Community Reinvestment funds
Strengthening relationships with people and business
South Central Workforce Small Business Grant Application Opens March 1, 2026
South Central Workforce is pleased to announce the upcoming opening of the Community Reinvestment Plan (CRP) Small Business Grant application for eligible entrepreneurs and small business owners within our service area.
For generations, policies tied to the War on Drugs created deep and lasting harm in communities—especially for Black, Latine, Tribal, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and low-income families. These impacts extended beyond the justice system, contributing to longstanding disparities in housing stability, employment access, educational opportunity, and economic mobility. Many individuals faced significant barriers to launching or sustaining small businesses, limiting pathways to financial stability and generational wealth.
Through the CRP, the Washington State Department of Commerce is working to reinvest funds into communities disproportionately impacted by these policies. As part of this initiative, South Central Workforce will offer Small Business Grants to support local entrepreneurs in starting or expanding businesses that contribute to economic vitality and job creation throughout the region.
The CRP Small Business Grant application will open on March 1, 2026, and will close on March 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST.
These grant funds are intended to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and support community-driven economic development by providing financial resources to businesses rooted in and serving historically impacted communities.
How we reduce inequities and lift up communities
Through CRP, we are strengthening small businesses, increasing economic viability, and ultimately paving the way for a new era of generational prosperity.
Learn more about how CRP has helped entrepreneurs in Yakima County.
Help for small businesses
Washington has a Small Business Liaison Team made of representatives from 27 agencies who work to make it easier to do business in Washington state! Download their free Small Business Guide.