Pierce County Offering Rollback Relief Grants To Offset Phase 2

TACOMA, WA — The Pierce County Council has created a new round of relief grants which they hope will help offset some economic fallout from the upcoming rollback into Phase 2.

Pierce County is one of just three of 39 counties that failed the state Department of Health's review Monday, meaning it will be forced to re-enter Phase 2 on Friday. That will reimpose several older COVID-19 safety restrictions, including cutting capacity at retail, bars and restaurants from 50 percent to just 25 percent.

Related: Pierce County To Move Back Into Phase 2 This Week

The restrictions will remain for at least three weeks. The state will re-evaluate Pierce County's case count and hospitalization rates on May 3.

To keep businesses afloat during that time, the county council has unanimously approved $4 million in new "Rollback Relief" grants.

"We share the frustration of this setback, but we have the power to change it by getting vaccinated and following public health guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19," said Pierce County Council Chair Derek Young. "In the meantime, we hope this money helps businesses stay open over the next three weeks until the next review of case numbers in Pierce County."

Grants are available for:

• Restaurants, tap rooms, catering services and other eating and drinking establishments without a drive-thru.
• In-store retailers.
• Theaters, museums, concert halls and other arts and culture establishments.
• Gyms and other fitness facilities.
• Farmers markets.

Businesses and non-profits can both qualify for the grants, but they must have 20 or fewer full-time employees — except restaurants, which have no such limit — and must be able to prove they have been directly impacted by the Phase 2 rollback.

Corporate chains and corporate franchises are also ineligible for the funding.

Pierce County businesses can apply for the grants by visiting county's website here. The deadline to apply is April 23, at 5 p.m.