Spokane City Council member to serve on state board promoting jobs, economic development OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Department of Commerce Director Brian Bonlender today announced the appointment of Spokane City Councilmember Candace Mumm to the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). Mumm is CEO of Smartland LLC, a North Spokane company that builds and rehabilitates homes to make them senior-friendly. She received an MBA from Gonzaga University in 2010, and a BA in Broadcast…
Low-income homeowners can save on energy costs and stay warm this winter with weatherization assistance OLYMPIA, WA – Governor Inslee joins community action agencies, housing authorities, and local governments across the state and nation by recognizing October 30, 2014, as Weatherization Day in Washington. As chilly weather sets in, residents across the state are turning up their thermostats to combat dropping temperatures. For low-income families, however, cranking up the heat is not…
The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced an effort to solicit public comment on housing needs across the state. Any Washington resident is encouraged to participate in an 11 question online survey. The survey results will guide plans for using federal funds aimed at addressing housing needs throughout Washington State. Each year, the state receives approximately $8 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to…
The Washington State Public Works Board announced their new FirstStop initiative, a collection of tools and services that helps communities identify available resources to move local public infrastructure projects forward. An online Resource Catalogue provides a first-stop referral system to financial, technical, and training resources provided by expert agencies, nonprofit organizations, associations and others. “Finding financing for infrastructure today is a challenging experience. With fewer resources available, small and medium sized communities are most directly affected.…
Innovative public-private partnership produces funding The Washington Small Business Credit Initiative has attracted $31.5 million in new private investment to support loans to small businesses around the state, the Department of Commerce announced today. Commerce contracts with Craft3, a Community Development Financial institution, to manage a loan fund which helps small businesses, particularly those in economically disadvantaged communities, get the credit they need to grow. “Small businesses account for about…
State funds support over $19 million in local match and private investment to target job creation in Clallam, Grant, Jefferson, Spokane, and Whatcom counties The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $1.4 million in public investments, including a $500,000 low-interest loan to support the new AeroTEChangar at Port of Moses Lake where MRJ will conduct flight testing and certification beginning next year. Mitsubishi Regional Jet announced their choice of…
Grants range from $325,000 to $1 million for vital local projects throughout the state The Washington State Department of Commerce announced that 15 cities and counties will receive a total of more than $9.5 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 2014. The 15 projects were selected from 39 grant applications requesting over $24 million. They will improve rural water, sewer and street systems; support affordable housing; construct fire stations; and…
State is top performer with $136 million in sales attributed to State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program since inception The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded the Washington State Department of Commerce a third year of federal funding to help state small businesses grow through exporting. The $494,200 grant, part of the SBA’s State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program, is the second largest state award from a total…
James Jaime, David Rhoden, Daniel J. Seydel, Richard Bogert and Nicole Grant to serve on state board promoting jobs, economic development OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Department of Commerce Director Brian Bonlender today announced the appointment of Steven Anderson to chair the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). Anderson, who has been CERB vice chair since September 2013, has served on the board since 2009 and currently represents small business for the area east of the…
State Brownfields fund to help Tacoma develop final three parcels for sale. OLYMPIA, WA –Finishing development of Tacoma’s Thea-Foss Waterway received a boost with a $90,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce. The funding will enable Tacoma to prepare most of the remaining parcels for sale. The Thea-Foss Waterway Development Authority District consists of 17 parcels, covering 30 acres of waterfront property. These properties have been used for plywood…