Nearly 20 Blaine businesses awarded state border grants

The Washington state Department of Commerce awarded 19 Blaine and Birch Bay businesses grants to alleviate the financial hit of the U.S./Canada border closure.

The Working Washington Border Business Relief Program was part of the state’s series of Working Washington grants aimed to bring relief to businesses during the pandemic. Applications opened for two weeks in mid-October, with all businesses awarded seeing the money by the end of 2021, said department of commerce spokesperson Penny Thomas.

The department of commerce provided The Northern Light with a list of businesses awarded grants in the 98230 zip code. As funds were requested within $10,000 ranges, the department was unable to provide a total dollar amount that was requested in the Blaine area or Whatcom County. The list of businesses that applied but were not awarded was not available by press time.

Altogether, Blaine and Birch Bay businesses received $226,639 in this go-around. Whatcom County received $1.47 million in grants, meaning Blaine and Birch Bay businesses received 15.3 percent of the county’s grants.

Statewide, businesses were awarded $2.6 million. Whatcom County, by far, received the most grant money and number of businesses awarded, 206, than any of the other nine counties eligible for the grant. Skagit County had the second highest number of businesses to receive grants, at 23.

Nearly one-third of the 62 Blaine and Birch Bay businesses that applied for the grant received an award.

Of the 19 businesses, only Quantum Healing Lounge, Tru-Line Laser Alignment, Atwood Farm Brewery and Glacial Lake Missoula Winery received what they requested.

Accommodation and food service businesses received the most grants, six, compared to other industries in the 98230 area code. Below is a list of local grants ranked from highest to lowest:

• Big Al’s was awarded $29,000 after it requested over $40,000.

• Birch Bay Waterslides received $26,500 after it requested over $40,000.

• Mobile Exchange was awarded $20,000 after it requested a grant between $30,000 and $40,000 but declined the grant money.

• Tru-Line Laser Alignment received $20,000 after it requested a grant between $20,000 and $30,000.

• Hill’s Chevron received $20,000 after it requested over $40,000.

• Tahara Consulting LLC received $20,000 after it requested over $40,000.

• 5dpackages received $20,000 after it requested over $40,000.

• Inficom, Inc. received $15,685 after it requested a grant between $30,000 and $40,000.

• Black Forest Steakhouse was awarded $12,000 after it requested over $40,000.

• Atwood Farm Brewery received $10,000 after it requested a grant between $5,000 and $10,000.

• Menu USA received $8,213 after it requested a grant between $20,000 and $30,000.

• Glacial Lake Missoula Winery received $5,167 after it requested a grant between $5,000 and $10,000.

• Quantum Healing Lounge received $5,000 after it requested a grant between $2,500 and $5,000.

• Peace Arch City Cafe was awarded $4,000 after it requested a grant between $30,000 and $40,000.

• Teriyaki Secret was awarded $4,000 after it requested over $40,000.

• Christina Alexander Winkler, founder of International Peace Arch Association, received $3,225 after she requested a grant between $10,000 and $20,000.

• Birch Bay Ventures was awarded $2,000 after it requested over $40,000.

• Tony’s Just A Bite received $1,800 after it requested a grant between $30,000 and $40,000.

The Northern Light also requested data for Point Roberts businesses in the 98281 zip code. Eight businesses, or 34 percent of the 23 businesses that applied, were awarded a total of $130,018. Bald Eagle Golf Club and Point Roberts Marina received the greatest award amount at $39,000 each. Breakwaters Bar and Grill received the least at $2,000.

In Whatcom County, 107 of 455 applicants were awarded border town grants, or 23.5 percent of those who applied. Statewide, about 20 percent of applicants received the grant.

Thomas said award amounts varied significantly because of several factors such as the department subtracting businesses’ previous Working Washington grants and the amount requested.

Grants were awarded based on whether the business was located within 20 miles of the U.S./Canada border; industries that have been greatly impacted by the closure such as retail and tourism; the business size; lost revenue between 2019 and 2020 or added expenses to safely stay open during the pandemic; and businesses in rural, low-income and/or underserved communities such as minorities and veterans.