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,…
Author Archives: Becky Berg
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…
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…
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…
July 12, 2023, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. July 12, 2023 EV Council meeting packet (PDF) Register for the July 12, 2023 EV Council Meeting (on Zoom) TVW.Org July 12, 2023 Live Stream
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the eligibility of larger cities and counties (PDF), and federally-recognized tribes (PDF) of Washington to apply directly to the federal government for EECBG formula funds. Applications from local governments are due to the federal Department of Energy by January 31, 2024. The DOE’s application template, Energy and Conservation Strategy, states that local governments of all sizes are expected to “coordinate and share information…
Commerce intends to adopt one additional SAA to create a pathway that encourages programs to opt-in to HEAL activities that wouldn’t otherwise be required to do so under the statutorily defined SAA categories. The additional SAA is: Where practicable, as determined by Commerce upon recommendation of the applicable program: projects of existing Commerce grant or loan programs that do not otherwise qualify as a SAA under RCW 70A.02.010(12); and/or Federally-funded…
May 17, 2023, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. EV Council Advisory Committee May 17, 2021 Meeting Packet (PDF) Register for the May 17, 2023 EV Council Advisory Committee (on Zoom) TVW.Org May 17, 2023 Live stream
June 7, 2023, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Register for the June 7, 2023 EV Council Meeting (on Zoom) TVW.Org June 7, 2023 Live Stream