Annual awards recognize excellence, creativity, collaboration in land use planning and development OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce is pleased to announce the 11 winners of the 2023 Governor’s Smart Communities Awards. Presented annually since 2006, the Smart Communities Awards program recognizes local governments and their partners for exceptional land use planning and development. The awards showcase effective implementation of the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). The honored…
Comprehensive Community Reinvestment Plan details 17 grant programs addressing economic development, legal assistance, violence reduction and reentry services OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today released a Community Reinvestment Plan (Box PDF) identifying a comprehensive set of actions to distribute $200 million to address racial, economic, and social disparities in Washington communities and to individuals disproportionately harmed by the historical design and enforcement of state and federal…
The Public Works Board’s December Meeting is December 1, 2023 from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. This meeting will be held online via Zoom, and in person at the Washington State Department of Commerce headquarters in Olympia (1011 Plum Street, Olympia, WA 98501). Join the Zoom meeting.
Funds will repair emergency water projects in Chelan and Douglas counties, and connect nearly 600 unserved locations to high-speed internet OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) recently approved $4.3 million in critical infrastructure projects in three communities. They include $575,000 in emergency construction projects and $3.7 million in broadband funding. At its Oct. 19 special meeting called to address an emergency funding request, the PWB approved $400,000 for…
The Washington Department of Commerce is initiating this Request for Proposals (RFP) on behalf of the Office of Governor Inslee to solicit Proposals from those qualified and interested in leading a project to develop recommendations on a Washington-specific consultation and public engagement process to guide the planning and evaluation of potential offshore wind development off Washington’s coast. This project will culminate with a final report and presentations of findings to…
The Washington Department of Commerce is initiating this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit Proposals from consultants or firms qualified and interested in participating in a project or firm to administer a Cannabis Social Equity Technical Assistance and Grant Program over two years. Program administration tasks shall include: Development of comprehensive program in collaboration with COMMERCE Provision of an online technical assistance in business plan development Implementation of a mentorship program…
Application due date is December 4, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The Financial Coaching and Mentorship Project will provide $10 million in grants for community organizations and financial institutions to hire 45 to 50 full-time employees for two years. Each grant may not exceed $450,000. Learn more: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/contracting-with-commerce/grants-and-loans/request-for-applications-community-reinvestment-financial-coaching-and-mentorship-grant-project/
The Washington State Department of Commerce is initiating this Request for Applications to solicit proposals from those qualified and interested in grant funding for the Financial Coaching and Mentorship project to invest in communities disproportionately harmed by the historical design and enforcement of state and federal criminal laws and penalties for drug possession, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, and Latino individuals and families. The Financial Coaching and Mentorship…
Funding is available for projects not in the housing trust fund portfolio and is at risk of losing affordability due to expiration of use restrictions The Washington State Department of Commerce is committed to building communities by preserving affordable multifamily housing in our state. Commerce is making $5 million in state funds to projects at risk of losing affordability as part of its ongoing mission. These projects provide critical housing…
Funding will lower energy use, reduce emissions, promote energy efficiency in communities OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce was awarded a $2.2 million grant from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, a funding opportunity from the Office of State and Community Energy Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The state plans to use this funding to lower energy use, reduce emissions, and promote…