Commerce funds four more innovative projects seeking to repurpose industrial and agricultural waste

Commerce funds four more innovative projects seeking to repurpose industrial and agricultural waste

Industrial Symbiosis grants advance the idea that growth does not have to equal waste; one company’s waste is another’s resource OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $850,000 in grants to four projects that support efforts to develop beneficial uses for industrial waste. In this second year of the Industrial Symbiosis Program, funded projects range from research and development to implementation. The program seeks to go beyond…

Washington continues to lead by example on building performance with new investments to improve energy efficiency in state agency facilities

Washington continues to lead by example on building performance with new investments to improve energy efficiency in state agency facilities

Over $4 million in grants for repairs and upgrades at state-owned facilities will yield net cost savings and reduced emissions OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced more than $4.1 million in grants through the State Project Improvement (SPI) program, which aims to improve the performance of state-owned facilities and reduce greenhouse emissions from state operations. The program incentivizes purchasing choices that will increase energy efficiency…

Commerce awards $35.4 million for solar power with battery back-up systems to bolster community resilience

Commerce awards $35.4 million for solar power with battery back-up systems to bolster community resilience

Grants will support 52 planning and 39 installation solar projects that will provide back-up power for community buildings to serve emergency and other critical needs statewide. OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $35.4 million in grants to local, state, and tribal governments and non-profits to plan and install solar and battery back-up power at community buildings. The projects will provide clean back-up power for critical…

Rural communities to benefit from nearly $5 million in new state Clean Energy Fund investments

Rural communities to benefit from nearly $5 million in new state Clean Energy Fund investments

Commerce awards $4.76 million to dairy digester bioenergy and other innovative clean energy projects in seven rural communities OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced seven grants totaling $4.76 million from the state’s Clean Energy Fund to enhance dairy digesters and advance clean energy in rural communities. These investments will result in improved air and water quality or soil health, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and…

Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board invests $6.75 million in Benton, Kittitas, Klickitat and Whitman counties

Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board invests $6.75 million in Benton, Kittitas, Klickitat and Whitman counties

State funds will leverage more than $1 billion in private and local resources expected to create and retain 210 high-wage jobs. OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $6.6 million in low-interest loans and $150,000 in grants for economic development and public infrastructure improvements intended to spur business growth and job creation in Benton, Kittitas, Klickitat and Whitman counties. Among the projects awarded funding…

Commerce awards $15.4 million in grants to expand legal aid to low-income immigrants

Commerce awards $15.4 million in grants to expand legal aid to low-income immigrants

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project among organizations receiving funding to provide legal aid in communities across Washington state  OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $15.4 million in grants to eight organizations across the state, expanding access to legal aid services for low-income immigrants. The 2023-25 appropriation from the Washington Legislature enables nearly a doubling of previous annual funding levels. “Everyone deserves to be safe, remain together…

Commerce provides $79 million in relief to hospitality sector businesses impacted by pandemic

Commerce provides $79 million in relief to hospitality sector businesses impacted by pandemic

Nearly 1,500 businesses across the state still struggling with pandemic recovery receive grants to cover losses OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has distributed $79 million in grants to 1,493 hospitality sector businesses impacted by the pandemic. Authorized by the Washington Legislature in 2022 (ESSB 5693), funding provided through the Washington Hospitality Grant program is assisting businesses across the state with much needed relief right in time…

Keeping summer traditions alive: Commerce, ArtsWA award over $3 million to support, restart community festivals and events

Keeping summer traditions alive: Commerce, ArtsWA award over $3 million to support, restart community festivals and events

The shows will go on across the state as 200 organizations in 36 counties receive much-needed pandemic relief grants OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Washington Festivals and Events Association (WFEA) and ArtsWA, has awarded over $3 million in grants to 200 community events and festivals that either had to suspend operations or restart due to the pandemic. The qualifying grantees reported a total…

Young people help guide over $40 million in grants to serve homeless youth

Young people help guide over $40 million in grants to serve homeless youth

Office of Homeless Youth sought input from those with lived experience to evaluate competitive proposals for funding from service providers across Washington state OLYMPIA, WA — Nearly 60 young people with lived experience of homelessness from across Washington state gathered recently in SeaTac over three days to help evaluate hundreds of applications for funding through the Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) at the Washington Department of Commerce. The more than $40…

Commerce partners with four rural communities to pilot unique twist on industry-led economic development strategy

Commerce partners with four rural communities to pilot unique twist on industry-led economic development strategy

First cohort in new program will test potential for developing innovation clusters to drive growth and jobs in rural Washington  Olympia, WA – Can small rural communities successfully mobilize public-private coalitions in target industries to create innovation clusters that will drive economic growth and jobs for the future? The Washington State Department of Commerce aims to find out with a new version of its Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP) called…