Washington Leads Nation in State GDP Growth; Unemployment at Lowest Level Since 2007

Washington Leads Nation in State GDP Growth; Unemployment at Lowest Level Since 2007

Once again, Washington posted top GDP numbers of all U.S. states:  3.6% for the first quarter of 2018 against 1.8% nationwide. This comes after our leading annual GDP growth in both 2016 and 2017. A soaring information communication tech (ICT) sector contributed more than half of our overall growth at 1.9 percentage points. Washington’s tech industry is still hiring as fast as companies can find qualified workers, according to Dr.…

Snohomish PUD Breaks Ground on Microgrid and Clean Energy Technology Center

Snohomish PUD Breaks Ground on Microgrid and Clean Energy Technology Center

This project represents new technology and an approach that offers grid resiliency and renewable energy integration. The project will include a 500-kilowatt solar array with smart inverters, a 1,000 kW/1,000 kWh lithium-ion battery storage system and several vehicle-to-grid charging stations for use with the PUD’s electric fleet vehicles. Grants from the Washington Clean Energy Fund Grid Modernization Program helped deliver the energy storage elements that enable these and other exciting…

Convention Center Addition Brings $93 million in Community Improvements, including $30 million for Affordable Housing

Convention Center Addition Brings $93 million in Community Improvements, including $30 million for Affordable Housing

I was honored to speak on behalf of Gov. Inslee at last week’s groundbreaking ceremony for the $180 million Summit Addition to the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle. We need this addition to handle all the potential events that choose Washington state as a destination. As I tweeted that day, it’s time the size of our convention center caught up with our economy – the fastest growing in…

Washington State ABLE Program Helps Individuals with Disabilities Save for the Future

Washington State ABLE Program Helps Individuals with Disabilities Save for the Future

When Congress passed and President Obama signed the Stephen Beck Jr. ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act in 2014, people with eligible disabilities could finally save for their everyday needs, invest in a tax-free account, and prepare for the future without losing their state or federal benefits. Last month, after years of hard work with advocates and stakeholders across the state, Commerce hosted a celebration of the new Washington…

UPDATE: Trade Wars and Tariffs

UPDATE: Trade Wars and Tariffs

In recent weeks, trade policies, tariffs and retaliatory actions are in the news almost daily. Washington state’s economy is more focused on international trade than any other U.S. state – nearly 40 percent of jobs here are tied to trade. That has drawn the attention of local, national and international media seeking to understand what the Trump Administration’s policies and actions mean for American businesses and workers. The latest round…

Honest, thoughtful analysis of trade policy impact needed when approaching changes to NAFTA

Director Bonlender delivered these remarks on Feb. 20, 2018 at an event hosted by the Consular Association of Washington. First, I’d like to thank Petra Walker for inviting me to this event this afternoon and the Consular Association of Washington for hosting this important conversation. I also appreciate that Consul General Dondisch representing Mexico and Consul General Brandon Lee representing Canada have taken the time to be here this evening.…

How competitive is Washington state?

How competitive is Washington state?

Top aerospace industry analyst Richard Aboulafia was interviewed by Seattle Times reporter Dominic Gates on the first day of the 2018 Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference. Governor Inslee’s Choose Washington NMA Council recently announced hiring Aboulafia and Teal Group to produce a an independent competitive analysis addressing in detail the state’s benefits and challenges to win design, manufacture and assembly of the Boeing Company’s proposed new middle-of-the-market airplane, sometimes referred…

Connecting small businesses with international customers, partners

Connecting small businesses with international customers, partners

Rounding out the 2017 industry trade show calendar, Commerce organized and led delegations on two final trade missions: Dubai Air Show. The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s largest markets for civil and military aircraft. Read more about the Washington companies in this year’s Choose Washington booth in Dubai. MEDICA is the world’s largest medical industry trade show. Learn about our innovative entrepreneurs and companies doing business in in Dusseldorf, Germany. Commerce provides services to…