washington business washington resiliency award
The Washington Resiliency Award recognizes an employer that has shown resilience and determination in overcoming difficult obstacles and demonstrates leadership in carrying out initiatives addressing safety , community resiliency and / or financial threats related to an emerging , immediate or long-term threat or community crisis while taking into consideration the varying needs of all residents of the geographic region .
2022 winner : step by step and farm 12 , puyallup www . stepbystepfamily . org
“ We believe that the way people treat their families starts at work . If we can make a difference where they spend most of their day , they ’ ll come home with a smile on their face as they hug their kids .”
— Step by Step and Farm 12 nomination materials
about : Step by Step is a nonprofit organization that serves and supports at-risk mothers and families . Its social enterprise , Farm 12 Restaurant and Events , provides job training and workforce experience opportunities for women in the Step by Step program , with 100 % of its profits benefiting the organization .
why they won : After years of fundraising and planning , Step by Step opened Farm 12 in 2019 . Unfortunately , all the preparation in the world couldn ’ t have predicted the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the hospitality industry . Farm 12 vowed not to lay off any employees for eight weeks . The business applied for loans , stayed on top of the ever-changing safety guidelines , offered counseling
in response to rising mental health concerns , and raised money to support staff and the community . Eight weeks turned into 2.5 years , and no one lost their job , and the restaurant never closed .
other finalists :
• Pete ’ s Milk Delivery , Kent : Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and despite the closure of 145 client restaurants and coffee shops , Pete ’ s Milk Delivery was able to keep its employees working while remaining a reliable source of farm-fresh milk for grocery stores .
• Westport Winery and Ocean ’ s Daughter Distillery , Aberdeen : Westport Winery and its sister business Ocean ’ s Daughter Distillery pivoted from creating 40 hand-crafted spirits to producing hand sanitizer for law enforcement and first responders during the pandemic .
entrepreneur of the year
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award is given to a Washington state business that is less than 5 years old and has made a significant impact in its industry .
2022 winner : boundless immigration , seattle www . boundless . com
“ A true American Dream story .”
— Boundless Immigration nomination materials
about : Founded in 2017 , Boundless Immigration ’ s online platform has helped more than 70,000 families apply for green cards and U . S . citizenship while providing access to affordable independent immigration attorneys . winter 2023 33