EVERETT—Low-income entrepreneurs will have more access to training and capital to establish and expand their businesses as a result of a federal grant to Washington Ventures, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, announced today.

Washington Ventures, a Seattle-based nonprofit that assists entrepreneurs who have limited resources, is receiving $123,000 through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME). The organization has helped small businesses throughout the Puget Sound region.

“Small businesses are the engines of our economy. Helping entrepreneurs start and expand their businesses is good for families and good for our communities. I am pleased this federal investment will help more innovative small businesses get assistance to grow and strengthen our economy,” Larsen said.

“Helping increase local small businesses’ opportunities to succeed is at the core of the Small Business Administration’s mission. We are thrilled to continue making investments that assist entrepreneurs as they start and grow their small businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Congressman Larsen understands the opportunities and challenges that small business owners face, and we appreciate his leadership to help these businesses thrive,” said Calvin Goings, Region 10 Administrator for the SBA.

Ventures will use its PRIME award to provide training and technical assistance in business operations, sales, marketing, financial management and individual coaching. Recipients of these services will be low-income and very low-income entrepreneurs, with household incomes at or below 80 percent of the HUD area median income in Snohomish and King counties.

More information about the PRIME award is available here.

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