Office of Homeless Youth sought input from those with lived experience to evaluate competitive proposals for funding from service providers across Washington state OLYMPIA, WA — Nearly 60 young people with lived experience of homelessness from across Washington state gathered recently in SeaTac over three days to help evaluate hundreds of applications for funding through the Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) at the Washington Department of Commerce. The more than $40…
The Washington Statewide Reentry Council hosted Concerts for Hope and Listening Circles at four prison facilities across the state this spring in partnership with the Department of Corrections. The Statewide Reentry Council is part of the Department of Commerce. It was created in 2016 to improve public safety and outcomes for individuals reentering the community. “These events give those experiencing incarceration an opportunity to feel valued,” said Janel McFeat, the council’s executive…
First cohort in new program will test potential for developing innovation clusters to drive growth and jobs in rural Washington Olympia, WA – Can small rural communities successfully mobilize public-private coalitions in target industries to create innovation clusters that will drive economic growth and jobs for the future? The Washington State Department of Commerce aims to find out with a new version of its Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP) called…
Commerce Director Mike Fong names former Patty Murray aide to agency executive leadership post OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong today announced Kyla Shkerich Blair will join the agency as Chief of Staff. Shkerich Blair has over a decade of experience serving in city, state and federal government roles, where she spent much of her time listening and engaging with communities across the state. Prior…
Stay up to date on Washington’s Internet for All initiative, bringing affordable and reliable internet access to every community Olympia, WA– The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) this week announced state allocations for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Washington received $1.23 billion to bring affordable and reliable Internet for All. These new federal funds pair with ongoing work on the state’s BEAD five-year action plan and a Statewide Digital Equity Plan…
Applications open now for over $300 million in capital to develop multifamily rental housing projects OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today opened applications for projects seeking capital to develop affordable housing across the state. At more than $302 million, it is the state’s largest single funding round to date. Funds are available to eligible non-profits, local governments, community housing development agencies, tribal governments and housing authorities.…
Commercial-scale E-Jet fuel production facility in Moses Lake, WA, to supply deals with Shopify, Alaska Airlines, and Microsoft. PARIS AIR SHOW, LE BOURGET, FRANCE; June 19, 2023 — Carbon transformation company Twelve and Washington Governor Jay Inslee today announced plans to scale the production of E-Jet® fuel, Twelve’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from CO2 and renewable energy, with a commercial-scale production facility in Moses Lake, WA. The announcement was…
Washington Governor Inslee, ZeroAvia CEO Val Miftakhov announce state support for tech systems development and retrofit center leading up to flight test of world’s largest hydrogen-electric aircraft Paris Air Show, Le Bourget, France — Washington State Governor Jay Inslee today joined ZeroAvia CEO and Founder Val Miftakhov at the Paris Air Show to announce an additional investment by the state to support the company’s expansion at Paine Field in Everett,…
State’s largest homeless encampment now transitions to site restoration SPOKANE – The state’s largest homeless encampment is closing today as state agencies and community partners have moved the last individual living at the encampment into housing. This is the culmination of 18 months of work by three state agencies – and several dedicated outreach group partners – under the state’s Right of Way Safety Initiative. An estimated 600 people were…
“It is with heavy hearts that the Department of Commerce sends condolences to the Tulalip Tribes and the family of Senator John McCoy. We credit the late Senator John McCoy with being the first tribal leader that recognized the value of a strong partnership between the tribes and the Department of Commerce. He was described as being incredibly patient and caring while working with Commerce staff and carefully leading them…