biodiesel production with regulators and safety officials. 
  • Helping an entrepreneur understand the requirements for owning and operating an auto body business. 
  • Putting a farmer in touch with the correct regulatory staff to determine if a piece of property has water rights. 
  • Explaining the permitting process for dock or mooring buoy construction to a homeowner. 

Click here to check out all ORIA has to offer. 

SCORE 

SCORE mentoring is a free service offered to any aspiring or established owners of a U.S.-based business. Partnering with you one-on-one, SCORE mentors support your success by providing experienced advice, consulting on best practices, and educating you on small business topics. 

Click here to learn more about SCORE. 

Business Impact NW 

Business Impact NW is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to serving underbanked entrepreneurs. They provide coaching, classes, and access to capital to small community businesses, with an emphasis on working with socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in the financial and business sectors; our services are OPEN TO ALL. 

Their team is dedicated to helping underbanked entrepreneurs at every stage in their business growth, from an idea to an established one.  

They provide support to entrepreneurs who would otherwise not have access to financial services. Their lending guidelines are more flexible than traditional banks because of their community impact mission.  

Click here to find out more and search for all the resources offered. 

Small Business Resiliency Network 

Partners of the Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) provide culturally and linguistically relevant assistance and other business support services at no cost to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits – with an emphasis on those owned by historically marginalized and underserved persons – throughout Washington. 

Click here to check out WA State Department of Commerce Resiliency Network. 

Greater Grays Harbor hosts a Business Assistance page on our website that provides a lengthy list of resources related to startups and other business support. 

We are happy to conduct a meeting with you to discuss business needs and how to navigate the vast resource network. Please reach out to Loretta Thomas, Director of Business Development at lthomas@graysharbor.org if you have questions.