Sun Tribune offers matching grants for small businesses

MOSES LAKE — Many small businesses are struggling as a result of the COVID-19 shutdowns. With the shutdowns, business owners have gotten creative to try to keep money coming in. Yet for many, it isn’t enough.

As small businesses look at how they are going to survive this crisis, some people and organizations are stepping forward to help keep struggling businesses alive. One small business is offering to help other small businesses as they attempt to navigate this difficult time. The Sun Tribune, in conjunction with the Columbia Basin Herald and Basin Business Journal, is offering a matching advertising grant.

The grant matches any advertising money a business spends with the three publications, doubling its advertising dollars, according to Regional Publisher Caralyn Bess.

“This is on top of already advantaged pricing that we are offering due to the pandemic in order to try to help businesses,” Bess said.

The Sun Tribune, Columbia Basin Herald and Basin Business Journal, as well as newspapers in Idaho and Montana, are part of the larger Hagadone Media Group. The media group is offering up to $1 million in matching advertising money. Businesses are able to apply for up to $10,000 a month in matching advertising funds for the months of May, June and July.

Applications for the grants are available at https://matchgrant.hagadonemediagroup.com or by clicking on the top banner of The Sun Tribune’s website, suntribunenews.com. The application asks for basic business information, the amount of matched advertising money requested and how COVID-19 has affected the business.

Applications are first come, first served. Those wishing to apply are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. In the first three days of being available, over $44,000 in matching grant money was administered in Washington state.

“We are offering this matching grant in an effort to help businesses stay in business,” Bess said.

Bess said that in spite of the fact that the newspaper is also a small business that has felt the negative effects of the pandemic, it is doing what it can to help other local businesses. One of the ways that the newspaper has tried to encourage other small businesses is through running listings of what businesses and restaurants are operating in the midst of the crisis. It has encouraged readers to buy locally and support struggling businesses.

“Whatever we can do to help them (businesses) keep selling, to bring money in and keep them going,” Bess said. “And as we reopen, which will hopefully be soon, they can really get people to come back to their stores and shop.”

The matching advertising grants are available for use in The Sun Tribune, Columbia Basin Herald and Basin Business Journal, as well as their companion websites. Digital ads can be linked to business websites and Facebook pages.

For more information, visit suntribunenews.com or call 509-765-4561.

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