Governor Inslee?s proposed 2024 supplemental budget, announced today, reflects his commitment to continue and grow our work with partners across the state to strengthen communities and meet the emerging needs of this critical moment in our state?s history. The Governor is proposing a $1.2 billion dollar budget increase for our agency, with $415 million in operating funds and $775 million in capital dollars for our communities.?

Commerce is unique, in that everything we do is an investment in Washington State?s greatest asset: our people.?Whether it be meeting their basic needs of housing and safety, helping our businesses rebuild in a post-pandemic economy, or connecting seniors and low income households to the internet, our programs help people move forward and build strong and resilient communities.

In September, I wrote to the Office of Financial Management explaining what we would need to continue our critical work, center it around equity and ensure we invest resources that encourage local solutions, foster innovation, leverage talent and community assets and meet the needs of our residents today and into the future.?

Governor Inslee answered the call. His proposed supplemental budget for Commerce focuses on several of our key priorities:

• Nearly $130 million to match federal programs on pollution reduction, clean tech development and clean jobs. This funding continues to position us as strong contenders for federal dollars.
• $100 million for Clean Energy Community Decarbonization for community-driven, neighborhood-scale clean energy projects in low income and overburdened communities
• $100 million for heat pump installation for low income households
• $2 million for a Tribal Clean Energy Center
• To meet the urgent needs around housing instability, $100 million to resolve homeless encampments quickly and bring our most vulnerable people indoors
• $3 million to continue housing support for human trafficking victims
• $2 million to expand security and support for religious and non-profit community centers who experience hate-inspired vandalism
• Additional funds to support communities in need of broadband and digital access
• Flexible emergency funds to support natural disaster relief and other emergencies impacting infrastructure, services or community health
• Funds for the continued operation of our Communities of Concern Commission
• State funding for the Equitable Recovery and Reconciliation Alliance (ERRA) to match federal Small Business Administration funding to strengthen and support Black, Indigenous, and BIPOC-owned small businesses

In this set of proposals, Governor Inslee is setting the table to allow Commerce to do what we do best:? administer clean energy programs to combat climate change, support the rapid resolution of homeless encampments, meet our equity commitments to communities of color, leverage broadband infrastructure resources to achieve digital equity and put us in the most competitive position possible to secure hundreds of millions in potential federal funding.

I thank Governor Inslee for his confidence in and support of the Department of Commerce. Our 600 employees now stand ready to ensure these new resources, should the legislature approve them, get to the communities with the highest need.