Our region has a range of resources available to businesses of all sizes, whether they are entrepreneurs just starting out or small businesses that have been around for years. Here is a sampling of the many business resources available. Please visit or contact the organizations directly for more information about their current services, resources, and other opportunities.
Business Advising, Funding, Support & Training
Business Impact NW
Growing businesses that create jobs in underserved communities. This organization works with small business owners by providing business coaching, training, and access to funding needed to successfully launch and grow their businesses. Services include private business coaching, business funding, classes and training, and networking events.
Website
Phone: 206-324-4330
Email: info@businessimpactnw.org
Growing businesses that create jobs in underserved communities. This organization works with small business owners by providing business coaching, training, and access to funding needed to successfully launch and grow their businesses. Services include private business coaching, business funding, classes and training, and networking events.
Website
Phone: 206-324-4330
Email: info@businessimpactnw.org
City of Covington, Washington
The City of Covington, Washington has a wealth of resources for businesses, including information about permitting, sign and tree ordinances, planning and zoning, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and more. Here are popular links:
Phone: 253-480-2400
- Business licenses
- Community development, A-Z
- CPTED resources and newsletter sign-up link
- Interactive development map
- Permit services
- Property and development page
Phone: 253-480-2400
Communities Rise
Communities Rise fosters movements to build power in communities impacted by systemic oppression. To create an equitable system, they pursue cross-sector collaboration and provide capacity-building and legal services for community organizations and microenterprises. Their legal services, cohort programs, technical support, and learning opportunities transform small organizations. They also connect small businesses with the support they need to grow and build a sustainable business. Visit their website for additional resources for small businesses including a Build Your Own Business toolkit, a commercial lease toolkit, funding opportunities, and more.
Website
Phone: 206-324-5850
Email: contact@communities-rise.org
Communities Rise fosters movements to build power in communities impacted by systemic oppression. To create an equitable system, they pursue cross-sector collaboration and provide capacity-building and legal services for community organizations and microenterprises. Their legal services, cohort programs, technical support, and learning opportunities transform small organizations. They also connect small businesses with the support they need to grow and build a sustainable business. Visit their website for additional resources for small businesses including a Build Your Own Business toolkit, a commercial lease toolkit, funding opportunities, and more.
Website
Phone: 206-324-5850
Email: contact@communities-rise.org
Craft3
Craft3 is a nonprofit lender – a community development financial institution (CDFI) – that uses capital to build resilience, lessen the racial wealth gap, and expand economic opportunity for all. We deliver capital where it’s needed most, making loans and providing advice to businesses, nonprofits, tribes, and individuals – especially those denied access to traditional financing.
Website
Phone: 888-0231-2170, ext. 303
Email: shakim@craft3.org
Craft3 is a nonprofit lender – a community development financial institution (CDFI) – that uses capital to build resilience, lessen the racial wealth gap, and expand economic opportunity for all. We deliver capital where it’s needed most, making loans and providing advice to businesses, nonprofits, tribes, and individuals – especially those denied access to traditional financing.
Website
Phone: 888-0231-2170, ext. 303
Email: shakim@craft3.org
Evergreen Business Capital Community Finance
Evergreen Business Capital Community Finance is a non-profit lender that offers financing solutions to support small businesses in our community. With offices and staff located in Washington, Oregon and Alaska as well as North Idaho, we provide loans to small businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest, with a special focus on under-served communities. We offer term loans up to $250,000. Loans can be used for inventory, working capital, fixed assets, or other business needs and can be fully amortized. Contact us today to see if we have a solution for your business.
Website
Phone: 800-878-6613
Contact EBCCF
Evergreen Business Capital Community Finance is a non-profit lender that offers financing solutions to support small businesses in our community. With offices and staff located in Washington, Oregon and Alaska as well as North Idaho, we provide loans to small businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest, with a special focus on under-served communities. We offer term loans up to $250,000. Loans can be used for inventory, working capital, fixed assets, or other business needs and can be fully amortized. Contact us today to see if we have a solution for your business.
Website
Phone: 800-878-6613
Contact EBCCF
Food Innovation Network
The Food Innovation Network (FIN) is working to build a healthy, prosperous, connected community in South King County, through food. FIN enhances the local food system, increases access to healthy foods, and supports local food businesses in the diverse communities of SeaTac/Tukwila and South King County. One their core areas of work is a Food Business Incubator that supports aspiring entrepreneurs who primarily come from low-income immigrant and refugee communities. Through business coaching and a peer network, entrepreneurs are supported in obtaining permits, offered subsidized kitchen rent, and provided connections to market channels such as catering opportunities.
