From Community, For Community: Helping King County Businesses Thrive - RFP #25-01
Overview
The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) is seeking proposals from By and For Community Organizations to serve as intermediary partners for the Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) Business Support Grants. This funding is part of Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Program (CRP), which reinvests in communities impacted by the War on Drugs through economic development and workforce opportunity.
By and For Organizations are operated by and for the community they serve, with leadership and staff reflecting the racial, ethnic, and cultural identities of that community. These organizations include, but are not limited to, those serving Black, Latine, Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities — also known as CRP Priority Populations.
The selected intermediary partner(s) will manage small business grants that help historically underserved entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and grow their businesses, with a focus on Economic Security for All (EcSA) participants or businesses employing EcSA workers.
Funding Opportunity
WDC will select:
Two (2) intermediary partners to manage approximately $200,000 each in small business grants, with $55,000 per organization to administer the project, or
One (1) sole intermediary partner to manage the full $400,000 with $110,000 in administration funding.
Contract term will be from January 2026 through June 2027 (or earlier if grant activities conclude before June 2027).
About the Project
The CRF Business Support Grants are funded through the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Program (CRP). The Department of Commerce provides funding to the Employment Security Department (ESD) to administer the Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) through local workforce systems.
The WDC, as one of Washington State’s Local Workforce Development Boards, implements CRP-funded Economic Security for All (EcSA) programs in King County through the CRF, aligning with workforce development outcomes that advance job creation, retention, and career advancement.
The CRF Business Grants provide direct investment in King County small businesses owned or operated by individuals from the CRP’s priority populations, and those employing or intending to employ EcSA participants. These investments expand equitable access to business and workforce development resources, support job creation, retention, and advancement, and strengthen community-based economic ecosystems.
Objective
The CRF Business Grants aim to:
Support King County Priority Population-owned or operated businesses or individuals from these communities who are starting a business.
Demonstrate a strong benefit for EcSA participants.
Increase workforce participation, stability, and advancement opportunities.
Strengthen businesses’ capacity for job creation, retention, and quality improvement.
Engage culturally relevant, community-rooted organizations to improve access, navigation, and trust.
Scope of Work
Selected intermediary partners will:
Post, promote, and manage the CRF Business Grant opportunity
Provide low-barrier, culturally relevant outreach and application support (in collaboration with the CRF Business Navigator).
Score and award grants across three tiers:
Tier 1: Startup/Early Stage – $3,500 per grant (approx. 17 awards)
Tier 2: Stabilization/Recovery – $6,500 per grant (approx. 15 awards)
Tier 3: Growth/Expansion – $10,000 per grant (approx. 24 awards)
Support grantees with implementation, technical assistance, and required reporting and training.
Collect, track, and report project data to the WDC and participate in coordination meetings
The WDC will provide all necessary forms and documents for the grant process, including the grant application, score card, reporting forms, and facilitate the grant training workshops for grantees. The CRF Business Navigator will support with outreach, technical assistance for applicants, and connect applicants and awarded businesses to existing state systems and supports.
Eligibility Criteria and Qualifications
We’re inviting proposals from organizations that are By and For the communities they serve — those whose leadership, staff, and mission reflect their community’s identity and needs.
Eligible applicants must:
Meet the Washington State Department of Commerce’s definition of a “By and For Organization.”
Demonstrate staff capacity and experience managing grants or small business programs.
Be licensed and located within King County, or serve King County CRP Priority Populations through programs that directly benefit King County businesses or residents.
Organizations outside King County may be considered if they fill a demonstrated service gap or provide a unique, specialized program not otherwise available locally.
Demonstrate a strong history of serving CRP Priority Populations.
How To Apply
Proposal Response
Interested organizations are invited to submit a response narrative that highlights:
Contract Preference – Applying as one of two partners or as the sole intermediary.
Organizational Profile – Mission, populations served, and alignment with “By and For” definition.
Community Reach – Relationships and strategies to engage CRP Priority Populations.
Approach and Work Plan – Outreach, grant management, technical assistance, and staffing.
Capacity and Experience – Experience managing grants, public funding or business support programs.
Budget and Resource Planning – Use of the $55,000 (or $110,000) budget, including leveraged resources.
Responses will be evaluated based on criteria that includes mission and alignment with the definition of a “By and For” organization, community reach and engagement with CRP Priority Populations, project approach and work plan, organizational capacity, relevant experience and resource planning.
Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format in 12-point font. Attachments are exempt from format requirements.
The full RFP and rating criteria can be found here.
Proposal Submission
Responses are due by Friday, November 21, 2025, by 11:59pm PST. No late submissions will be accepted unless stated otherwise.
Proposals should be emailed to proposals@seakingwdc.org in PDF form in a 12-point font with the subject line “CRF Business Grants RFP #25-01.”
Questions may be submitted to the same email until November 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM PST. Responses will be posted weekly in the FAQ section of this RFP webpage.
The WDC may request clarifications or conduct brief interviews with top-ranked applicants prior to making final selections and plans to notify the recommended organization(s) by Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
The WDC will reach out to all applicants, whether they were awarded or not, by the end of the procurement process.
