OPINION: Local businesses deserve support during COVID-19
MACKENNA ROWE, Evergreen columnist
July 22, 2020
We live in a time where Prime delivery offered by Amazon comes in a few days. Walmart can deliver groceries and gaming systems to cars. Food service companies can drop off food right to a front door. What about neighbors or even friends who own local businesses? The story for small businesses is a little...
Application available for small businesses to receive aid amid COVID-19
LOREN NEGRON, Evergreen reporter
July 17, 2020
The Community Action Center is accepting applications for its second round of microenterprise grants. CAC Executive Director Jeff Guyett said the microenterprise grants come from the Community Development Block Grant. The state’s Department of Commerce funds CDBG, which totals to about $120,000. ...
Purpose Roasters changes management, continues to expand
SARAH DANIELS, Evergreen reporter
July 6, 2020
Just when the front doors of a coffee shop in Colfax seemed like it was closed for good, it found a way to come back to life. When Purpose Roasters opened in spring 2018, it started with spouses Travis and Janelle Harrison, as well as friend Nick Wright. The doors of the first Purpose Roasters’ cafe closed March...
Lumberyard Foodhall closes; building available for sale, lease
SYDNEY BROWN, Evergreen reporter
July 3, 2020
The Lumberyard Foodhall went up for lease this week, said Marie Dymkoski, executive director of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce. The food hall opened in late 2018. The business, which occupies the Pullman Building Supply storage space, was listed for sale for $2.4 million by Kiemle & Hagood Co...
City officials describe temporary changes to Main Street
ANDREA GONZALEZ, Evergreen reporter
June 26, 2020
Temporary pop-up trials of back-in angled parking spots and a bike lane are on Main Street until the end of September. The trial cost the city less than $5,000. Clayton Forsmann, Pullman deputy public works director, said the city will keep the pop-up trial going as long as it is functioning wit...
Most remaining businesses now open in Phase 3
EMMA LEDBETTER, Evergreen reporter
June 10, 2020
John Wiesman, Washington's Secretary of Health, approved Whitman County to enter Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start Washington Plan on June 6. Phase 3 allows most remaining closed businesses to reopen once they can meet safety guidelines from the governor’s office. Whitman County has ...
Whitman County unemployment rates rise three percent
ANDREA GONZALEZ, Evergreen reporter
June 3, 2020
Due to COVID-19, Whitman County unemployment rates increased by 3 percent from March to April this year. Doug Tweedy, regional economist for the Washington State Employment Security Department, said Whitman County’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in March and 6.6 percent in April. Tweedy sa...
Small business grant to fund multiple businesses
ANDREA GONZALEZ, Evergreen reporter
June 3, 2020
The deadline for the Whitman County and Community Action Center's Community Development Block Grant has been extended to June 4. Jeff Guyett, Community Action Center executive director, said the grant is federally funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce. Of the money that wa...
Pullman businesses adapt to Phase 2 changes
CHERYL AARNIO and SYDNEY BROWN
May 22, 2020
As Phase 2 kicks off in Pullman, businesses in town must adapt to a new normal. The Safe Start plan for businesses laid out by Gov. Jay Inslee includes specific industry guidelines that businesses must follow in order to reopen, said Pullman Downtown Coordinator Jeanne Weiler. These guidelines include p...
Harbor Freight Tools makes its debut
MADYSEN MCLAIN, Evergreen reporter
May 13, 2020
Harbor Freight Tools opened its doors for the first time Tuesday morning. Sales Manager Daniel Loebs said the first day of business for the store maintained a steady flow of customers, even with it being a ‘soft open.’ The store, 1450 S. Grand Avenue, replaced the old Shopko. Loebs said Ha...
The Daily Grind closes main shop
ANDREA GONZALEZ, Evergreen reporter
May 8, 2020
The Daily Grind closed its main coffee shop on May 1 in response to COVID-19 regulations. The closed shop is located on Main Street. Both drive-through stands located on North & South Grand Avenue will remain open, according to a statement on the Daily Grind website. The Daily Grind’s co...
Salon employees find creative solutions to stay connected with Pullman community
MADYSEN MCLAIN, Evergreen reporter
April 28, 2020
On March 16, Heather Meyer went to work at the LaBella Salon like any other day. Then, she received a call saying all salons in Washington would be closed until further notice. “As a business owner, my biggest concern was the health and safety of my team,” she said. LaBella is an employee-b...
WSU students may soon see more information about practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as part of a new system-wide “Cancel COVID” campaign. Students...
