State grants $9.7 million to increase access to capital for renewable technologies and energy efficiency projects

Non-profit partners Craft3, Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union, Washington State Housing Finance Commission build on early successes with commercial and residential loan programs serving communities throughout the state. The Washington State Department of Commerce has committed $9.7 million from the state’s Clean Energy Fund to three non-profit lending institutions: Craft3, Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union (PSCCU), and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. The grants will continue and expand successful…

2016 Governor’s “Smart Communities” Award Winners Announced

One county and seven cities recognized for excellence in growth planning Winners of the 2016 Washington State Governor’s Smart Communities Awards were announced today by the Department of Commerce, which provides technical assistance to local governments on comprehensive planning under the state’s Growth Management Act. Now in its 11th year, the Smart Communities Awards program recognizes achievements by local leaders who promote smart growth planning and projects that contribute to…

Community Economic Revitalization Board approves grants for Benton, Grant, Kitsap and Pacific counties.

The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $234,500 in public investments for infrastructure development and economic feasibility studies targeting business growth and job creation at the Port of Benton, Port of Moses Lake, Port of Bremerton, Port of Kingston, and the Port of Peninsula. Benton County – $50,000 grant to the Port of Benton for a master planning feasibility study to assess the 1,341 acres north of Horn Rapids Road…

State grants $10.6 million for energy efficiency and solar projects

Funds will lower energy costs in public buildings and create an estimated 531 jobs The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced over $10 million in energy efficiency and solar grants to help reduce energy costs at eight higher education institutions, 32 local governments, four state agencies, and eight K-12 public school districts. Construction spending on these projects will create an estimated 531 jobs. The total cost for all the projects is about $54.2…

Dr. Joseph Williams named state Director of Economic Development for the Information and Communication Technology sector

Former industry executive and business-government-economics school dean at Seattle Pacific University will serve as principal adviser to Governor Inslee, director of economic development for the information and communication technology industry sector in Washington state. The Washington State Department of Commerce announced today that Dr. Joseph Williams will lead the state’s efforts to develop and grow Washington’s $40-billion information and communication technology (ICT) industry sector, which employs nearly 200,000 people in…

Gov. Inslee praises “Solar Communities”

Bellingham, Mountlake Terrace, Snoqualmie and the Regional Code Collaboration recognized for increasing residential solar energy installations through reduced costs, streamlined permitting Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed the cities of Bellingham, Mountlake Terrace, Snoqualmie and the Regional Code Collaboration representing cities in King County, as Northwest Solar Communities, acknowledging their various initiatives that have increased residential solar installations by nearly 500 percent since 2013. They join the existing Solar Communities of Bellevue, Edmonds, Kirkland, Mercer…

Washington State delegation returns to Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg

Ten Washington companies showcase innovative products and services from engineering, in-flight entertainment and technology solutions to manufacturing, materials and data management systems. Washington State, the leading global hub for aerospace design, development and manufacturing, is represented by 10 outstanding companies from communities throughout the state at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), April 5-7 in Hamburg, Germany.  Many of the companies received export assistance vouchers from the Department of Commerce to help offset the cost…

State Board funds infrastructure development and economic feasibility studies in Clallam, Spokane and Whitman counties.

Investments in public infrastructure strengthen rural Washington communities The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) has approved $172,500 in public investments for infrastructure development and economic feasibility studies targeting business growth and job creation for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Port of Port Angeles, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and City of Colfax. “Strong communities are the lifeblood of our state’s economic vitality. Modern public infrastructure systems form the core of every community’s…