December 2025 | ROAR Newsletter
Executive Director's Letter
The start of the year is often a time for resolutions - exercising more, eating less sugar, cutting down on social media time. These are all relatable and reasonable goals, but might I suggest some SIMBA mission-aligned resolutions you might consider:
For small business owners & entrepreneurs:
Switch from a sole proprietorship to an LLC;
Understand your business finances (we have all kinds of on-demand, free workshops and videos to help with that);
Create or update your website (Facebook is not a business website);
Complete and adopt a formal business plan (we can help with that);
Join SIMBA to receive business support, marketing, and other tools to help you grow!
For consumers who want to support local:
Ditch your Amazon Prime Membership;
Use Live Local INW to find Eastern Washington businesses for all your needs from retail to restaurants to accountants and more;
Write a Google or Yelp review for your favorite locally-owned business;
Like, comment, and share a social media post from your favorite local business (yes, this contradicts your resolution to spend less time on social media);
Join a nonprofit committee or Board (we’ll be doing a call for committee members in early January).
For nonprofits:
Review your bylaws and policies so they are current and compliant (SIMBA can help with that);
Send thank yous to your donors and volunteers (we love real mail around here);
Consult with a grant writer (we know a great one) to grow your Revenue's and skills;
Revamp your Board and committee meetings to maximize the time and talent of your Board and volunteers.
What about you? What will you resolve to do this year?
Warmly, Robin (robin@spokaneindependent.org)
SIMBA’s Executive Director Robin Haynes joined Ian Sullivan and Ann Foreyt at SIMBA’s 2nd Annual Small Business Holiday Social. Ian is the Executive Director of SIMBA Member Odyssey Youth Movement, and Ann is a Board Member there. The photo is from Sponsoring SIMBA Member Electric Photoland.
SIMBA Updates
Meet Emily Phelps, SIMBA’s NEW Business District Liaison
Emily brings a focused, community-driven approach to supporting Spokane’s small businesses and neighborhood districts, backed by a background in Environmental Studies with a focus on sustainable business and entrepreneurship. Her work centers on building relationships, uplifting local entrepreneurs, and strengthening the local economy.
Outside of SIMBA, Emily loves staying active with Barre classes and neighborhood runs, exploring Spokane’s coffee scene (Indaba’s oat milk latte is a favorite), and thrifting for unique finds at Global Neighborhood Thrift. Have a favorite local business or district she should know about? Reach out to Emily at emily@spokaneindependent.org.
SIMBA School of Business Shorts - Video Series is LIVE!
We’re excited to share that the SIMBA School of Business Shorts series is now on YouTube—and it’s completely free! Our new compact videos cover key topics to help small business owners make informed decisions—perfect for watching during your off time. The first three videos, led by our Executive Director Robin Haynes, dive into Sustainable Small Business Funding:
Traditional Funding & Loans
Crowdfunding & Investors
Grants
A big thank you to Vexing Media for recording and editing these videos—we love collaborating with them. Shoutout to our partners StartUp Spokane and Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) who have made these videos possible. Look out for more shorts soon including marketing, social media, and LLC vs sole-proprietorship.
Meet Our Members
SIMBA members have invested in making our community a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous place in which to Live Local! Learn more about becoming a SIMBA Member!
Sustaining Member Spotlight: New Moon Art Gallery is a dynamic, artist-owned collective located at the gateway to Spokane’s Sprague Union District. The gallery represents over 75 seasoned and emerging artists from the Inland Northwest, offering a diverse range of original, one-of-a-kind artwork across various media, including painting, sculpture, pottery, glassworks, jewelry, and more. Located at 1326 East Sprague Ave., New Moon Art Gallery continues to be a hub for creativity and community.
Supporting and Nonprofit Member Mentions: ArtsEd WA, MAS Othello, The Guardian Spokane, Spokane Arts, Maker + Made, Odell Mae, Glow Children Early Learning Center, and Feast World Kitchen
Current Grant & Loan Opportunities
In our ongoing commitment to supporting the success of the local businesses we serve, SIMBA actively seeks out grant opportunities that align with their needs! We can assist in navigating the application process, offering guidance and support every step of the way. If you want help applying for any of these grants, simply complete this short intake form. Grants are RARE for for-profit businesses outside of research fields, so make sure to apply for grants that may be available.
Amex Shop Small Grants
Small businesses can receive grants to grow, innovate, and support their local communities. The program provides $20,000 grants, with an initial $5 million funding 250 businesses nationwide. Applications are open from Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2025, through January 16, 2026.
Eligibility: Applicants must be 18 or older and own an eligible small business in the U.S. Learn more & apply here!
AMS Young Scholars Program
The American Mathematical Society’s Young Scholars Program provides funding to summer mathematics programs in the U.S. that serve mathematically talented high school students. Grants range from at least $2,500 up to about $15,000 per award, and at least half of the funds must be used for student scholarships, with the rest supporting program expenses (but not institutional overhead). Multiple awards are made each year to qualifying programs.
Eligibility: Programs must be run in the United States (or U.S. territories) and have a track record of at least one year (preferably longer). Eligible programs are typically multi‑week summer offerings directed by mathematicians that enroll at least 20 high school students with demonstrated mathematical talent.
Applications are made by program directors through MathPrograms.org, and must include details like the program description, budget, enrollment expectations, and how funds will be used. Learn more & apply here!
Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund
The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund is a small grant program that helps U.S. military veterans who are just getting started in farming or ranching by providing funding to purchase equipment and supplies that can make a real difference for their farm business. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000, paid directly to approved vendors for items the veteran identifies as essential to launching or growing their operation. Since 2011, the fund has supported hundreds of veteran farmers nationwide.
Eligibility: Applicants must be members of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, have served (or currently serve) in any branch of the U.S. military with an honorable discharge (or equivalent documentation), operate an agricultural business with a business plan, and be willing to fully participate in the fellowship, including reporting and community involvement. Prior recipients are generally not eligible to reapply if they received more than $1,000. Learn more & apply here!
Upcoming Events
SIMBA Business Bites: Federal Tax Prep Essentials
Learn the key steps to prepare for Washington state taxes, understand important deadlines, and discover practical tips to keep your business compliant. Perfect for busy business owners looking for quick, actionable strategies to manage state taxes efficiently.
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 2025 | 12:00 p.m.–12:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual (Zoom) –
SIMBA Business Bites is a monthly series held every 2nd Tuesday, offering bite-sized learning on essential business topics to help you grow and succeed.
Business Tip
Business Tip: Washington Minimum Wage Rises Jan 1, 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, the statewide minimum wage in Washington increases to $17.13 per hour for most workers, up from $16.66 in 2025, reflecting annual inflation adjustments. Employees aged 14–15 can be paid up to $14.56 per hour (85% of the standard rate).
For Spokane and most of Eastern Washington, the state minimum wage applies, since local ordinances do not currently set a higher rate. This makes compliance straightforward, but it’s still important to update payroll systems, job postings, and employee communications to reflect the new rates. Read more here!
