When Washington state issued an early stay-at-home order after reporting the first U.S. COVID-19 death Feb. 20, 2020, economic development organization OneRedmond developed OneEastside SPARK, which became a central resource and planning hub for the area’s business community.
OneRedmond surveyed local businesses to identify potential needs for a prolonged economic disruption, according to a March 7 news release. OneEastide Spark served as a critical connector between public resources and commercial needs.
“When we started closing down the economy, I was fortunate enough to have a team that knew economic development very well. We had a feeling this could last much longer,” OneRedmond CEO Kristina Hudson said in the release
OneEastside SPARK worked with 1,145 unique businesses, hosting webinars and one-on-one advising sessions, and connecting hundreds of companies to more than $4.4 million in grant funding and non-repayable loans, according to the release. The program also procured and distributed more than 2.5 million face masks and 38,000 bottles of hand sanitizer for local businesses during the pandemic.
The program was supported by a $500,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration and operated under OneRedmond’s direction, the release reported.
Hudson and her staff partnered with regional community-based organizations, according to the release. They helped business owners with English as a second language with piloted programs presented in 10 different languages. OneEastside SPARK provided partner organizations with collateral in an unbranded format to allow customization and localization.
Hudson said OneEastside SPARK was contacted by small business owners from Texas, Georgia, California and New York who sought assistance for their own economic recovery efforts, the release reported.
OneEastside SPARK’s success highlights the importance of preparation and planning in times of crisis, the release reported. The program's survey of local businesses allowed for a targeted approach to providing support, resulting in the maintenance of more than 68,000 jobs in the area.