Website
Phone: 206-291-7407
Email: njambi@foodinnovationnetwork.org
The Food Innovation Network (FIN) is working to build a healthy, prosperous, connected community in South King County, through food. FIN enhances the local food system, increases access to healthy foods, and supports local food businesses in the diverse communities of SeaTac/Tukwila and South King County. One their core areas of work is a Food Business Incubator that supports aspiring entrepreneurs who primarily come from low-income immigrant and refugee communities. Through business coaching and a peer network, entrepreneurs are supported in obtaining permits, offered subsidized kitchen rent, and provided connections to market channels such as catering opportunities.
Website
Phone: 206-291-7407
Email: njambi@foodinnovationnetwork.org
Impact Washington
A non-profit organization dedicated to delivering value-driven consulting and training solutions to Washington-based Manufacturers, helping them compete and grow. Their goal is to help manufacturers excel in every facet of business, including boosting productivity and profitability, cutting costs, improving employee morale, and becoming more competitive globally.
Website
Phone: 425-287-6808
Email: info@impactwashington.org
A non-profit organization dedicated to delivering value-driven consulting and training solutions to Washington-based Manufacturers, helping them compete and grow. Their goal is to help manufacturers excel in every facet of business, including boosting productivity and profitability, cutting costs, improving employee morale, and becoming more competitive globally.
Website
Phone: 425-287-6808
Email: info@impactwashington.org
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Individual, confidential, no-cost advising on all phases of business development. Four offices serving South King County Washington:
Green River College Small Business Center - Auburn Center
Website
Phone: 253-520-6260
Email: Taryn Hornby, thornby@greenriver.edu
Green River College Small Business Center - Kent Station
Website
Phone: 253-520-6260
Email: Kevin Grossman, kgrossman@greenriver.edu
Highline College Small Business Development Center
Website
Phone: 206-592-4151
Email: sbdc@highline.edu
Individual, confidential, no-cost advising on all phases of business development. Four offices serving South King County Washington:
Green River College Small Business Center - Auburn Center
Website
Phone: 253-520-6260
Email: Taryn Hornby, thornby@greenriver.edu
Green River College Small Business Center - Kent Station
Website
Phone: 253-520-6260
Email: Kevin Grossman, kgrossman@greenriver.edu
Highline College Small Business Development Center
Website
Phone: 206-592-4151
Email: sbdc@highline.edu
South Sound/Tacoma SCORE
South Sound/Tacoma SCORE is a team of nationally Certified Mentors who provide free professional counseling and workshops to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor and South King counties. They offer mentoring, educational opportunities, workshops, programs, and business templates to support businesses at any stage.
Website
Phone: 855-685-0166
Email: score.tacoma@gmail.com
South Sound/Tacoma SCORE is a team of nationally Certified Mentors who provide free professional counseling and workshops to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor and South King counties. They offer mentoring, educational opportunities, workshops, programs, and business templates to support businesses at any stage.
Website
Phone: 855-685-0166
Email: score.tacoma@gmail.com
Startup Washington
Managed by the Washington State Department of Commerce's Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness, Startup Washington serves as a clearinghouse for all the information and resources entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses need to achieve success, including funding sources, training and technical assistance, mentorship, education and information. They offer programs (e.g., ScaleUp, Thrive, Microenterprise Assistance, etc.); training (e.g., the Small Business Playbook, Entrepreneur Academy, Financial Mastery, etc.); tools; and resources for Washington-based businesses.
Contact Startup Washington
Managed by the Washington State Department of Commerce's Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness, Startup Washington serves as a clearinghouse for all the information and resources entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses need to achieve success, including funding sources, training and technical assistance, mentorship, education and information. They offer programs (e.g., ScaleUp, Thrive, Microenterprise Assistance, etc.); training (e.g., the Small Business Playbook, Entrepreneur Academy, Financial Mastery, etc.); tools; and resources for Washington-based businesses.
Contact Startup Washington
StartZone
StartZone's vision is a community where everyone has the opportunity to become financially self-sufficient by participating in a diverse, strong, and sustainable local economy. In pursuit of this vision, StartZone helps South King County residents achieve financial self-sufficiency by providing accessible and affordable training, consulting and other support for building small businesses that are bankable, profitable and sustainably connected to the local economy. StartZone is an initiative of Highline College.
Website
Phone: 206-592-3388
Contact StartZone
StartZone's vision is a community where everyone has the opportunity to become financially self-sufficient by participating in a diverse, strong, and sustainable local economy. In pursuit of this vision, StartZone helps South King County residents achieve financial self-sufficiency by providing accessible and affordable training, consulting and other support for building small businesses that are bankable, profitable and sustainably connected to the local economy. StartZone is an initiative of Highline College.
