Spokane Businesses Owned by People of Color Awarded New State Grant Funds

People of color make up about 20% of Spokane County, Wash., but they own about 8% of the county's businesses, reports the Spokesman-Review.

That's why the Spokane Workforce Council is distributing $174,520 in grants to 23 black, Indigenous, and Latinx small businesses.

The money is intended to help those affected by drug-related charges, also known as the "war on drugs," per the state's Community Reinvestment Project.

"It was exciting to receive so many high-quality proposals, which is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of our local small business community," saysBianka DeSure, program coordinator for the Council.

The grants are part of the State Department of Commerce's $188 million Community Reinvestment Project, which aims to help those affected by criminal legal services, reentry services, and economic development.

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