Six cities and one county receive awards for smart growth planning Governor Jay Inslee today announced winners of the 2015 Smart Communities Awards. Now in its 10th year, the program recognizes achievements by local leaders who promote smart growth planning and projects that contribute to quality of life in Washington State. “These forward-thinking projects help create and sustain a thriving economic climate and strengthen our ability to lead in the global…
Author Archives: Penny Thomas
The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $1,672,500 in grants and loans for infrastructure development and economic feasibility studies targeting business growth and job creation in the Port of Woodland, Town of Twisp, Port of Douglas County and the City of Lynden. Cowlitz County – $50,000 grant to the Port of Woodland for the Guild Road Industrial Park Master Plan. A master planning study to complete the master plan design…
Washington’s 1,350+ aerospace firms and coveted highly-skilled workforce always draw crowds to ChooseWashington pavilion at aerospace industry’s largest exhibition. The Washington State Department of Commerce hosted a “bootcamp” in Seattle this week to prepare the 47 members of this year’s state delegation for the International Paris Air Show opening next month in Le Bourget, France. Led by Alex Pietsch, director of the Office of Aerospace, the group includes 12 companies from the state’s massive…
Innovative program aims to bring crowd-sourced, zero-interest small business loans to all 39 counties Seattle, May 6, 2015 – The Washington State Department of Commerce and Community Sourced Capital, a Seattle-based company that helps connect small businesses with affordable capital, today launched Fund Local, a campaign aimed at bringing zero-interest crowd-sourced loans to small businesses in all of Washington’s 39 counties. Fund Local provides an opportunity for established Washington businesses to borrow up…
Bellevue, Edmonds, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and Seattle recognized for increasing residential solar energy installations through reduced costs, streamlined permitting Gov. Jay Inslee today proclaimed the cities of Bellevue, Edmonds, Kirkland, Mercer Island and Seattle “Northwest Solar Communities,” acknowledging their various initiatives that have increased residential solar installations by nearly 200% since 2013. The Northwest Solar Communities program joined local governments, utilities, and solar industry stakeholders from Washington and Oregon to bring down the cost…
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, March 30, 2015 – A delegation of Washington state aerospace companies and Department of Commerce officials is connecting with industry decision-makers and government representatives from more than 28 countries this week at Aeromart Montreal. Washington state produces leads all U.S. states in aerospace exports and is home to the Boeing’s revolutionary 777X and carbon-fiber wing programs. Located at Stand 1310, the Washington contingent will showcase its state’s global…
Public investments to fund infrastructure development and economic feasibility studies in Cowlitz, Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson counties The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $1,687,500 in public investments for infrastructure development and economic feasibility studies targeting business growth and job creation in the cities of Kelso, Connell and Port Townsend, Cowlitz County, and the Port of Douglas County. Jefferson County – $1.2 million loan and a $300,000 grant to the City…
Washington State Department of Commerce aims to increase awareness and sales in international markets for innovative technology businesses Demonstrating the state’s leadership in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, the Washington State Department of Commerce is leading a delegation of 18 companies at GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, the world’s largest conference for the mobile tech industry. This is the fourth consecutive year Commerce has showcased new…
Millions of dollars in Earned Income Tax Credits go unclaimed each year Low-income people can reduce or eliminate the amount of federal income taxes they pay by claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit on their 2014 income tax returns. Some may even qualify for a lump-sum payment if the credit exceeds the amount of taxes owed. Last year, the average Earned Income Tax Credit refund in our state was $2,145 per person.…
Advanced Permitting Grant will build on growing aerospace industry momentum at Grant County International Airport The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced a $350,000 grant to Grant County to advance environmental permitting efforts and help prepare sites for large-scale manufacturing development at the Port of Moses Lake. The County will use the funding to conduct environmental review for 400-acres of property at Grant County International Airport. While no specific…