Inslee Announces $135 Million To Support Businesses, Families
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OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee has announced a new, $135 million package designed to help support businesses and families that are struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
At a news conference introducing the plan Friday, Inslee explained that the package will hopefully counteract some of the hardships caused by the state's recent suite of coronavirus-related restrictions.
"We are in a very difficult situation, and we are acting to save people's lives in the state of Washington," Inslee said. "But we also need to act to help people whose economic prospects have been damaged by this pandemic."
On Sunday, the governor announced a series of new restrictions designed to curb the recent explosive growth in coronavirus transmissions, closing movie theaters and gyms, limiting social gatherings and banning indoor dining. Most of the money set aside in the $135 million package will go to support local businesses suffering under those restrictions. The remainder will go to lower income Washingtonians struggling to pay rent and utilities.
"I'm glad we're able to make these announcements today, because we need to take action on all fronts, including helping employees, whose jobs may be lost, and businesses, who will have tough days ahead," Inslee said.
According to Inslee, the $135 million will be divided as follows:
$70 million will be used for business support grants, to be given out by the Washington State Department of Commerce.
$30 million for business loans, to help businesses recover from COVID-19 pandemic losses.
$20 million in rental assistance, to help residential tenants repay overdue rent.
$15 million to help pay utilities for low income families.
Inslee was joined by Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown, who noted that, while the state economy has improved significantly since spring, the new round of regulations will still pose a challenge.
"The uncertainty and the hardship that has been caused by the pandemic, and the public health measures have put thousands of business owners and their employees in very challenging times, probably the most challenging times of our lives," Brown said.
During Friday's conference Inslee recognized that $135 million would not be enough to help every struggling business in Washington, and hinted that more recovery funding would be on the way in the near future.
"Obviously there are other things we can do to help these businesses that are having difficulties," Inslee said. "We want to be creative in looking for other opportunities, and we are going to find some and have found some."
The governor also reiterated his call to the federal government, demanding that they immediately pass a COVID-19 relief package. Thursday, Inslee sent a letter to congressional leaders and the Trump administration urging them to resume relief talks. It reads in part:
"Washington state has aggressively confronted the virus from the beginning of the pandemic, taking difficult but necessary measures to save lives...We do not take these measures lightly. We are painfully aware that these steps, guided by science, will increase hardship for families, workers, and businesses that are already suffering. But we must act now and act quickly to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed and to save the lives of our fellow Washingtonians.
"The federal government now has a responsibility to act as well. Hundreds of thousands of our residents are already struggling with joblessness, hunger, and housing insecurity, and have watched multiple forms of federal relief expire or be exhausted since the summer.
In the letter, Inslee asks congress to consider another round of direct payments to taxpayers, as well as an extension to pandemic unemployment benefits and further aid for state, local and tribal governments, among other relief proposals.
Related: Washington Introduces Cap On Fees From Food Delivery Apps
This article originally appeared on the Lakewood-JBLM Patch
