Robin Toth, former vice president at Greater Spokane, Inc., will head the state’s public-private collaborative efforts to grow aerospace in Washington; Julia Terlinchamp leaves Gov. Inslee staff to lead life sciences/global health sector development. OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced today that Robin Toth and Julia Terlinchamp are the newest members of the state’s team leading strategic economic development in eight key industry sectors. Based in Commerce,…
Tag Archives: Bonlender
Once again, Washington posted top GDP numbers of all U.S. states: 3.6% for the first quarter of 2018 against 1.8% nationwide. This comes after our leading annual GDP growth in both 2016 and 2017. A soaring information communication tech (ICT) sector contributed more than half of our overall growth at 1.9 percentage points. Washington’s tech industry is still hiring as fast as companies can find qualified workers, according to Dr.…
I was honored to speak on behalf of Gov. Inslee at last week’s groundbreaking ceremony for the $180 million Summit Addition to the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle. We need this addition to handle all the potential events that choose Washington state as a destination. As I tweeted that day, it’s time the size of our convention center caught up with our economy – the fastest growing in…
In recent weeks, trade policies, tariffs and retaliatory actions are in the news almost daily. Washington state’s economy is more focused on international trade than any other U.S. state – nearly 40 percent of jobs here are tied to trade. That has drawn the attention of local, national and international media seeking to understand what the Trump Administration’s policies and actions mean for American businesses and workers. The latest round…
Community Economic Revitalization Board awards grants for feasibility studies in Snohomish County OLYMPIA, WA – The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today announced $100,000 toward public infrastructure development and new economic feasibility studies on the Arlington Marysville Manufacturing Industrial Center near Smokey Point in Snohomish County. The center spans over 4,000 acres including land within the boundaries of both Arlington and Marysville, with close access to Paine Field and Interstate…
More than $512 million in sales attributed to State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) since inception OLYMPIA, WA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded the Washington State Department of Commerce a sixth year of funding to help state small businesses grow through exporting. The $900,000 grant, part of the SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), is the highest and maximum amount awarded from a total $18 million nationwide.…
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, Commerce Director Brian Bonlender co-host Washington state’s 70+-member delegation – the largest ever – to the world’s premier aerospace trade show OLYMPIA, WA – U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Washington State Commerce Director Brian Bonlender today kicked off four days of development meetings and VIP events for the state’s largest- ever trade delegation to the 2017 International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France. More…
Pend Oreille County, Spokane County, Spokane Valley and Walla Walla awarded funds for environmental analysis to support economic development at proposed manufacturing sites. Olympia, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $485,000 in advanced planning grants to aid four proposed manufacturing projects in eastern Washington. The grants will help Pend Oreille County, Spokane County, the city of Spokane Valley and Walla Walla County move forward with environmental…
Nine diverse projects selected for Washington State Clean Energy Fund matching grants include experimental building energy control systems and equipment, composite materials recycling, ocean energy, high-value nutrient recovery, intelligent energy storage systems and management, fuel cells and polymers for ultra-efficient planes and cars. OLYMPIA, Wash.– The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced the next nine projects awarded matching grants from the state’s Clean Energy Fund to advance research and…
New program recognizes housing stability is key to student success OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Department of Commerce has awarded $1 million under the state’s Homeless Student Stability Act to expand programs in school districts that will help identify and rapidly connect homeless students and their families with housing services and agencies in their community. The number of homeless school children in Washington State has increased by 82 percent in the…