A five-cities partnership including
Kirkland, Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond and Renton.
(re)STARTUP425 offers one-on-one technical assistance and resources to Eastside small business owners, nonprofits, sole-proprietors, and gig workers in partnership with Business Impact NW.
April 30, 2020
The cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Redmond, and Renton today launched (re)STARTUP425, a collaborative effort to connect Eastside small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and sole proprietors with available business support resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through its website, (re)STARTUP425 will provide one-on-one technical consultations on business financial assistance programs, a calendar of relevant webinars and other resources, and a restaurant map that identifies Eastside restaurants and cafés open for carry out.
The five cities have contracted with Business Impact NW to staff the (re)STARTUP425’s Business Response Team. This team will provide free, one-on-one, technical consultations to:
- help businesses understand resources available to them
- prepare businesses to qualify for and access eligible grants and loans, and;
- help businesses complete grant and loan applications
Businesses owners who are not certain what relief programs they are eligible for, where they need to apply, and what documentation they may need for each program are able to submit their questions online to be answered by dedicated Business Response Team members. Once business owners understand what programs will best support their survival and recovery, a Business Response Team member can assist in gathering required documents, filling out applications, and submitting forms.
The Business Response Team program is geared toward small businesses and nonprofits of all industries and verticals, including arts and cultural nonprofits, microbusinesses (like hairdressers, nail salons, and home cleaning services), and contractors within the five cities.
Business Impact NW is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to serving under-banked entrepreneurs.
They provide coaching, classes and access to capital to community small businesses, with an emphasis on working with traditionally underserved populations – entrepreneurial low/moderate income earners, women, people of color, veterans, immigrants or members of the LGBTQ community.
They have been serving the community since 1997. Learn more at www.businessimpactnw.org