Commerce Director Mike Fong names former Patty Murray aide to agency executive leadership post OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong today announced Kyla Shkerich Blair will join the agency as Chief of Staff. Shkerich Blair has over a decade of experience serving in city, state and federal government roles, where she spent much of her time listening and engaging with communities across the state. Prior…
The historic CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) make available hundreds of billions in both direct federal funding and tools to leverage private sector investment in critical industries to Washington state. Commerce is requesting information from communities and entities that plan to apply for federal funding under these programs. For further details on various programs created by the Acts,…
The 2023 Legislature appropriated renewed funding for new recovery residences to Commerce for the biennium that begins July 1, 2023. It also appropriated a significantly larger amount to the Health Care Authority for the same recovery residence startup activities. Both agencies are working together to develop a streamlined approach to contracting these dollars. We hope to avoid administering two identical programs. While that solution is being developed, Commerce will release…
Stay up to date on Washington’s Internet for All initiative, bringing affordable and reliable internet access to every community Olympia, WA– The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) this week announced state allocations for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Washington received $1.23 billion to bring affordable and reliable Internet for All. These new federal funds pair with ongoing work on the state’s BEAD five-year action plan and a Statewide Digital Equity Plan…
Applications open now for over $300 million in capital to develop multifamily rental housing projects OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today opened applications for projects seeking capital to develop affordable housing across the state. At more than $302 million, it is the state’s largest single funding round to date. Funds are available to eligible non-profits, local governments, community housing development agencies, tribal governments and housing authorities.…
Tribal partners reviewed proposed updates to the agency tribal relations policy and can now access all tribal-relations-focused team members through new shared inbox. On June 23, Commerce’s Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) held our second annual Commerce Tribal Advisory Committee (COMTAC) gathering, graciously hosted at the Northern Quest Resort in Airway Heights. As our agency grows in the area of tribal relations, we have been shaping COMTAC to serve as…
In the afternoon, we focused on the work we have been doing internally around updating our tribal relations policy and responding to calls to pull back authority to consult under Executive Order 21-02 Archaeological and Cultural Resources (PDF). The announcement of our commitment to recalling the authority to consult was met with much surprise and support! Our Tribal Resource Group has spun off a small taskforce to begin mapping the…
Commercial-scale E-Jet fuel production facility in Moses Lake, WA, to supply deals with Shopify, Alaska Airlines, and Microsoft. PARIS AIR SHOW, LE BOURGET, FRANCE; June 19, 2023 — Carbon transformation company Twelve and Washington Governor Jay Inslee today announced plans to scale the production of E-Jet® fuel, Twelve’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from CO2 and renewable energy, with a commercial-scale production facility in Moses Lake, WA. The announcement was…
Washington Governor Inslee, ZeroAvia CEO Val Miftakhov announce state support for tech systems development and retrofit center leading up to flight test of world’s largest hydrogen-electric aircraft Paris Air Show, Le Bourget, France — Washington State Governor Jay Inslee today joined ZeroAvia CEO and Founder Val Miftakhov at the Paris Air Show to announce an additional investment by the state to support the company’s expansion at Paine Field in Everett,…
FHWA Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program – Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act Section 11401 discretionary grant fund for four fuels – electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas – split equally between community charging and corridor charging. State and local government, Indian Tribes, planning organizations, and other government agencies are eligible to apply. Applications due June 13, 2023. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (JOET) Ride and Drive Electric Funding…