Spokane County Library District awarded $61,000 for new business boot camp program

The Spokane County Library District has won a grant from the American Library Association to launch a business boot camp program this fall.

A combined $1.3 million in grants were awarded to 13 libraries across the country, with two of those grants going to libraries in Washington. The Yakama Nation Library received a $145,000 grant, and the Spokane County Library received a $61,000 grant for efforts to assist entrepreneurs and businesses in their community.

Shawnda Hines, assistant director of communications for American Library Association’s Advocacy Office, said the Spokane County Library District was chosen from a pool of 87 applicants who showed a history of providing services to low-income and underrepresented groups.

Jane Baker, library district spokeswoman for the Spokane County Library District, said a grant-funded boot camp would likely launch sometime this fall. She said it would connect entrepreneurs and businesses to monthly training seminars and networking opportunities and would provide child care so businesses owners with children can participate.

Once the businesses complete the year-long program, they are eligible for a microgrant to help them reinvest into their businesses. The library has not yet determined the amount of individual grants.

She said the program would also focus on smaller communities in the library district, such as Deer Park.

In a statement Wednesday, Spokane County Library District Director Patrick Roewe said the library is looking forward to supporting small businesses.

“We are excited to put this grant to work in our service area and leverage library-led resources with the entrepreneurial spirit of our local business owners so that the community as a whole thrives,” he said.

Baker said the library has not yet announced when the program would start or accept applicants, but that information will likely be released soon.