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. 

Entrepreneur Academy 

If you are thinking about starting a business in Washington State, you are in the right place. Experts from around the state have created an academy where you can master the skills needed to be a successful business owner, from producing the initial idea to avoiding those pesky beginner's mistakes. 

Best of all, there is no cost to you. So, what are you waiting for? A lifetime of learning is waiting for you in the Academy. The Entrepreneur Academy was created by the Washington State Department of Commerce to teach the skills needed to be a successful business owner. Starting and running your own business can be one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. Believing that every resident has the right to a living wage job and equal access to education, training and support, Commerce created the Academy. 

Click here to learn more about the Academy 

Entrepreneurship Training Course for Military Spouses 

Military Spouse Pathway to Business classes will be hosted nationwide, in-person and virtually, throughout the calendar year. Military spouses with a strong business idea or considering entrepreneurship are encouraged to sign up. Participants will learn key steps for evaluating business concepts and receive the foundational knowledge required to develop a business plan. 

"The course is designed similarly to SBA's Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot courses offered by the SBA but takes into account the unique experience of military spouses," said Timothy Green. 

Click here to learn about SBA programs and resources for military spouses. 

Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) 

Veteran-owned small businesses can use this application to be certified by SBA to compete for federal contracts. Certified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) will have the opportunity to pursue sole-source and set-aside contracts at the Department of Veterans Affairs under the VA's Vets First program. Certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) will have the opportunity to compete for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. 

Click here to register. 

Employer Incentives via Labor & Industries 

Employer Incentives might save you money! 

Did you know – L&I has several programs designed to reduce safety risks, get workers back to work, and save employers money? 

Check out the Employer Incentives page  for more information. 

Looking for access to capital? 

  • The Small Business Administration (SBA) has several programs that allow a business to apply for diverse types of funding programs designed to increase access to capital for small business owners. 

Wondering who to turn to? 

  • Many of our lenders in the Grays Harbor area work very closely with the SBA, but there are also lenders outside of Grays Harbor that serve small businesses. Please utilize SBA's Find Lenders page and fill out the information. 

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, Program Manager for Business Development at GGHI if you have questions or need some guidance along your business journey.