The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) has approximately $13.5 million available for broadband construction loans to acquire, install, or construct last and middle mile infrastructure in unserved areas of the state. Eligible applicants Local governments Tribes Nonprofit organizations Cooperative associations Multiparty entities Limited liability corporations (LLCs), incorporated businesses and partnerships Important dates Pre-applications are due by 11:59 p.m. PT, July 18, 2023. A 30-day objection period will follow, and…
The nomination window for the 2023 Governor’s Smart Community Awards is now closed. We want to thank everyone for their amazing submissions. Our judges will work furiously over the coming weeks to review the applications and select winners for the Smart Awards categories. You should expect to hear more about winners later this summer. These awards highlight the actions of local governments and their partners across our great state, providing…
The Public Works Board’s July Meeting is July 7, 2023 from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. This meeting will be held online via Zoom, and in person at the Clark Regional Wastewater District in Vancouver, WA. Members of the public are invited to attend. Join the Zoom meeting.
As we recently shared in a Special Edition of the Planners’ Newsletter, this past legislative session resulted in the most significant reforms to the Growth Management Act (GMA) in over two decades. The Legislature and the governor went big on issues like housing and climate change and continued the process of updating the state’s growth policy framework. These successes took strong leadership, a broad coalition and bipartisan cooperation. Adding important…
Commerce Growth Management Services (GMS) has updated our HB 1337 Draft Accessory Dwelling Unit Guidance (PDF), this time with requirements reflecting recent session law HB 1337. We are opening a 30-day comment period on the new guidance with comments due by June 15, 2023. Recently passed in the 2023 legislative session, the intent of HB 1337 is to further ADU construction, and increase the variety of housing types and housing…
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the eligibility of larger cities and counties (PDF), and federally-recognized tribes (PDF) of Washington to apply directly to the federal government for EECBG formula funds. Applications from local governments are due to the federal Department of Energy by January 31, 2024. The DOE’s application template, Energy and Conservation Strategy, states that local governments of all sizes are expected to “coordinate and share information…
Commerce intends to adopt one additional SAA to create a pathway that encourages programs to opt-in to HEAL activities that wouldn’t otherwise be required to do so under the statutorily defined SAA categories. The additional SAA is: Where practicable, as determined by Commerce upon recommendation of the applicable program: projects of existing Commerce grant or loan programs that do not otherwise qualify as a SAA under RCW 70A.02.010(12); and/or Federally-funded…
Join us! Let’s talk about the upcoming Public Works Board Broadband Program funding cycle at our virtual Lunch and Learn, Tuesday 5/16 from 12 PM – 1 PM. The Public Works Board Broadband Team will provide a cycle overview and take questions from our partners about our upcoming funding cycle with an anticipated opening of June 6th. We hope to see you there! Join the Zoom meeting.
The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) is an infrastructure funder, and we anticipate opening a broadband loan cycle on June 6, 2023. If you are a broadband infrastructure manager for local governments, tribes, nonprofit organizations, cooperative associations, multiparty entities, LLC’s, incorporated businesses or partnerships, it’s time to get ready for a funding cycle! Here’s how: Review Recent Statutory Changes, Scoring Criteria, and Threshold Requirements: RCW 43.155.160, effectuated following the…
The Washington State Public Works Board encourages potential funding applicants to take advantage of virtual application workshops scheduled for May 10 and 11. No registration is required, and attendance is not required to submit a funding application. Virtual workshop meeting links: May 10 workshop from 10 – 11 a.m. (Zoom meeting) May 11 workshop from 10 – 11 a.m. (Zoom meeting) Workshops will be recorded and posted later on pwb.wa.gov. Links to the ZoomGrants…