TwispWorks has been awarded a $30,000 grant by the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) to support small businesses in the Methow Valley.
According to a news release, TwispWorks will use the grant to organize a series of social engagement events for business owners, and four technical assistance classes. The classes will be open to all Methow Valley businesses, while the social engagement events will be targeted towards a specific part of the local economy, according to the release.
“Our goal is to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Methow Valley, where anyone who is interested in starting or expanding a business has the resources, the information and the support network to do so,” said Patrick Law, Economic Program Director for TwispWorks. “This grant will allow us to further expand and improve our outreach efforts, and hopefully provide some useful content and networking opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.”
The four technical assistance classes will include topics such as Social Media Marketing, Financial Planning for Uncertain Times (How to Prepare for a Recession), Employer Best Practices, and Waste Reduction and Reusables. Classes are slated to take place between February and mid-June, with two classes in Winthrop and two in Twisp.
The social engagement events will target people within specific segments of the local economy. According to the press release, groups covered under this round of funding include farmers and food businesses, women owners and entrepreneurs, small manufacturers, and the Methow Investment Network.
“The key to keeping the Methow livable for our community in the long term is supporting our small businesses and entrepreneurs — this core group makes our economy unique and can keep the Methow’s economy resilient to many challenges in the future. A grant like this means TwispWorks can directly support these businesses and find out what their core needs are,” said Sarah Brown, Executive Director of TwispWorks.
The WSMA has approved more than $2.3 million in small grants for 68 nonprofit organizations that help support small businesses. The WSMA grant program is funded through the Washington Department of Commerce.
For more information about the TwispWorks programs, visit www.twispworks.org or email Law at eprogramdirector@twispworks.org.
