Lincoln County Economic Development Council: Buoying Small Businesses During the Pandemic

Early on during the pandemic, the Lincoln County Economic Development Council noticed a gap in many small business grant programs under Washington’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. Businesses that had been in operation for less than 12 months were ineligible to apply for many of the federal and statewide small business grant opportunities. Innovia moved quickly to fill this gap through a grant to the Lincoln County Economic Development Council.

Businesses such as Davenport’s Creekside Pharmacy, and Wilbur’s Crimson & Clover Co. and The Farmhouse Kitchen & Coffee, were able to stay open and continue contributing to their communities thanks to these critical funds. Grant dollars totaling $14,500 from Innovia and $1,500 from the Lincoln County Commissioners are acting as life preservers for local small businesses weathering this storm.

“Creekside Pharmacy was slowly but steadily growing until COVID-19 hit,” says Lanae Wiater, co-owner and pharmacist. “This grant will help us through these slower months and will allow us to move forward with education programs that we had sidelined.”