Commerce Director Fong announces first round of grants to assist Washington state applications for millions in federal funds OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington Department of Commerce today announced the first two rounds of grants from a new program designed to assist communities in capturing opportunities to receive a share of billions in federal funding currently available to states. The Securing Federal Funding Initiative, funded by the Washington State Legislature, supports…
The Community Reinvestment Plan is currently redistributing $200 million from the Community Reinvestment Account to invest in communities disproportionately harmed by the historical design and enforcement of state and federal criminal laws and penalties for drug possession (the “War on Drugs”). This funding prioritizes (but is not limited to) Black, Latine, and tribal communities across WA, but all communities of color who have been harmed by the War on Drugs…
Annual awards recognize outstanding work in community planning and development Olympia, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Commerce has opened nominations for the 18th annual Governor’s Smart Communities Awards, a program that recognizes outstanding work by local governments and their partners on long-term community planning and development. Nominations feature the best our state has to offer in collaborative community development and local comprehensive planning. Community leaders look to this…
Commerce study outlines priorities, strategies to grow creative sector which represents nearly 20% of total state economic production OLYMPIA, WA – The creative sector accounts for nearly 20% of Washington state’s economy, contributing nearly $120 billion annually to the state GDP, according to a report released today from the Washington State Department of Commerce. The report, produced with the assistance of the Creative Economy Strategic Work Group and lead contractor…
Additional grant funding is available through March to support regional planning for vulnerable residents at the lowest income levels OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce awarded $240,000 to five community partnerships across the state to support coordination of land use planning and homeless services planning. Each city or county-led partnership will use the funds to coordinate resources and plan for their lowest income housing needs, including residents…
The Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce), Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) soliciting research and data collection proposals. The Proposals will implement research and data projects to help policymakers, and system and community partners improve the effectiveness of implementation and enforcement of the state’s laws related to firearms relinquishment and prohibitions such as Orders to Surrender and Prohibit Weapons and…
Commerce is initiating a Request for Proposals from firms interested in helping to develop a Community Benefits Plan as part of the application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for Home Energy Rebates funding authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The consultant will help engage communities of interest on the forthcoming federal rebate programs to identify community need, barriers to access, and more generally to receive input into…
The Washington State Department of Commerce has issued a new RFQQ soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to audit income-restricted units in multifamily property tax exemption (MFTE) properties in accordance with RCW 84.14.100(3). The audits performed by this contract will be performance based, comparing recipients of the tax exemption to what’s required to evaluate the effectiveness of the MFTE program. This RFQQ also includes development of a fee schedule for future…
The Washington State Department of Commerce is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to provide feasibility assistance and policy guidance for local governments to successfully promote and implement Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and Land Conservation and Local Infrastructure Programs (LCLIP) in the Puget Sound Region. Details Commerce has budgeted an amount not to exceed $360,000 for this project RFP Submissions are due: Monday, April 1, 2024, by 4 p.m. PST…
The Industrial Site Readiness grant program is created to boost the state’s portfolio of project-ready sites and accelerate private investment. Any public entity such as county, city, port district, or local tribe that have ideally, but not required, completed early site assessments and are ready to take the next steps toward site readiness may apply. This one-time grant program provides funding to address specific site development needs faced by local…