Finland visits offer insight on industry transformation through 5G, nuclear waste management & more The familiar comfort of rainy Finnish skies welcomed Commerce’s Innovation Cluster delegates on our first day of the Washington state trade mission to the Nordic region. The day began with a briefing from the U.S. Ambassador to Finland, Douglas Hickey and his staff. We visited the Nokia Experience Center, learning about work to bring internet conductivity…
The Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) is preparing for the second and final round of funding under monies made available by the American Recovery Plan Act. While the second round will not be released until sometime in November of 2022, with this notice, WSBO is soliciting comments on important issues that will inform WSBO in crafting scoring requirements for the Fall Notice of Funding Opportunity (NoFO) as well as certain…
Solar panels coming to more schools, public buildings statewide with latest round of Commerce grants
$1.4 million awarded to fund 14 projects that will produce sustainable energy and energy savings in communities across Washington state OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $1.4 million in grants to state and local government agencies to install solar panels at public buildings in communities throughout the state. The 14 projects awarded funding in this round will support community efforts to move toward sustainable energy…
More than $562 million in sales attributed to State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) since inception OLYMPIA, WA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded the Washington State Department of Commerce a tenth year of funding to help state small businesses grow through exporting. The $1.4 million grant to Washington, part of the SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), is one of the two largest awarded from a total…
State grants to 81 organizations will fund over 3,100 units of permanent supportive housing for people with disabling physical and behavioral health conditions OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $20.8 million in new grants to 81 nonprofit organizations providing the state’s most vulnerable people with permanent housing units and services. Funding will be used for operations and maintenance of 3,135 permanent housing units statewide, along…
The Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Office of Equity and community partners, is responsible for building a plan by July 2023 to describe how funds will be invested to address racial, economic, and social disparities in communities across the state created by the historical design and enforcement of state and federal criminal laws and penalties for drug possession. These dollars will be distributed by Commerce as $100 million…
ConnectionsWA will select site by end of year with capacity to serve 2,000 people annually OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced a $4.2 million grant to ConnectionsWA for a new 16-bed crisis stabilization facility in King County. The facility will leverage $5.3 million in non-state funding to complete the project. ConnectionsWA will select a site in King County to purchase by the end of this…
In accordance with Chapter 70A.535 RCW Transportation Fuel—Clean Fuels Program. Washington’s Clean Fuel Standard will cut statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 4.3 million metric tons a year by 2038 and stimulate economic development in low carbon fuel production. These goals are accomplished by requiring fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels to 20% below 2017 levels by 2038. Fuel suppliers can achieve these reductions through methods…
Homeless service providers in Washington may be eligible for up to $4,000 in economic relief. Homeless service workers with an immediate economic need and income at or below 80% of the county area median income where they live may be eligible for a stipend up to $2,000. A second stipend payment of up to $2,000 is also available for individuals who received an initial stipend payment and are still working…
Washington Commerce Director Brown, Oregon Energy Director Benner to lead board of public-private organization preparing regional bid for Dept. of Energy clean hydrogen hub Seattle, Wash. — The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) completed its formation with election of Washington Commerce Director Lisa Brown as chair and Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner as vice chair of the board. PNWH2 is a non-profit, public-private partnership leading a regional effort…