Five new programs to be offered through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) OLYMPIA, WA – Washington state has been awarded $163.4 million from the U.S. Treasury Department to operate five capital access programs for small businesses. The new funding will be used to launch an updated version of the state’s highly successful Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program, which was completed in 2016. SSBCI leveraged an original $19.7…
More than half of the homes are needed for residents at the lowest income levels OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today released its final housing needs projections, which show the state needs to add 1.1 million homes over the next 20 years, and more than half of them need to be affordable for residents at the lowest income levels. Based on census data and the Office…
OLYMPIA, WA – A delegation of Washington state companies and officials are participating in the AVALON Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defense Exposition in Australia, Feb. 28 – Mar. 5. The largest show of its kind in the southern hemisphere, AVALON attracts nearly 700 companies from around the world. The Washington delegation will be one of 161 official industry and government delegations from 30 countries. The six-day show attracts…
$250K grant solidifies development of new facility with potential for long-term local, regional economic impact OLYMPIA, WA — Lewis County could well become a symbol of Washington state’s robust and growing clean energy economy when zero-emission trucks the height of three-story buildings are seen rolling around the First Mode Proving Grounds later this year. First Mode, a global carbon reduction company that developed the world’s first integrated battery and hydrogen…
Grants provide relief to businesses in all 39 Washington counties OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), has distributed $70 million in grants to 3,787 for-profit and nonprofit small businesses impacted by the pandemic. Funding provided through the Working Washington Grants: Round 5 and Convention Center Grant program is assisting businesses in all 39 Washington counties, including $42 million…
OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown announced today she will be stepping down, effective March 3. Appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee, Brown began serving the agency in February 2019. “Commerce has undergone enormous change in the last few years, and Lisa has been an exceptional leader throughout it all,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “During COVID-19, Lisa deftly guided the agency to pivot quickly to administering unprecedented levels of…
Commerce has developed draft guidance for how local governments should show they have made “adequate provisions” for existing and projected needs of all economic segments (RCW 36.70A.070(2)(d)). This portion of the guidance details how to show consideration for all economic segments in housing planning and how to document programs and actions needed to achieve housing availability including gaps in local funding, development regulations and other limitations. We want to remind…
In late January, Clark County invited the managing director of Growth Management Services, Dave Andersen, to their comprehensive plan update kick-off meeting. Check out Dave’s 40-minute presentation on what to expect, and what to focus on as Clark County takes a look at the next 20 years of community development. Some of the topics covered in the video are: Changes in law concerning housing The updated comprehensive planning schedule How…
Public Hearing Meeting Information Attend: February 22, 2023 Grid Formula Funding Grant – Public Comment Webinar (on Zoom) Time: Feb 22, 2023 01:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Public Comments due by March 7, 2023; 11:59 P.M., PST Email comments to Deborah.Witmer@commerce.wa.gov. 1. Criteria A. Eligible Entities Eligible entities for subawards from Washington State Department of Commerce under this Program include: Electric grid operators Electricity storage operators Electricity generators…
Rural communities are focus of investments in nine new projects statewide OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce was awarded a $9 million grant last week from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will provide new housing for people experiencing homelessness in Island, Klickitat, Mason, Skamania, Thurston, Whatcom and Yakima counties. Funds will be used over the next three years for a variety of…