Last week I announced my plans to step down as director of the Department of Commerce on January 15, 2019. It has been my honor to serve on Governor Inslee’s cabinet and to lead an amazing agency filled with passionate public servants dedicated to serving Washington’s communities. As I shared with the governor and my colleagues, I have very mixed emotions about departing Commerce. I am proud of our agency’s…
Author Archives: Lisa Brown
Commerce’s Low-Income Weatherization Assistance program has helped struggling families around the state for 39 years. As available funding continues to lag the significant need for help in keeping housing for low-income Washingtonians affordable, energy efficient and healthy, we’re experimenting with new ways to attack the most pressing problems. One vexing problem is a “catch-22” issue: many low-income houses, particularly in rural areas, are not eligible for some existing weatherization assistance…
News this month of housing prices and rents beginning to stabilize or even soften is welcome, given the overheated markets that had priced out many potential homeowners. Even so, there’s still a long way to go when we look at affordable housing for opportunities for workers in lower wage groups and people on fixed incomes. Options for adequate housing, let alone home ownership, for many remain few and far between…
Christopher Poulos marked his first year as executive director of Gov. Inslee’s Statewide Reentry Council this month. Poulos recently visited the Paul. G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, where an innovative program is using virtual reality to help individuals prepare for new lives outside of incarceration. Poulos, an attorney and celebrated advocate for criminal justice reforms, was himself formerly incarcerated. Learn more about the Statewide Reentry Council’s…
Chris Green, head of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, attended the China International Import Summit in Shanghai earlier this month. We continue to address intellectual property and other challenges while also working to maintain and grow international relationships that are so vital to our state’s economy, even as more uncertainty emerges from the Trump administration. Here’s an update on recent trade news stories from around the world: The…
You may recall that CNBC ranked Washington America’s Top State for Business, Business Insider ranked our economy #1, and we led the nation in state GDP growth the last two years. Now, we’ve been named the best state for workers by Oxfam America. The organization based its findings on wages, worker protections and workers’ rights in all 50 states and the nation’s capital — and only the District of Columbia topped the Evergreen State. The state’s new paid family and…
High scores for industry, infrastructure and economy pushed Washington to the top of the list in a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on aerospace manufacturing attractiveness internationally and among U.S. states. The paper notes in particular our 1,400+ aerospace companies and the highest concentration of aerospace jobs in America. Next closest competitor states are Texas and Georgia. South Carolina ranks #17. The PwC study is the second major independent effort placing Washington…
I had the honor of speaking to several hundred Chinese and local businesses, government officials, investors and entrepreneurs about trade policy issues and our state’s long and strong commitment to international cooperation. The Shenzhen China-USA investment Forum, Aug. 28 in Seattle, showcased strong ties, opportunities in technology and innovation. These were my remarks (as drafted).
Commerce will be nominating up to 11 cities or counties for the Transportation Improvement Board’s “Complete Streets Award,” with grants between $100,000 and $1 million to be awarded in January 2019. Complete Streets is a program to encourage communities to design streets and roads for all users. Applications are due to Commerce by Sept. 24. Cities and counties with a population of 10,000 or less encouraged to apply.
In an effort to address our affordable housing crisis, as of Sept. 30, it will be illegal for landlords to reject applicants solely for using public assistance to pay rent.