Announcing 2022 Small Business Resiliency Grant Recipients!

Thanks to your amazing community support for local businesses, TwispWorks made four new Small Business Resiliency Grants (SBRGs) this spring. SBRGs were originally launched as Emergency Grants in 2020 to help local businesses react and adapt to COVID and were continued in 2021 to help local businesses impacted by COVID and/or wildfires.

The current round of funding pivoted from being reactive to being proactive; the now renamed Resiliency Grants focus on innovative projects that will help local businesses become more adaptive, climate friendly, and resilient for the future. We welcomed applications with ideas to launch a new business, make businesses more fire-ready, and diversify the scope of businesses through the fire season.

We are excited to announce the Spring 2022 Small Business Resiliency Grant recipients!

Winthrop Mountain View Chalets has been challenged by drops in occupancy due to COVID and wildfire seasons. They received a Resiliency Grant to change their business model from six nightly rental cabins to six long term rental cabins and potentially extended stay rentals for individuals working in support of the Methow Valley community on a temporary basis.

Seven Stars Farm has been challenged by recent fire seasons and their associated heat and smoke, which are stressful for their livestock. Their beef cattle need portable shade structures for protection from heat stroke and more direct access to cold drinking water. They received a Resiliency Grant to help fund six wind/water resistant portable sun shades, two for pig paddocks and four for twenty acres of beef paddocks.

Triangle H Equipment Rentals saw a community need for equipment that facilitates both fire prevention and cleanup after fires. They received a Resiliency Grant to purchase equipment, like this trencher, that helps customers feel empowered and safe.

During COVID, BCS Livestock and several other local farms saw the direct impacts of food distribution interruptions, which created hardships for both farmers and consumers. They started the Methow Valley FoodShed, an online store that connects farmers to consumers. Currently, their biggest challenge is connecting with new customers and informing them about the FoodShed. They received Resiliency Grant to jumpstart their marketing efforts, which include email marketing, social media, radio advertisements, and overall brand awareness.