FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 28, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

Tacoma MBDA Business Center Launches CARES Act Assistance Program 

TACOMA, Wash. – This evening, the Tacoma City Council will accept $518,521 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). As operators of the Tacoma MBDA Business Center, the City of Tacoma will use the funding to launch the Tacoma MBDA Business Center CARES Act Assistance Program providing specialized assistance to small and minority-owned businesses. 

“In the coming weeks, the Tacoma MBDA Business Center will work in collaboration with community-based organizations to provide intensive support through the CARES Act Assistance Program to small businesses who need help navigating through these challenging times,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “This kind of assistance is particularly important because entrepreneurs of color were underrepresented even before this pandemic. Culturally relevant and tailored assistance will help small businesses survive the economic impacts of COVID-19 by helping them to better understand and leverage the intricate web of resources available across the region.”

Through the Tacoma MBDA Business Center CARES Act Assistance Program, the City of Tacoma will partner with community-based organizations to provide small and minority-owned businesses training and technical assistance on identification of funding, compliance with Paycheck Protection Program rules, strategies to pivot and rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety, and cybersecurity.

“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tacoma MBDA Business Center has stepped up its efforts to provide small and minority-owned businesses assistance with funding, opportunities, disaster recovery and economic resilience,” said City Manager Elizabeth Pauli. “Staff has fielded calls on a variety of questions and concerns related to COVID-19 and the CARES Act and, with their help, more than 45 small and minority-owned businesses across Puget Sound have secured $4.2 million in CARES Act funding.”

Details about the CARES Act are available at home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares. 

More information about Tacoma MBDA Business Center, including the latest loans, grants and other resources available for small and minority-owned businesses is available at mbda-tacoma.com. 

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