Last week I announced my plans to step down as director of the Department of Commerce on January 15, 2019. It has been my honor to serve on Governor Inslee’s cabinet and to lead an amazing agency filled with passionate public servants dedicated to serving Washington’s communities. As I shared with the governor and my colleagues, I have very mixed emotions about departing Commerce. I am proud of our agency’s…
Bonlender’s tenure includes rebuilding state’s economic development apparatus, launching new ways to fight homelessness, establishing new capital programs in energy, mental health and early learning. Olympia, WA – Brian Bonlender today announced his planned departure as director of the Washington Department of Commerce. He has been in the position since Feb. 1, 2013, and his last day with Commerce will be Jan. 15, 2019. Bonlender, 48, said that while the…
Commerce’s Low-Income Weatherization Assistance program has helped struggling families around the state for 39 years. As available funding continues to lag the significant need for help in keeping housing for low-income Washingtonians affordable, energy efficient and healthy, we’re experimenting with new ways to attack the most pressing problems. One vexing problem is a “catch-22” issue: many low-income houses, particularly in rural areas, are not eligible for some existing weatherization assistance…
News this month of housing prices and rents beginning to stabilize or even soften is welcome, given the overheated markets that had priced out many potential homeowners. Even so, there’s still a long way to go when we look at affordable housing for opportunities for workers in lower wage groups and people on fixed incomes. Options for adequate housing, let alone home ownership, for many remain few and far between…
Christopher Poulos marked his first year as executive director of Gov. Inslee’s Statewide Reentry Council this month. Poulos recently visited the Paul. G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, where an innovative program is using virtual reality to help individuals prepare for new lives outside of incarceration. Poulos, an attorney and celebrated advocate for criminal justice reforms, was himself formerly incarcerated. Learn more about the Statewide Reentry Council’s…
Chris Green, head of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, attended the China International Import Summit in Shanghai earlier this month. We continue to address intellectual property and other challenges while also working to maintain and grow international relationships that are so vital to our state’s economy, even as more uncertainty emerges from the Trump administration. Here’s an update on recent trade news stories from around the world: The…
Remarks by Washington State Department of Commerce Director Brian Bonlender, as prepared for the Housing Washington Conference, Oct. 3, 2018. I’m Brian Bonlender, Director of the Washington State Department of Commerce. I’m delighted to join you this afternoon and have the opportunity to hear from Chris Herbert. Before we kick off, I’d like to take just a few minutes to share an update from our agency. This was a banner…
Our state economy is deeply engaged in trade in Asia – Pacific Rim markets. Vietnam ranked 10th for imports to Washington, led by apparel and footwear, while it is just 32nd as an export market for Washington goods such as aircraft and agricultural commodities. Commerce was pleased to join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Chamber, Hanoi Promotion Agency and Vietnam Software and IT Service Association in co-organizing an investment summit…
You may recall that CNBC ranked Washington America’s Top State for Business, Business Insider ranked our economy #1, and we led the nation in state GDP growth the last two years. Now, we’ve been named the best state for workers by Oxfam America. The organization based its findings on wages, worker protections and workers’ rights in all 50 states and the nation’s capital — and only the District of Columbia topped the Evergreen State. The state’s new paid family and…
High scores for industry, infrastructure and economy pushed Washington to the top of the list in a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on aerospace manufacturing attractiveness internationally and among U.S. states. The paper notes in particular our 1,400+ aerospace companies and the highest concentration of aerospace jobs in America. Next closest competitor states are Texas and Georgia. South Carolina ranks #17. The PwC study is the second major independent effort placing Washington…