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…
Tag Archives: Strengthening communities
Tourism relief grants go to 284 organizations to support small local events, festivals and civic celebrations in 36 counties OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Washington Festivals and Events Association (WFEA) and ArtsWA, today announced 284 successful applicants in 36 of the state’s 39 counties to receive more than $3.3 million in pandemic relief and recovery grants. The funds will provide much-needed support to…
In-person seminars this week and next provide application assistance OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Washington Festivals and Events Association (WFEA) and ArtsWA, today announced a $3.5 million grant program to help established, small-community festivals and events.. The application portal for the grants is open at CommerceGrants.com beginning at 8 a.m., June 8. The application window closes July 1 at 5 p.m. This program…
Yakima’s Jessica Camacho to lead statewide Small Business Resiliency Network; Karlena Brailey and Norma Chavez take on community engagement posts in the Olympic Peninsula and south central regions. OLYMPIA, WA — Three recent hires by the Washington State Department of Commerce significantly increase the agency’s Community Engagement and Outreach team dedicated to promoting equity and opportunity for rural and underserved communities, small businesses and organizations. Jessica Camacho of Yakima will…
You’re most likely reading this on a device connected to the internet. Consider yourself lucky because 45% of Washington residents either have no internet service in their home or have less than 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) download speed. At that speed, you can check email and browse a few internet sites, but you can’t stream a TV program or movie, participate in a video call, or have a reliable…
New category for 2020-21 recognizes local government strategies for addressing impacts of climate change. OLYMPIA, WA —Gov. Jay Inslee and Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown recently announced the 11 Smart Communities Award winners for 2020-21. 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…
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved over $15.3 million in grants and $2.6 million in low-interest loans for planning, economic development and rural broadband infrastructure construction projects. Nine rural broadband projects were approved for over $14 million in grants from the CERB coronavirus capital projects fund, enabling an estimated 3,858 high-speed internet connections once completed. Another three projects approved for funding under CERB’s…
Annual awards recognize outstanding work in community planning and development Olympia, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce today called for nominations for the 15th annual Governor’s Smart Communities Awards, a program that recognizes outstanding work by local governments and their partners on long-term community planning and development. Award winners offer fascinating glimpses into the values and long-term priorities of each community through their plans for how they want to…
Nonprofit Community Recovery grants assist organizations that provide gathering places and services to veterans and their families throughout the state. OLYMPIA, Wash. –The Washington State Department of Commerce and Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) have awarded $2.2 million in Nonprofit Community Recovery Grants to assist nonprofit Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) as they continue supporting veterans during the pandemic. VSOs provide vital services in communities throughout the state for…
Over 700 organizations in 34 counties receive grants to assist recovery from impacts of COVID-19 SEATTLE, WA. – ArtsFund, in partnership with The Washington State Department of Commerce, will begin distributing $10.78 million in recovery grants to 702 nonprofits in 34 counties throughout the state this week. The Nonprofit Community Relief (NCR) grant program announced on May 3, 2021 was designed to provide critical funding to nonprofit arts, cultural, science,…