Othello to donate $10,000 for small businesses

OTHELLO — The Othello City Council voted almost unanimously to donate $10,000 to help fund grants for small business owners in Othello. The money is part of an effort that Adams County Economic Development and Adams County Development Council are making to help get small businesses back on their feet due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the regular Othello City Council meeting, which was held via teleconference on Monday, April 27, Adams County Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden told the council that the effort to raise money for small businesses came from the number of applications from Adams County businesses seeking assistance from the grants offered through the Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant program of the state government. Seventy-seven businesses in Adams County applied for the grant. Of those, 66 applicants met 100 percent of the requirements. Unfortunately, Adams County was only allowed to submit 32 of the requests and was allotted only about $79,000. The governor has the final say on who gets the grants and how much they get.

In response to the need for assistance, the Adams County Economic Development and Adams County Development Council partnered to establish the Adams County Small Business Emergency Grant. The goal was to raise $75,000 and offer 50 grants of $1,500 each.

During the meeting, McFadden said that $67,700 had been secured so far from Adams County, other government agencies and private donors. He asked the council for $7,300 to bring the total to the $75,000 mark.

“I’m here to ask the city of Othello to become a partner with us,” McFadden said. “We will spend 100 percent of the investment in the Othello ZIP code. There are no administrative fees. One hundred percent goes directly to grants.”

McFadden also mentioned that Adams County was one of the few counties in the state to mobilize to support local small businesses in this way.

While the council was fully in support of helping fund the small business grants, the amount of the grant was a sticky point. The grant money is being taken from the city’s rainy day fund. According to city finance officer Spencer Williams, a couple of years ago, the city set aside $50,000 in a rainy day fund. Already during the COVID-19 crisis, the city has dipped into that fund. The $10,000 grant will take the rainy day fund down to $13,000.

“We have a one-time chance to spend this money,” Williams said about the fund. “If we spend it now, a month from now, it won’t be there to spend.”

But several members of the council agreed that the situation small businesses are in counts as it’s currently raining. Councilman Angel Garza commented, “It’s pouring out there.”

There was some discussion on whether to give $7,300 or $10,000. In the end, Councilman Corey Everett was the only one on the council who didn’t want to give $10,000 toward the grants, instead wanting to give $7,300.

“We really appreciate your generosity,” McFadden said. “We recognize the city of Othello as a partner.”

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].