2023 Legislative Report details progress, recommendations, next steps in addressing gun violence in Washington communities OLYMPIA, WA — Firearm violence is a persistent health and safety threat for communities and families in Washington state, where a person is killed with a gun every 12 hours (Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Dashboard). These deaths and injuries are preventable. Three years into its work to support and coordinate the implementation…
Tag Archives: News release
Gov. Jay Inslee appointed the former U.S. Small Business Administration Pacific Northwest Regional Administrator and Seattle Deputy Mayor to lead Commerce in April. OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming and Trade Committee today confirmed by unanimous vote the appointment of Mike Fong to lead the Department of Commerce. A final confirmation vote by the full Senate will take place during the 2024 session which convened…
Ballmer Group and the Bezos Family Foundation co-fund state Child Care Partnership planning grants to 18 local organizations serving communities statewide OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced over $2 million in Child Care Partnership Grants to 18 local organizations for local planning and pre-design efforts that will expand child care capacity in communities across the state. Funding for the first year of these two-year awards…
New tax credit program will award grants to qualified lending institutions to provide businesses in historically underserved communities with access to credit. OLYMPIA, WA – Businesses and individuals with state Business and Occupation Tax (B&O) liabilities can earn tax credits by contributing to the state’s new Equitable Access to Credit program, launched in August. Cash contributions to the program can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit from the Department of Revenue…
Focus on equity runs throughout significant funding increases serving range of priorities from housing to clean energy, broadband expansion and helping secure federal funding OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee’s supplemental budget released today proposes a $1.2 billion increase for the Department of Commerce, including $415 million in operating funds and $775 million in new capital dollars. The proposed budget funds all of the agency’s upcoming legislative requests. Commerce is…
Two Commerce alums rejoin agency to lead state economic development for key industry sectors OLYMPIA, WA — Washington Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong welcomes back two former agency executives to lead key industry sector economic development: Julie Anderson rejoined the department in November as Agricultural Innovation Sector Lead, and Dr. Joseph Williams came back on board this month as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector Lead. Both are based…
2023 Washington State Fuel Action Plan describes supply chain hazards, actions to take in event of disruption OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington Energy Resilience and Emergency Management Office (EREMO) at the Department of Commerce recently published the 2023 State Fuel Action Plan. Authorized in Washington State statute and through related Presidential directives and federal law, the plan describes the fuel supply chain, hazards to fuel infrastructure, and tactics available to…
Washington Energy Resilience and Emergency Management Director and Commission member King briefs state Congressional delegation on comprehensive report stressing urgency, collaboration, investing in resilience and more OLYMPIA, WA — The Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission recently released its report PDF outlining a comprehensive, consensus-based set of recommendations to Congress to address the nation’s wildfire crisis. “The recent disaster on Maui is a tragic reminder of the growing risks of wildfires to communities and…
Grants will support adoption of local actions that aim to accommodate projected housing needs at all income levels through different types of units, providing more affordable housing options OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Department of Commerce today announced nearly $3 million for 54 cities across 16 Washington counties to support the adoption of local comprehensive plan policies and zoning codes to allow more middle housing in residential neighborhoods. Increasing the availability…
NOTE: These projects are subject to approval by CERB at the regularly scheduled business meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16. State funds leverage over $2.1 million in private and local resources expected to create and retain 81 high-wage jobs. OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $3.2 million in low interest loans and $100,000 in grants for economic development and public infrastructure improvements intended to…