Programs in six counties and 10 tribal communities will increase broadband access and use in the next year. Broadband advocates in six counties and 10 tribal communities will spend the next year improving access and increasing broadband use in their part of the state. The five Local Technology Planning Teams will begin work this month thanks to $300,000 in grant money awarded by the Washington State Broadband Office of the…
Across Washington, there is a new way to help people locate affordable rental housing Across Washington, there is a new way to help people locate affordable rental housing. HousingSearchNW.org, an online, no cost, service for renters and landlords, is expanding service statewide. A group of King County organizations (Rental Housing Association of Washington, Tenants Union, United Way of King County, City of Seattle, King County, Seattle Housing Authority, and King…
Governor Jay Inslee today directed the state Department of Commerce to release $150,000 from its Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account to support local economies affected by the Skagit River bridge collapse on Interstate 5. Governor Jay Inslee today directed the state Department of Commerce to release $150,000 from its Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account to support local economies affected by the Skagit River bridge collapse on Interstate 5. “We know…
High Percentage of New Homes in Washington State Exceed Current Energy Code The Washington State Department of Commerce and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), representing an alliance of Northwest utilities and energy efficiency organizations, today announced a study of residential energy code compliance that shows Washington State is highest in the nation. In 2009, Washington State adopted one of the most rigorous residential building energy codes in the country. To determine whether Washington home builders…
For decades, transforming Puget Sound’s forest lands, fields and shorelines into places for new homes and businesses often has come at the expense of the environment. While development reduces fish and wildlife habitat, it can also have other negative environmental effects such as diminishing the effectiveness of wetlands and floodplains to filter, cleanse and control polluted runoff – also known as stormwater – which is the number one pollution threat…
Community and region-wide broadband planning efforts get an assist from new grant funds available through the Washington State Broadband Office. The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced that applications are available for the 2013 Local Technology Planning Team grant program. The grants awards will range from $50,000 to $100,000 and are part of the work of Commerce’s Washington State Broadband Office. This is the second year of the grant program and last…
Public hearing set for March 28 in Olympia The Washington State Department of Commerce will conduct a public hearing from 11 a.m. to noon, March 28, 2013, in Olympia to receive comments on its waiver request for additional federal funds to weatherize homes. The hearing will be in the 2nd Floor Conference Room 207 of the Town Square Complex, Building 5, 1011 Plum Street SE, Olympia. Each year, the state receives federal…
Healthy Youth Survey explores attitudes and behaviors among 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders Fewer students are smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol, according to a recent survey of kids in our state. At the same time, a large number of students seriously considered suicide in the past year. The number of secondary school students who believe using marijuana is risky dropped to the lowest level since the state started collecting…
Funds go to higher education institutions and local governments across Washington OLYMPIA, WA – Governor Jay Inslee today announced nearly $18 million in grants to create jobs and to lower energy costs for 12 higher education institutions and 37 local governments. An estimated 543 jobs will be created by this construction spending. The total cost for all the projects is more than $66 million, including more than $48 million in…
Fourteen delegates join Commerce at JEC Composites show in Paris OLYMPIA, WA – A select group from the 100 companies that make up Washington’s $3.3 billion composites industry will join a Washington State Department of Commerce delegation to the JEC Composites trade show in Paris from March 12-14. The still-young composites industry, which has sparked a resurgence of quality manufacturing jobs in the state, provides products, parts and services to a broad range of…