Hello Tri-Cities!
Our first hub office is open in Kennewick, serving central Washington
Thank you to everyone who attended the open house of Commerce's first regional hub office located in the Tri-Cities ?Business Center at 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd. in Kennewick. We are pleased to co-locate with the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) where our leased space includes? several reservable and drop-in workspaces for staff and access to meeting rooms.
As many of you know, Commerce works with local governments, businesses, community-based organizations and tribes to strengthen communities. The department?s diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs, and effective leverage of public and private partnerships, help us promote sustainable community and economic development throughout the state.
Connections within local communities are crucial to our success and the new Kennewick Tri-City hub promotes the fact that most staff members are able to work from anywhere in Washington state.
Like so many organizations, the pandemic forced us to reinvent how and where we work. We?ve always been an agile, creative agency focused on exceptional service, as well as being an employer of choice ? a rewarding place to work.
Learn more and watch video from the grand opening
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 Extensive new report illuminates obstacles for business owners furthest from opportunity
Time, trust and technology are key to ensuring small businesses farthest from opportunity in Washington state have the right mix of technical assistance and financial resources to thrive.
A groundbreaking report by?Commerce found that although technical assistance providers do offer the right mix of resources, minority or women business owners and those located in rural areas often do not have access to it. The study focused on micro businesses with five or fewer employees and $100,000 or less in annual revenue.
Whether these businesses succeed or fail has a huge impact on the financial future of entire families and communities. And when they are successful, they build prosperity for our entire state ? they grow faster than other businesses and build jobs, economic opportunity and financial inclusion.
A 2016 Association for Enterprise Opportunities study found that microbusinesses that receive the right mix of capital and support grow 30% faster than their peers.
Commerce?s study found that three factors -- time, trust and technology ? play important roles in whether or not businesses can access capital and support:
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Time: Owners need between 40 to 80 hours of assistance, after business hours, on nights and weekends.
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Trust: Providing in-language services from technical assistance providers that business owners already know and trust from their communities are integral to providing effective services. Although access to capital and financing was the top unmet need, minority-owned businesses and those in rural disadvantaged communities face unique, systemic challenges to capital access.
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Technology: For businesses farthest from opportunity, technology access? ranging from basic broadband to computers and digital literacy -- is a crisis. Without access to the right technology, businesses can?t engage in online retailing or apply for grants and many other financial products.
Watch press conference video
One company's waste is another's resource:?New Industrial Symbiosis grants support collaborative projects advancing the circular economy
Commerce awarded $850,000 in grants to four projects this month in support of new and exciting efforts to find beneficial uses for industrial waste. In this first year of the?Industrial Symbiosis Program, funded projects range from research and development to on-the-ground implementation.?Read more
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$9.7 million in grants available for building electrification
Commerce opened a new grant solicitation this month offering funding for projects to help buildings shift from fossil fuel and inefficient electric equipment and systems to high-efficiency electric equipment and systems. Commerce is prioritizing projects that provide workforce development opportunities, and commit to reducing energy burdens for priority communities, Tribal communities, low-income households, and organizations and businesses that serve the aforementioned populations.?Read more
PNWH2H spearheading work to locate a regional clean hydrogen hub here
We believe the Pacific Northwest is ideally positioned to lead the charge in green hydrogen development that will advance efforts to transition US industries away from fossil fuels. Washington and Oregon have joined forces and together through the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association public-private partnership are working to secure billions in federal Department of Energy funding for a hydrogen hub here.??Read the Hydrogen Fuel News story
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Broadband Updates
Public Works Board invites public input on broadband funding programs
The?Washington State Public Works Board?(PWB) is seeking public participation to help identify and prioritize issues that stakeholders believe should be addressed in the Board?s broadband funding program. Input from two public workshops - Nov. 9 and Nov. 22 - and a public hearing session?Dec. 27 will also inform program implementation. Participation is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
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Getting connected in Grant County
Grant PUD hosted a ribbon cutting in Moses Lake recently to celebrate completion of a new broadband construction project. In 2020, the PWB awarded?a $1.62 million loan to construct high-speed internet infrastructure for 153 households and businesses in rural Grant County. Hosted at the District 5 Fire Station 6 and Life Flight Network hanger in Moses Lake, the successful partnership and joint-funded project was celebrated with state and local leaders and key project partners.
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Stay informed on all of our funding?
Subscribe?to our "Open Grants, Loans and RFPs" topic list to get email and/or SMS text updates on all open funding opportunities with Commerce.
Weatherization Day Oct. 30 raises awareness of assistance available to qualifying households
Weatherization is adding insulation, sealing cracks, and making other changes that reduce heat loss, save you money on heating bills and make your home or apartment healthier. Commerce administers state and federal funding for programs that help qualified low-income households get weatherized.?
Weatherization assistance programs support thousands of energy efficiency jobs in Washington
 Watch video
Highly skilled workers provide resources and services to lower energy use by improving technologies, appliances, buildings and energy systems. Developing this workforce strengthens local communities by delivering more weatherization services to homes and expanding the market for local manufacturing of products and equipment. Learn about weatherization training centers, including The Building Performance in Bellingham.
UPDATE: Rights of Way public safety initiative?
Commerce is working jointly with the Washington State Department of Transportation, State Patrol and numerous local partners to move individuals living homeless on state rights of way to safer living conditions and connect them with services to help them onto a path toward permanent housing opportunities. This week, Commerce's housing Policy Director Tedd Kelleher participated in interviews with local media outlets about progress at the state's largest encampment in Spokane. View? the KREM2 interview?
Read the latest joint update from Spokane?
Sign up to receive these joint email updates distributed by WSDOT
Pierce County plan moving forward
Pierce County, the City of Fife and homeless service providers have been awarded $35 million in state funds through the state Rights of Way Public Safety Initiative to move people experiencing homelessness and living on state highway rights of way into safer housing opportunities. Not only does this create 300 additional shelter beds, but they say it also represents a big step forward in their Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness in Pierce County. Learn more about the partnership with Pierce County at?bit.ly/PierceCountySaferHousing.
Kudos to Kenmore on a great partnership
Kenmore?is one of eight cities recognized by the Governor?s Smart Communities Awards program in 2022. Our team from Growth Management Services presented the "Smart Partnership Award' to the Kenmore City Council recently for the Kenmore Public Boathouse project. This award highlights an amazing partnership the city formed with the Northshore School District, Kenmore Community Rowing Club and George Pocock Rowing Foundation to create a rowing facility. It also emphasizes the commitment to preserving and protecting the state?s quality of life principles by creating a public destination for individuals to explore Washington?s beautiful waterways. The project serves as a model to communities, showing how partnerships and community goals can lead to outstanding outcomes. Most notably is the opportunity for community members to access an otherwise exclusive activity and creating programs with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
Learn more about the Governor's Smart Communities Awards, including this year's and past winners on our website.?Read more
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Congratulations Dave Andersen!
Dave Andersen, Managing Director of Commerce's Growth Management Services, was among this year's 23 honorees in Governor Jay Inslee's Outstanding Leadership Awards. The program celebrates outstanding leadership, inclusive excellence and achievement. Based in Spokane, Dave leads a great team working with planners and local governments across the state. Dave (left) with Mark Barkley, Commerce Assistant Director - Local Government Division.
Read more
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Are you passionate about making a difference? Think about joining Team Commerce.
 We are a mobile-friendly workplace with a "headquarters and hubs" hybrid office model. Most positions can work from anywhere in Washington. Check out current opportunities at Commerce.
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