Happy March!
Of all the things to talk about this month I want to talk about phone calls. The phone rings regularly at Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., and the types of calls we receive provide an insight into what we do in the community and more importantly what the community is needing.
On any given day, our phone call log looks like this…
“I’m moving to the area; can you tell me a little about it?”
“I’m new to the area and need to get (fill in the blank), can you help me?”
“Can you help me receive a COVID-19 vaccination?”
“Are you aware of any business relief grants that can help my business?”
“When will the next round of relief dollars be in the community?”
“Can you connect me to the right person to discuss project permitting?”
“I am a site-selector and would like to talk to you about a property located at…”
“I’m calling from the Congressional office of (fill in the blank) and wanted to touch base…”
Truthfully, Candie Gleason and our volunteer Rod Ellis answer the most calls and provide some of the best customer service and insight that only longtime residents can offer. Directing callers to our website to visit our Directory or our Relocation Guide is helpful and empowers the caller. Providing that direct customers service makes the caller feel welcomed. As I was writing this our newest print version of the Visitor and Relocation Guide was delivered. Members watch your mailbox for the guide! For employers, realtors or lodging businesses please let us know if you would like a copy for your lobby, guests, clients, or prospective employees.
Second only to the general inquiry about the area is the call asking about financial relief. The need for financial relief continues to be a relevant and urgent need. So many businesses found ways to hang on but have hit their breaking point with the roll back and redefinition of opening standards issued in November. Others have received aid, but that relief has long since been used.
As of right now the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) is exclusively open to small businesses with less than 20 employees. We encourage all our small businesses to explore and consider this option for payroll relief. The most recent report is that Washington has issued approximately 50% (3 billion) of the targeted 6 billion to distribute. To learn more about funding resources for businesses to include finding a lender visit SmallBizHelpWA.com. In addition, the application for the City of Aberdeen Small Hospitality Business Grant administered by Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. remains open for applications.
What is next for economic relief? Governor Inslee recently signed HB 1368 into law which creates legislation to guide how federal relief funding is spent. The legislation is long and detailed with prescribed support for specific industries (i.e., schools, childcare, etc.) as well as general business. The application process for business relief is not expected to go live until the end of March with the application period estimated to last two weeks. Due to the nuances of the eligibility requirement outlined in the law the Washington State Department of Commerce will be administering the grant, but Greater Grays Harbor, Inc will be here for assistance, guidance, and support. Watch our social media and COVID-19 Resource page for updates.
At the federal level, the House of Representatives has passed a COVID relief bill with $1.9 million dollars in aid and now the bill moves to the Senate for passage which will likely include amendments or even the chamber’s own separate bill. Regardless of what path is taken it is likely that answers will not be known until at least mid-March at the earliest.
Some of my favorite calls are those of businesses considering locating in Grays Harbor. Inbound inquiries come to us in many forms, but it is always exciting to receive that direct contact from the site selector or even the executives themselves. When a business considers locating in the area it is a lengthy, and for much of the time a confidential process. Local stakeholders participate in the sharing of information and resources and everyone works to present the most transparent and comprehensive snapshot of what assets we have and what to expect from the process. I am continually impressed with the hard work our local governments and other local stakeholders put in to help locate a business in Grays Harbor County and get to “yes”. Other obstacles to business recruitment exist outside of what our local efforts can address, but I have yet to see anyone in our community stop trying. This hard work is not readily seen by the public, but I can attest to the attention, care and effort that is put behind every relevant inbound inquiry.
Every call, even the person that asks us to use Google on their behalf to find a phone number is important to GGHI. We know that every call is connecting someone to a resource in the county, be it public or private and we are happy to do the work.