Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association announces board chair, vice chair; readies final call for projects

Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association announces board chair, vice chair; readies final call for projects

Washington Commerce Director Brown, Oregon Energy Director Benner to lead board of public-private organization preparing regional bid for Dept. of Energy clean hydrogen hub Seattle, Wash. — The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) completed its formation with election of Washington Commerce Director Lisa Brown as chair and Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner as vice chair of the board. PNWH2 is a non-profit, public-private partnership leading a regional effort…

Commerce awards over $1.8 million to improve energy efficiency in public buildings

Commerce awards over $1.8 million to improve energy efficiency in public buildings

School districts, Department of Corrections and City of Renton will use funds to modernize facilities, capture energy use and cost savings OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $1,850,243 in grants for several school districts, the Department of Corrections and the City of Renton to make energy efficiency improvements to various public buildings across the state. Federal Way School District in King County – $350,000 for…

Cindy Guertin-Anderson to lead Community Services Division at Commerce

Cindy Guertin-Anderson to lead Community Services Division at Commerce

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown today announced that Cindy Guertin-Anderson will join the agency executive leadership team as assistant director of the Community Services Division beginning Sept. 1. Guertin-Anderson comes to Commerce from the state Department of Enterprise Services, where she has been serving as assistant director for Workforce Support and Development. She led teams that support state agencies throughout the employee lifecycle —…

2022 Governor’s Smart Communities Award winners announced

2022 Governor’s Smart Communities Award winners announced

OLYMPIA, WA —Eight Washington cities have been named Smart Communities Award winners for 2022. Launched in 2006, the Governor’s Smart Communities Awards program annually recognizes local governments and their partners for exceptional work in implementing the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) to shape future growth, economic vitality and quality of life in communities across Washington. Award winners can serve as models for other communities on solutions to issues of statewide…

Applications open August 17: $75 million for Washington small businesses and nonprofits

Applications open August 17: $75 million for Washington small businesses and nonprofits

Another round of state pandemic relief grants on the way, with focus on the arts, heritage and science sectors and businesses relying on in-person conventions hosted in Washington OLYMPIA, WA – Applications for the Working Washington Grants: Round 5 and new Convention Center Grants programs open Aug. 17. Together, these programs will distribute $75 million in pandemic relief grants to eligible small businesses and nonprofits across Washington. The Department of…

Commerce offers up to $5 million to non-profit organizations assisting underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses

Commerce offers up to $5 million to non-profit organizations assisting underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses

Grants from $34.5-mllion Small Business Innovation Fund will support special programs to spur small business recovery, startup and growth OLYMPIA, WA – Non-profit organizations with a history of assisting Washington state small businesses are invited to apply for grants up to $5 million each from the new Small Business Innovation Fund. The Washington State Department of Commerce is seeking to fund proposals that will offer community-based programs and services tailored…

State agencies reach major benchmark in Washington’s transition to clean energy

State agencies reach major benchmark in Washington’s transition to clean energy

UTC and Commerce collaborate to adopt new rules for electric utilities related to energy storage systems, standards and more LACEY, Wash. – The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) and Washington State Department of Commerce recently adopted new rules for electric utilities, reaching a major milestone in Washington’s transition to clean energy. The rules provide guidance on several key requirements in the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) of 2019, which requires…

Commerce awards $2.1 million in grants to help 27 communities plan for climate change

Commerce awards $2.1 million in grants to help 27 communities plan for climate change

Projects will develop vulnerability assessments and identify measures for reducing vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $2.1 million in growth management planning grants to help King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, and multiple cities within each county, plan for local impacts of climate change. Proposals from the 27 communities awarded funding, reveal a wide range of creative approaches…

Washington Energy Emergency Management Director appointed to federal commission addressing wildfire crisis

Washington Energy Emergency Management Director appointed to federal commission addressing wildfire crisis

Olympia, July 19, 2022 – Eli King, energy emergency management director for the Washington State Department of Commerce, was appointed to the national Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission earlier this month. The U.S. departments of Agriculture, Homeland Security and the Interior, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced the 11 federal and 36 non-federal commission members on July 7. More than 500 applications were submitted for the…

Commerce adds leaders for small business support and creative economy sector development

Commerce adds leaders for small business support and creative economy sector development

Linda Womack to lead small business and community support; Shannon Halberstadt appointed to creative economy industry sector post OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown recently announced two new appointments to key leadership roles in the growing agency’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. In a new industry sector lead position, Shannon Halberstadt came on board June 1 as Director of Creative Economy sector development. Expanding and…