Sound Publishing has launched a local business stimulus program to help businesses adapt in a rapidly evolving economic environment.

Sound Publishing, based in Everett, is publisher of the Federal Way Mirror as well as several weekly publications in King County, the Daily Herald in Everett, Peninsula Daily News in Port Angeles and the Daily World in Aberdeen. Sound provides local news, information and advertising to over 35 communities in Washington state.

“This stimulus program follows the highly successful grant program that we launched in May of this year,” said Josh O’Connor, President of Sound Publishing. “While providing nearly $300,000 of much-needed marketing grants to local advertisers, we gained great insights into the challenges that small business owners are facing. We’ve developed our stimulus program to meet those challenges and help local business not only recover, but flourish, in today’s business climate.”

Sound Publishing will make up to $500,000 available to locally owned and operated businesses through monthly grants ranging from $500 to $20,000. It will provide matching advertising credits for use in print and digital products. The grants will be awarded immediately and will be effective January, February and March of 2021.

Grant application deadline is Jan. 24, 2021. Grants can be used from Jan. 1 through March 31. To learn more about the grant or to apply, visit www.soundcommunitygrant.com.

“The goal of our local business stimulus program is to assist our clients and small businesses in effectively communicating with their customers regardless of the external challenges they face,” said Rudi Alcott, vice president of operations for Sound’s King County publications. “We’ve heard from our partners throughout King County how significant the grant program was at a time when they needed it the most. Now it’s time to focus on the future and help them move forward in this time of unprecedented challenges.”