BOOST deadline extended

Small businesses have until Jan. 13 to apply for free legal, marketing, bookkeeping services

PORT ANGELES — Small businesses and nonprofits that missed the first deadline for Olympic Peninsula Small Business Boost have been given another opportunity to apply for the program’s free legal, marketing and bookkeeping services.

They now have until Jan. 13 to submit an application to be considered for the program at tinyurl.com/28serjse. The previous deadline was Dec. 31.

The purpose of the program is to help spur business recovery, startup and growth in low-income and rural areas. It is a project of the Clallam County Economic Development Council, the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council and the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County. Support will run through June 1.

Colleen McAleer, executive director of Clallam County EDC, said extending the deadline would help them to connect with businesses that might not have heard about the program due to language barriers, lack of internet service or other challenges.

“This was established for the underserved business groups that haven’t received funding from the different programs that are already out there,” McAleer said. “Those are typically really hard to reach groups, so we want to make another concerted effort to reach out to them.”

Legal and marketing assistance will be provided by local professionals; the deadline for submitting proposals to provide legal services for the program closed Wednesday, while the deadline to submit proposals for marketing services is Jan. 13. That request for proposals can be found at tinyurl.com/m3b4pahh.

Bookkeeping assistance, such as setting up a business with QuickBooks or having QuickBooks accounts reviewed, will come from individuals who receive certification through the Olympic Peninsula Small Business Boost bookkeeper training program taught through Peninsula and Grays Harbor colleges.

That program, whose deadline was Dec. 15, received 383 applications for 21 slots, McAleer said.

“We used the metrics that we put together and made sure we had some representation from different areas of each of the counties,” McAleer said.

Ten of the students are from Grays Harbor County, nine from Clallam County and two from Jefferson County.

The overwhelming interest in the bookkeeping program has led to discussions about expanding it.

“We’re working with Peninsula College, who would like to offer this again,” McAleer said. “We recognize there’s a huge demand from our local businesses and there’s obviously a lot of interest in it from people who are interested in being bookkeepers.”

The Olympic Peninsula Small Business Boost program is supported by a $1.3 million Small Business Innovation Fund grant from the state Department of Commerce and comes out of $34.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

Questions about the Olympic Peninsula Small Business Boost Program should be directed to program manager Ted Hennessy at thennessy@clallam.org.

_______

Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@soundpublishing.com.

More in News

Foundation donates $1 million to hospital

Recipients include residency program, scholarships and cancer care center

A former teacher, Larry Jeffryes moved to Sequim with his wife in 2013. He was appointed to the Sequim School Board in September 2019, elected by voters in November of that year and was elected again in 2023. Before his resignation, Jeffryes’ term was set to go through November 2027. (Larry Jeffryes)
Sequim school board director resigns after six years in seat

District opens process to apply for position

Members of the musical group Soupbones, from left, Ed Schmid of Port Angeles, Ron Munro of Sequim, Carly List of Port Angeles and Hugh Starks of Sequim, perform at a Good Trouble community gathering and picnic on Thursday at Erickson Playfield in Port Angeles. Organizers of the event, one of numerous gatherings across the United States, decided to forego conventional politics while commemorating the life of civil rights activist John Lewis. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Good trouble rally

Members of the musical group Soupbones, from left, Ed Schmid of Port… Continue reading

State funds to benefit coastal habitat

Clallam, Jefferson awarded $1.6M

Artists Heather Sparks, left, and Zeo Boekbinder set up a stencil of a fern leaf in an effort to decorate an otherwise-drab concrete roadside divider along Race Street south of Lauridsen Boulevard on Wednesday in Port Angeles. The divider work was part of a larger project to beautify the Race Street corridor from Eighth Street to Hurricane Ridge Road, which included improved traffic lanes, pedestrian and bicycle lanes and decorative lighting. Long-term plans call for similar improvements to Race Street, extending to First and Front streets. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
A touch of color

Artists Heather Sparks, left, and Zeo Boekbinder set up a stencil of… Continue reading

A tanker truck overturned into Indian Creek west of Port Angeles, according to the State Patrol and the state Department of Transportation. U.S. Highway 101 was closed Friday afternoon at milepost 238 near Herrick Road, and traffic was being diverted to state Highway 112. (Katherine Weatherwax via X)
Highway 101 reopens after tanker truck overturns into creek

Port Angeles asks utility customers to conserve water

Lisa Hansen of Port Angeles, center, takes a cellphone photo of her son, Cooper Hansen, 3, as Hansen’s mother, Tracy Hansen, right, looks on during a warm day at Hollywood Beach on the Port Angeles waterfront on Wednesday. The trio were enjoying a sunny summer afternoon next to the water. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Picture perfect

Lisa Hansen of Port Angeles, center, takes a cellphone photo of her… Continue reading

Claim against First Fed alleges $100M fraud

First Fed plans to ‘vigorously defend’ loans

Olympic Medical Center CEO says Medicaid cuts will hit hard

Darryl Wolfe tells board entire state will feel impact

Joseph Wilson, left, and Kevin Streett.
Jefferson PUD names new general manager

Wilson comes with 30 years of experience

Firefighters from Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue oversee a brush fire Wednesday in the area of Baker Farm Road. (Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue)
Woman airlifted to hospital following bicycle crash

U.S. Highway 101 was closed for about 45 minutes… Continue reading