RISE-WA: Rural Investment for Small-Business Empowerment in Washington State

In January 2023, the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) received a Small Business Innovation Fund (SBIF) Grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to launch the RISE-WA (Rural Investment for Small-business Empowerment) Accelerator. The aim of RISE-WA was to connect rural Small, Women, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned businesses (S/W/BIPOC) in Washington State with solution providers and subject matter experts. This initiative intended to harness the innovation and technology of the urban tech sector to bolster these businesses' success and enhance their resilience against future challenges.

Throughout the program, cohort businesses engaged in a series of Accelerator program sessions and numerous one-on-one meetings with solution providers and mentors. These interactions provided the businesses with valuable services and insights in areas such as marketing and communications strategies, business financing, and logistics planning. The program was designed to equip these entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in an evolving business landscape.

PNWER leveraged the success of the Congregate Accelerator Program to bring this exciting program to Washington State.

Meet the Cohort

  • Beaver Tales Coffee

  • Blackbird + Ivory

  • Cinnamon Twisp Bakery

  • Curated Walla Walla

  • Heartsong

  • InquisiTours

  • Mr. Brown's Consulting

  • R. Best Life

  • The Little Dipper Cafe & Bakery

  • T-Shirt Factory Pasco

FAQs

  • The RISE-WA Accelerator was a challenge-based accelerator funded by a Washington State Department of Commerce Small Business Innovation Fund (SBIF) grant. A "challenge-based” accelerator means that we worked with businesses on the main challenges that were barriers to their businesses. We wanted to hear from you, the business owner, about the challenges that you were facing! The program was designed to assist businesses experiencing challenges in any of the following areas: Finance Planning and Management, Supply Chain Management and Logistics Planning, Marketing Planning and Assistance, Human Resources and Workforce Management, Healthcare, Point of Sale, Inventory Systems Management, Legal and Regulatory Assistance, and Other Identified Challenge Areas.

  • It did not cost S/W/BIPOC-owned businesses anything to take part in the Accelerator other than your time and commitment to participating in the Accelerator programming and working with mentors and solutions providers on solutions to challenges that you have identified in your business.

  • The Accelerator programming began on April 28 and run through May 26.

  • To have taken part in the Accelerator, you would have needed to commit to a minimum of 16-20 hours over the course of 6 weeks for Accelerator programming such as sessions and workshops. Additional time would have been required for mentorship and to work with your solution provider to address your business challenges.

  • Businesses in the RISE-WA Accelerator received a grant of up to $10,000 for time spent in the accelerator program which includes weekly and bi-weekly workshops from industry and subject matter experts. Businesses also received up to $20,000 worth of support services from selected solution providers. Businesses participated in one-on-one meetings with solutions providers and mentors identified to work specifically with businesses on challenges affecting them and catered to their specific needs. Our goal was to help you and your business succeed and build resilience to withstand future challenges!

  • If you are a small, woman and/or Black, Indigenous, Person of Color-owned business in rural Washington State, then you qualify!

  • Washington State Rural Counties include Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Columbia, Cowlitz, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima.

  • Bring rural Small, Women, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned businesses (S/W/BIPOC) in Washington State together with technical solution providers and technology entrepreneurs.

    Utilize innovation and technology of Washington State's tech sector to improve pandemic resilience and business recovery.

    Facilitate new business relationships between technical assistance solution providers and under-resourced businesses.

    Provide direct financial support, mentorship, and industry expertise to rural S/W/BIPOC business owners and entrepreneurs.

    Accelerate the post-pandemic recovery in rural S/W/BIPOC-owned businesses and communities.​

About PNWER
The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is a public/private non-profit organization created by statute in 1991. Member jurisdictions include Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington, and the Canadian provinces and territories of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon. PNWER's mission is to increase thef economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens of the region, identify and promote "models of success," and serve as a conduit to exchange information.

​This project was supported by Grant No. SLFRO0002 awarded by US Dept. of Treasury. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Dept. of Treasury. Grant funds are administered by the Small Business Innovation Fund, Washington State Department of Commerce.