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

Based in Everett, Sound is the publisher of Whidbey News-Times and The South Whidbey Record.

In total, Sound Publishing provides local news, information and advertising to more than 35 communities in Washington state.

Sound is making up to $500,000 available to locally owned and operated businesses through monthly grants ranging from $500 to $20,000.

The program will provide matching advertising credits for use in print and digital products. The grants will be awarded immediately and will be effective in January, February and March.

“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,” O’Connor said.

“We’ve developed our stimulus program to meet those challenges and help local business not only recover, but flourish, in today’s business climate.”

Applications are due Jan. 4. Grants can be used from Jan. 1 through March 31.

“The objective of the business stimulus program is to assist our local clients and small businesses effectively communicate with their customers, regardless of the external challenges they’re facing,” said Keven Graves, executive editor and publisher of the News-Times and The Record.

“We’ve heard from our advertisers, big and small, how significant the grant program was at a time when they needed it the most,” Graves said.

• To apply for a grant, go to www.soundcommunitygrant.com