Commerce invests $27.3 million to provide safer and healthier environments for children

Commerce invests $27.3 million to provide safer and healthier environments for children

Grants will fund minor renovation requests to help keep 253 child care facilities safe and operational OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), announced $27.3 million in grants to 253 child care providers across the state. The grants provide financial assistance to allow providers to complete renovations such as roof repairs, COVID-19 safety measures, playground equipment upgrades,…

Public Works Board approves over $118 million in pre-construction and construction loans 

Public Works Board approves over $118 million in pre-construction and construction loans 

Funding awards support vital community infrastructure projects across Washington state OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) approved over $118 million in funding for local community infrastructure projects at its Friday, Nov. 4 meeting. Loans from the PWB’s traditional pre-construction and construction programs will fund vital public infrastructure across six different systems: streets and roads, bridges, domestic water, stormwater, sanitary sewers, and solid waste and recycling. Pre-Construction…

Commerce receives over $5.2 million to help end youth homelessness in Washington

Commerce receives over $5.2 million to help end youth homelessness in Washington

US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding will support innovative housing programs serving youth in rural communities throughout Washington state OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Commerce today reported that work by its Office of Homeless Youth will benefit from a new $5.29 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding through HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program will support a wide range…

Commerce invests $17.9 million in eight new behavioral health facility projects

Commerce invests $17.9 million in eight new behavioral health facility projects

Grants will fund the acquisition, renovation, and new construction of facilities in five counties OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $17.9 million in grants to fund eight projects across the state that will increase services and community-based treatment options for individuals with a wide variety of behavioral health challenges. The investments support Gov. Inslee’s five-year plan to modernize and transform Washington’s mental health system, with…

Washington Public Works Board invites public input on changes to broadband funding program

Washington Public Works Board invites public input on changes to broadband funding program

Stakeholder input from November workshops, December 27 public hearing will help inform rulemaking, set priorities for changes required by 2022 Legislature OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) is seeking public participation to help identify and prioritize issues that stakeholders believe should be addressed in the Board’s broadband funding program as a result of changes made to the program by the 2022 state Legislature. Input from two…

State infrastructure grants support over 1,000 new units of affordable housing across Washington

State infrastructure grants support over 1,000 new units of affordable housing across Washington

Commerce awards nearly $5 million to 12 projects through Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced a third round of Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) grants that will help expedite construction of 1,102 affordable housing units in 12 counties statewide. The nearly $5 million in funding awarded to local governments can be used to pay for water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure…

Department of Commerce offers grants to spur industrial site development

Department of Commerce offers grants to spur industrial site development

New industrial site readiness program has $2.5 million available for counties, cities, port districts and tribal governments throughout Washington state OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched an Industrial Site Readiness grant program designed to support counties, cities, port districts and tribal governments with plans to develop and revitalize properties for manufacturing or other industrial uses. Eligible public entities throughout the state can apply for grants…

Commerce invests additional $26.6 million to strengthen affordable housing development

Commerce invests additional $26.6 million to strengthen affordable housing development

As construction costs rise, Housing Trust Fund investments help keep multifamily projects moving forward OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced it would supplement 22 multifamily affordable housing projects with an additional $26.6 million from the state Housing Trust fund. This additional funding will bridge the gap created by steep increases in construction costs and help support developers in maintaining a needed pipeline of affordable housing…

Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board invests $4.4 million in five counties

Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board invests $4.4 million in five counties

Washington Commerce Director Lisa Brown recently appointed former Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove as the new chair of the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). In addition to serving as mayor and city council member from 1994-2019, Echanove is currently employed at Washington State University’s Pullman Campus. He is a graduate of the University of Idaho. “Michael brings a unique blend of experience in local government and rural community and economic that…

Solar panels coming to more schools, public buildings statewide with latest round of Commerce grants

Solar panels coming to more schools, public buildings statewide with latest round of Commerce grants

$1.4 million awarded to fund 14 projects that will produce sustainable energy and energy savings in communities across Washington state OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $1.4 million in grants to state and local government agencies to install solar panels at public buildings in communities throughout the state. The 14 projects awarded funding in this round will support community efforts to move toward sustainable energy…