Website
Phone: 206-592-3388
Contact StartZone
UW Consulting & Business Development Center
The Consulting and Business Development Center (CBDC) defines what it means to be a publicly-engaged business school. By accelerating student careers as they engage in solving complex challenges and delivering world class executive education the CBDC is growing business that build wealth for under-represented minority entrepreneurs and businesses in under-served communities.
Innovative programs provide lasting benefit to businesses and students alike. In its first 25 years, the CBDC has helped small businesses in Washington add more than $250 million in new revenues while creating and retaining more than 200,000 jobs. More than 5,000 Foster School students have leveraged their experience with the CBDC to help secure that all-important first job after graduation and outperform their peers due to a proven track record in finding solutions to real-world business problems.
Website
Phone: 206-543-9327
Email: mverchot@u.washington.edu
Innovative programs provide lasting benefit to businesses and students alike. In its first 25 years, the CBDC has helped small businesses in Washington add more than $250 million in new revenues while creating and retaining more than 200,000 jobs. More than 5,000 Foster School students have leveraged their experience with the CBDC to help secure that all-important first job after graduation and outperform their peers due to a proven track record in finding solutions to real-world business problems.
Website
Phone: 206-543-9327
Email: mverchot@u.washington.edu
Urban Business Support
A Covington Chamber of Commerce member, Urban Business Support is a nonprofit that gives businesses in gentrifying communities the resources to adapt, survive and thrive in the changing marketplace emerging around them to retain diversity in business ownership. The nonprofit does not just train businesses; they build leaders. They provide business plan training, personal budgeting, leadership skills, an entrepreneurship program, and an advanced mentor program.
Phone: 253-533-4265
Email: oliver@urbanbizsps.org
A Covington Chamber of Commerce member, Urban Business Support is a nonprofit that gives businesses in gentrifying communities the resources to adapt, survive and thrive in the changing marketplace emerging around them to retain diversity in business ownership. The nonprofit does not just train businesses; they build leaders. They provide business plan training, personal budgeting, leadership skills, an entrepreneurship program, and an advanced mentor program.
Phone: 253-533-4265
Email: oliver@urbanbizsps.org
Ventures
Ventures is a Seattle-based nonprofit that empowers aspiring entrepreneurs with limited resources and unlimited potential. We provide access to business training, capital, coaching, and hands-on learning opportunities for entrepreneurs. We serve those in our community for whom traditional business development services are out of reach, with a focus on women, people of color, immigrants, and individuals with low income. Our ultimate goal is to support individuals to increase their income potential, achieve long-term financial stability, provide for their families, and enrich their communities through small business ownership.
Website
Phone: 206-352-1942
Email: info@venturesnonprofit.org
Website
Phone: 206-352-1942
Email: info@venturesnonprofit.org
Veterans Business Outreach Center
Operated by the U.S. Small Business administration, the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) is committed to providing training and financing entrepreneurs from the U.S. military community. Their services include military spouse support, business coaching and training, events and other resources.
Website
Phone: 206-324-4330
Email: info@businessimpactnw.org
Operated by the U.S. Small Business administration, the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) is committed to providing training and financing entrepreneurs from the U.S. military community. Their services include military spouse support, business coaching and training, events and other resources.
Website
Phone: 206-324-4330
Email: info@businessimpactnw.org
Washington Center for Women in Business
WCWB provides women with the Coaching, Training, and Technical Assistance they need to build their dream business. Washington Center for Women in Business is a program at the Center for Business and Innovation (CB&I), designed to provide women the coaching, training, and technical assistance to navigate the modern business world, in an open and supportive context.
As with all Women’s Business Centers, the WCWB seeks to “level the playing field” for women entrepreneurs. Women in business still face unique obstacles, and our goal is to connect hands-on expertise and lived experience with those who want to sharpen their edge in business through mentorship or education.
Website
Phone: 888-821-6652
Email: info@wcwb.org
WCWB provides women with the Coaching, Training, and Technical Assistance they need to build their dream business. Washington Center for Women in Business is a program at the Center for Business and Innovation (CB&I), designed to provide women the coaching, training, and technical assistance to navigate the modern business world, in an open and supportive context.
As with all Women’s Business Centers, the WCWB seeks to “level the playing field” for women entrepreneurs. Women in business still face unique obstacles, and our goal is to connect hands-on expertise and lived experience with those who want to sharpen their edge in business through mentorship or education.
Website
Phone: 888-821-6652
Email: info@wcwb.org
