Thurston Strong’s Phase 2 Recovery and Reset Program now underway, says Olympia economic planner

Implementation of Thurston Strong’s phase 2 Recovery and Reset program – which translate to an $11 million investment – is underway, according to Olympia strategic projects manager and economic development planner Amy Buckler who presented to the city’s finance committee meeting on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. 

The initiative is Thurston County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Olympia joined other cities in formulating a recovery plan in the region, which is now called Thurston Strong Recovery and Reset.

In Phase 1, Buckler said the Thurston Strong responded to the immediate emergency by distributing grants to affected businesses and workers, totaling $8.9 million. The grants went to personal protective equipment or PPE, agriculture, nonprofits, microbusinesses, restaurant-retail, and childcare.

For Phase 2, she said the partners developed a two-year action plan to accelerate the Thurston region’s economic recovery and reset program, which focuses on "inclusive economy, economic resiliency and economic expansion."  

“The plan was presented to the council last May [2021]. I’m happy to report a strong implementation underway,” she told the committee members. 

Most money comes from Thurston County using a big chunk of its American Recovery Act funds. Some are from Olympia City, Port of Olympia, some additional investments from Tumwater, and some are private donations. 

The Phase 2 recovery and reset initiative grants include:

• Thurston business relaunch - business grants and for childcare providers eligible
• Minority enterprise investment – grants including $500K for target zone startups; New Minority Business Advisory council; outreach to establish CDFI lender locally
• Nonprofit grants – grants for the Community Foundation 
• Thurston Food System (Agriculture) Business – grants for market expansion; allocation to food aid boxes to nonprofits through SW Washington Food Hub
• Business Resiliency Training – prepaid business training tuition, technical assistance; training for COVID-response business plan; funded by Olympia City
• Thurston Works Job Program – employees for nonprofits (Pacific Mountain); Pacific Mountain/SPSCC worker pool, building equity/stability
• City of Olympia Journey2Jobs – workforce development for homeless populations; funded by Olympia City 
• Thurston Workforce Training Center – scholarships for training certificates and programs (trades); workforce training (construction, fiber, hospitality, others); funded by Olympia City 
• Thurston Ag Industry Reinforcement – agriculture employment initiative 
• Tourism-Recreation-Entertainment Recovery – for marketing, promotion events
• Economic Development District – EDA funding to support CEDS (EDC)-----
• Thurston Strong Support – operations and planning; surge demand funding to support all Thurston Strong programs; funded by Olympia City
• General: Tumwater City – use for shortcomings in one or more identified programs; funded by other economic development partners
• General: Port of Olympia – use for shortcomings in one or more identified programs; funded by other economic development partners 
• Business Grants: Private Donations – grant fund to help businesses that fall through the cracks of other grant programs; funded by other economic development partners

The total regional investment cost $11,145,000. According to Buckler, of this amount, $1.3 million came from Olympia. 

She said all Olympia-funded initiatives are now in progress. They are mostly for workforce programs designed to support people experiencing homelessness, dislocated workers and industries like construction, hospitality and fiber optics. 

Under the same initiatives, Buckler said they allotted about $7 million for direct grants for small businesses – for minority-owned businesses, nonprofits and the agricultural industry. 

“Overall, about $3.7 million grant allocation has been issued – a 45% of the total funds. We are continuing to receive applications,” she said. 

She added they are also receiving ‘thank you’ letters from businesses and organizations that received help to get through the difficult time. 

On how the grants are broken out geographically, Buckler said Olympia received most of the grants. “It makes sense because majority of our businesses and nonprofits within Thurston County are located in Olympia.”

As of April this year, 59 organizations in Olympia are grants recipients; followed by Lacey, 18; Rochester, six; Yelm, five; Tumwater, four; Rainier, three; and Tenino, one.