Currently in the Local Government Division, the Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants (EES) program will soon be joining the Energy Division. The EES program focuses on reducing energy and water costs at state public higher education institutions, local government facilities, state agencies and K-12 public school districts. The program promotes the use of Washington manufactured solar products, including solar modules and inverters. They are awarded through a competitive process and…
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) has published their second single family homes report. The objective is to characterize existing residential building stock in the Northwest region. Characterization includes regional differences, such as climate, building practices and fuel choices, plus home characteristics such as square footage, insulation level, heating, family size, income levels, lighting, appliances, water heating and more. Key findings are: LED adoption has soared to nearly a quarter…
Mobile World Congress is in full swing in Barcelona. Executives from Bank of America, FedEx, Amazon, Telefonica, accueweather, Microsoft, Sky and Barclays Bank were among those visiting our companies at the Choose Washington stand in the Hanse-Aerospace Pavilion today. Members of our delegation also had a full slate of meetings and networking events, including a government-sponsored panel with companies and investors from Spain. We’re excited for another day of creating…
By Robert Fiddick, Commerce International Trade Team The highlight of Day One for the Choose Washington trade show delegation at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain was the chance to greet King Felipe VI. The invitation reflects the strong relationship between Spain and Washington State. We were the first delegation to meet with the king at the show. James Costos, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, visited our exhibit in the…
Applications are now being accepted for our Public Works Board’s Emergency Construction Loan Program. This program focuses on the activities that repair, replace, and/or reconstruct a facility that will restore essential services. Applications can be submitted until funds are exhausted.
Director Bonlender delivered these remarks on Feb. 20, 2018 at an event hosted by the Consular Association of Washington. First, I’d like to thank Petra Walker for inviting me to this event this afternoon and the Consular Association of Washington for hosting this important conversation. I also appreciate that Consul General Dondisch representing Mexico and Consul General Brandon Lee representing Canada have taken the time to be here this evening.…
2002, 2018
National study shows local gains, but still insufficient affordable housing construction
A 2017 study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition that looked at affordable housing in the 50 largest metro areas in the country showed Seattle has 29 units of affordable housing for every 100 households with extremely low income. While we are building more than other regions of the country, Puget Sound population growth still outpaces the rate of construction. Willingness to explore new housing ideas and build homes more quickly is…
Washington’s state GDP increased 4.3 percent in the third quarter of 2017, the most recent reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). That’s fourth best nationwide, behind only Delaware (5.7), Texas (5.0) and New Hampshire (4.4). Once again, the information sector far outpaced other sectors, contributing 1.29 of Washington’s percentage point change. Other strong sectors were retail trade at .61 percent and finance and insurance at .50 percent. Durable…
Top aerospace industry analyst Richard Aboulafia was interviewed by Seattle Times reporter Dominic Gates on the first day of the 2018 Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference. Governor Inslee’s Choose Washington NMA Council recently announced hiring Aboulafia and Teal Group to produce a an independent competitive analysis addressing in detail the state’s benefits and challenges to win design, manufacture and assembly of the Boeing Company’s proposed new middle-of-the-market airplane, sometimes referred…
Executives from some of Washington’s most innovative, small and medium-sized tech companies join the Department of Commerce next week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain