Commerce Connections

“Washington is a product that must compete every day to retain and grow the businesses and jobs we have now and attract new ones. Sustaining a world-class innovation economy on a foundation of strong communities requires that we make continuous improvements and focus on fundamentals - infrastructure, education and workforce training, and regulatory efficiency. With our eye on these and a handful of more specific priorities, we will achieve global competitiveness for our businesses and more and better jobs for all the state’s citizens.”
--- Rogers Weed, Director, Department of Commerce

COMMERCE REPORT

“Defining Commerce: Next Steps in our Mission to Grow and Improve Jobs in Washington”

Report to Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington Legislature, November 2009

Defining Commerce: Next Steps in our Mission to Grow and Improve Jobs in Washington – Final Report, Nov. 1, 2009

Appendices:

Commerce

Working Together to Transform the Dept. of Commerce
In formulating our plan for Commerce, we convened nearly 100 regional and statewide meetings with focus groups of small and large businesses, local governments, housing and community service agencies and nonprofits, economic development organizations, utilities, statewide associations and interest groups, internal staff and other state agencies, and legislators. Additionally, an online survey collected input from almost 4,500 participants during the outreach process. Following publication of our first draft report, more comments and feedback were solicited via a dedicated email address: comment@commerce.wa.gov .
Following are links to reports and comments that helped guide our priorities and recommendations for the new Commerce.