Nearly $760 million in sales attributed to State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) since inception OLYMPIA, WA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded the Washington State Department of Commerce a tenth year of funding to help small businesses grow through exporting. The $2 million grant is part of the SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). Commerce will use the funds to continue a number of successful export assistance…
Author Archives: Penny Thomas
More than half a million Washingtonians are at risk of having electricity, natural gas or water services shut off OLYMPIA, WA — The emergency proclamation preventing shut-off of water, electricity or natural gas services is slated to end Sept. 30. It is among the many emergency measures enacted by Gov. Jay Inslee in the wake of COVID-19. State leaders and utility operators estimate more than 500,000 Washingtonians have overdue bills…
Grants fund electricity grid projects that will expand renewable energy use and support community resilience. OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced approximately $3.9 million in grants from the state’s Clean Energy Fund for 18 electricity grid modernization projects across the state. As Washington’s utilities advance towards the state’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045, the projects will advance a variety of renewable energy technologies…
Washington’s Child Care Collaborative Task Force releases strategy that builds on historic Fair Start for Kids Act investments, calls for focus on growing the child care workforce. OLYMPIA, WA – Washington state’s Child Care Collaborative Task Force released a comprehensive new strategy that emphasizes the urgency of bolstering the child care workforce amidst a staggering turnover rate of 43 percent. The new Washington State Child Care Access Strategy makes clear…
Over $123 million in awards to local communities across the state OLYMPIA, Wash. – At their August 6 board meeting, the Washington State Public Works Board approved funding for their Traditional Programs Pre-Construction and Construction loans. These funds benefit local communities addressing infrastructure across six different systems: streets and roads, bridges, domestic water, stormwater, sanitary sewers, and solid waste and recycling. Pre-Construction loans: In this category, jurisdictions submitted seven applications for a total…
The new fiscal year is underway, and Commerce is ramping up our work strengthening communities with dozens of new programs, additional funding and partnerships entrusted to us by the Legislature. Much of our work over the past year and a half was dedicated to pandemic response and recovery. The tremendous efforts and successes of our Commerce team spurred more responsibilities and opportunities for us to extend that work as Washington…
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved over $15.3 million in grants and $2.6 million in low-interest loans for planning, economic development and rural broadband infrastructure construction projects. Nine rural broadband projects were approved for over $14 million in grants from the CERB coronavirus capital projects fund, enabling an estimated 3,858 high-speed internet connections once completed. Another three projects approved for funding under CERB’s…
Over $43 million in federal grant dollars available for broadband projects to unserved and underserved communities OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) is accepting applications for broadband infrastructure construction grants now through Oct. 1, 2021. Cities, towns, counties, special purpose districts and Tribes are eligible to apply. It is important to note that RCW 43.155.160(5)(o) requires applicants to contact local Internet service providers (ISPs) near the…
Hanford Healthy Energy Workers Board finds over 57% of workers reported exposure to hazardous materials, call for independent information clearinghouse serving workers and health care providers OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Hanford Healthy Energy Workers Board recently released its final report and recommendations on the unmet health care needs of current and former workers at the Hanford nuclear site. Nearly a third of more than 1,600 workers responding to a survey…
Building owners can also explore $75 million early adopter incentive program to get a head start on energy efficiency improvements. OLYMPIA, WA – The buildings sector is Washington state’s second-biggest carbon polluter behind transportation. Investment in building energy efficiency is the most cost-efficient way to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The solution to cutting building emissions lies in energy efficiency – the fastest, cheapest way to cut carbon emissions and…