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Thanks to support from the WA State Department of Commerce, the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) has funded 12 existing and emerging Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) for 2021. MDOs typically support businesses with five and fewer employees and capital needs under $35,000.  They offer essential business training, technical assistance, microloans, and valuable connections to the ecosystem of business development services in their region.

Notably, six of the 12 MDO’s are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) led organizations which is important, now more than ever.  During this COVID pandemic and economic recovery, all of these grantees and other MDOs need greater support to better serve the smallest rural and urban, BIPOC owned, veteran, limited income and hard-to-serve businesses in both rural and urban communities throughout all of Washington State.

Over the last three years, WSMA has funded MDO’s serving business owners in over half of Washington’s counties. Recipients of 2021 funding include: Accelerate Kitsap, Tabor 100, Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Terrain Programs, Urban Business Support, Northwest Cooperative Development Center, TwispWorks, Kitsap Community Resources, Ventures, WOW Tri-Cities, Rural Community Development Resources, and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.  Among the many innovative projects funded through this grant are:

●      Support for WA Main Street programs that serve small businesses rural communities

●      Business training for artist-based businesses in Spokane

●      Spanish language credit building support for Latinx business owners in Yakima

●      Business support services to Black-owned businesses in Seattle, Kirkland & Tacoma

●      Business services in rural areas including Kitsap, Okanagan, Skagit & Yakima Counties

Every day, the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) helps MDOs throughout Washington to support the smallest businesses that create jobs, raise incomes, reduce reliance on public assistance, grow the job skills and assets of people with limited incomes.  

For more information contact, Lisa Smith at lisa.wamicrobiz@gmail.org.  To learn more about WSMA go to www.wamicrobiz.org

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