Timeline
Request for Proposals (RFP) Released: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Virtual Bidder’s Conference: Monday, November 3, 2025 at 1 PM PST
Last Day to Submit Questions: Friday, November 14, 2025
Application Submission Closes: Friday, November 21, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST
Anticipated Award Notification: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Contracts Executed: December 2025 / January 2026
CRF Business Grants Launch: Estimated January 2026 / February 2026
Note that timelines may be adjusted due to application volume, policy changes, or other factors that impact the procurement process or project. All procurement adjustments will be updated on this page. Check back for updates or clarifications.
Contract Term: January 2026 - June 2027
Throughout this period, intermediary organizations will manage outreach, grantmaking, reporting, and grantee support—with collaboration from WDC’s Business Navigator team and CRF partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about the RFP and procurement process will be accepted at proposals@seakingwdc.org until November 14, 2025, 5pm PST. Responses to questions will be updated regularly here.
Updated: November 12, 2025
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While there is no specific review of proposals offered, questions about applications can be sent to proposals@seakingwdc.org until November 14, 2025. Questions and responses will be put on the FAQ section of this webpage.
If other assistance is needed, such as technology or language, please email proposals@seakingwdc.org so that we may assist with the appropriate resource or referral to assist you.
The Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) partners offer culturally and linguistically relevant assistance and other business support services at no cost: Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) – Washington State Department of Commerce.
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No, the WDC has not offered an RFP opportunity for this scope of work prior to this opportunity. Previous RFP and RFQ opportunities can be located on the Funding Opportunities page of the WDC website: Funding Opportunities — Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County.
For news and reports about prior opportunities and WDC’s work, visit the News page: News — Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County
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A By and For Organization is defined by the Washington State Department of Commerce and Office of Equity as one that is operated by and for the community it serves. This means:
Both the leadership and staff reflect the racial, ethnic, and cultural identities of the community they serve.
The organization’s mission and history are focused on advancing, promoting, and preserving that community’s well-being, identity, and prosperity.
The organization provides culturally relevant programs and services that are rooted in and responsive to the needs of that community.
For the 2025–2027 biennium, this includes, but is not limited to, organizations operated by and for Black, Latine, Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
Federally recognized Tribes are automatically considered By and For Organizations and do not need verification.
If your organization’s leadership, staffing, and mission reflect the community you serve and your programs are designed by and for that community, you likely meet the definition.
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If your organization has not been verified in the prior CRP funding cycle, you will need to complete the By-and-For Verification Form.
This form is used by Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs), including the WDC, to confirm that new partners meet the state’s By-and-For definition. The verification process includes:
Completing the form with basic organization information, the communities you serve, and a short description of how your organization aligns with the By-and-For definition.
Providing a justification describing: (1) how leadership and staff reflect the communities served, (2) your organization’s track record in community-centered service delivery, (3) the cultural relevance and impact of your programs, (4) describing the disparities or barriers your organization helps address and how your work improves workforce access or inclusion.
Submitting the completed form for review by the (CRP) Local Advisory Team (LAT) or CRP Administrators, if the LAT is not yet established.
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Yes. A shorter implementation period may be considered if all deliverables, outcomes, and reporting requirements are successfully met and all grant funds have been fully distributed and reconciled.
However, awarded By and For Organizations must be prepared to engage for the entire project period (January 2026 – June 2027) if needed. The timeline flexibility applies only if all grant awardees have completed their work and final reporting before their May 2027 deadline — not as a means to limit or accelerate services.
Organizations selected through this RFP must ensure that technical assistance, communication, and grantee support remain available throughout the full grant period to meet the needs of all participants and ensure program quality and equitable access.
Virtual Bidder’s Conference
The Virtual Bidder’s Conference gives prospective applicants an opportunity to learn about the grant qualifications and how to apply for this funding stream, and encourages partnerships as we look towards procuring funds through this open, public process. Our goal for this workshop include:
Background on funding requirements for the Washington State Department of Commerce Community Reinvestment Plan
An overview of the requirements, scope, logistics of the grant application process
Opportunity to ask application specific questions
Documents & Resources
Links to relevant documents can be found here:
Resources
ESD Policy 7005, Revision 2 – EcSA and CRP Business Support: https://media.multisites.wa.gov/media/WPC/adm/policy/7005-2.pdf
Washington State Department of Commerce – Community Reinvestment Plan (CRP): https://www.commerce.wa.gov/crp/
Economic Security for All program impact: https://washingtonworkforce.org/ecsa/
Economic Security for All program at WDC: https://www.seakingwdc.org/latest-news/2024/12/12/fighting-poverty-one-paycheck-at-a-time-how-ecsa-is-changing-lives-in-king-county?rq=economic%20security%20for%20all
Definition of ‘By and For’ Organizations: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.79.567
This program is funded by the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) using the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Program funds. For more information about WDC program investments, visit www.seakingwdc.org/funding-and-investment. Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Washington Relay Service: 711.