Local businesses invited to tap into global growth strategies at Sept. 8 exporting conference featuring expert trade panels

Local businesses invited to tap into global growth strategies at Sept. 8 exporting conference featuring expert trade panels

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (August 23, 2022) – Greater Seattle Partners in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Commerce, Port of Seattle, and Coupang is hosting a conference offering small and medium-sized businesses the opportunity to learn more about growth through exporting with an emphasis on the South Korean market. Small Business Growth and Resiliency Through Export Opportunities in U.S.-Korea Trade is Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT…

Cindy Guertin-Anderson to lead Community Services Division at Commerce

Cindy Guertin-Anderson to lead Community Services Division at Commerce

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown today announced that Cindy Guertin-Anderson will join the agency executive leadership team as assistant director of the Community Services Division beginning Sept. 1. Guertin-Anderson comes to Commerce from the state Department of Enterprise Services, where she has been serving as assistant director for Workforce Support and Development. She led teams that support state agencies throughout the employee lifecycle —…

2022 Governor’s Smart Communities Award winners announced

2022 Governor’s Smart Communities Award winners announced

OLYMPIA, WA —Eight Washington cities have been named Smart Communities Award winners for 2022. Launched in 2006, the Governor’s Smart Communities Awards program annually recognizes local governments and their partners for exceptional work in implementing the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) to shape future growth, economic vitality and quality of life in communities across Washington. Award winners can serve as models for other communities on solutions to issues of statewide…

Commerce awards $3.3 million to support, restart community festivals and events

Commerce awards $3.3 million to support, restart community festivals and events

Tourism relief grants go to 284 organizations to support small local events, festivals and civic celebrations in 36 counties OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Washington Festivals and Events Association (WFEA) and ArtsWA, today announced 284 successful applicants in 36 of the state’s 39 counties to receive more than $3.3 million in pandemic relief and recovery grants. The funds will provide much-needed support to…

Applications open August 17: $75 million for Washington small businesses and nonprofits

Applications open August 17: $75 million for Washington small businesses and nonprofits

Another round of state pandemic relief grants on the way, with focus on the arts, heritage and science sectors and businesses relying on in-person conventions hosted in Washington OLYMPIA, WA – Applications for the Working Washington Grants: Round 5 and new Convention Center Grants programs open Aug. 17. Together, these programs will distribute $75 million in pandemic relief grants to eligible small businesses and nonprofits across Washington. The Department of…

WSU Extension, Commerce partner to expand rural broadband access, equity

WSU Extension, Commerce partner to expand rural broadband access, equity

PULLMAN, WA — Community specialists with WSU Extension are partnering with the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) to enhance capacity by Washington communities, especially those in rural and remote areas, to provide better and more equitable access to reliable, high-speed internet. Funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the one-year, $8 million statewide Broadband Action Team (BAT) Implementation and Support project aids county and community efforts with training, planning…

Commerce offers up to $5 million to non-profit organizations assisting underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses

Commerce offers up to $5 million to non-profit organizations assisting underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses

Grants from $34.5-mllion Small Business Innovation Fund will support special programs to spur small business recovery, startup and growth OLYMPIA, WA – Non-profit organizations with a history of assisting Washington state small businesses are invited to apply for grants up to $5 million each from the new Small Business Innovation Fund. The Washington State Department of Commerce is seeking to fund proposals that will offer community-based programs and services tailored…

State agencies reach major benchmark in Washington’s transition to clean energy

State agencies reach major benchmark in Washington’s transition to clean energy

UTC and Commerce collaborate to adopt new rules for electric utilities related to energy storage systems, standards and more LACEY, Wash. – The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) and Washington State Department of Commerce recently adopted new rules for electric utilities, reaching a major milestone in Washington’s transition to clean energy. The rules provide guidance on several key requirements in the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) of 2019, which requires…

Commerce awards $2.1 million in grants to help 27 communities plan for climate change

Commerce awards $2.1 million in grants to help 27 communities plan for climate change

Projects will develop vulnerability assessments and identify measures for reducing vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $2.1 million in growth management planning grants to help King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, and multiple cities within each county, plan for local impacts of climate change. Proposals from the 27 communities awarded funding, reveal a wide range of creative approaches…

Washington Energy Emergency Management Director appointed to federal commission addressing wildfire crisis

Washington Energy Emergency Management Director appointed to federal commission addressing wildfire crisis

Olympia, July 19, 2022 – Eli King, energy emergency management director for the Washington State Department of Commerce, was appointed to the national Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission earlier this month. The U.S. departments of Agriculture, Homeland Security and the Interior, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced the 11 federal and 36 non-federal commission members on July 7. More than 500 applications were submitted for the…