We’re #1 for Tech and Innovation in America’s Top States for Business 2016

We’re #1 for Tech and Innovation in America’s Top States for Business 2016

Washington state held on to the top spot for technology and innovation, and moved up two places to sixth place overall in the 10th annual Top States for Business report from CNBC. Looking back at our past performance, it’s interesting to note that we placed 21st  overall and fifth for technology and innovation just four years ago. As automation, big data, software and cloud computing drive technological advances throughout every…

Composite Recycling Technology Center partners with U.S. Dept. of Energy

Composite Recycling Technology Center partners with U.S. Dept. of Energy

Commerce Director Brian Bonlender joined Sen. Maria Cantwell and other federal, state and local dignitaries to celebrate an important Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing (IACMI) Innovation and our own Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) with partners at the city and Port of Port Angeles, Peninsula College and Clallam County.  The CRTC is funded in part by a grant from the Washington…

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…