Taking on a tall order together
This past year has seen significant changes, challenges and accomplishments here at Commerce. Historic funding from the legislature for top priorities including affordable housing and homelessness, behavioral health facilities, broadband expansion, clean energy, small business assistance and more have placed heavy expectations on the shoulders of our once-small agency and I'm incredibly proud of the way our teams have risen to the task.
With over 100 programs, and what I believe is truly among the finest, most dedicated teams in state government, I could go on for hours sharing the?
proud moments I've experienced this year.?I am grateful and often humbled, to witness the outcomes of their amazing work every day. I invite you to watch a short reel with just a few highlights from 2022.
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Of course, we couldn't do any of this without our partners.
To all of our community and private sector partners and our fellow government agency partners, thank you for your consistent support of our Commerce teams. We look forward to continuing this work together to strengthen communities throughout Washington in the new year.
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 I joined others in my community on Dec. 21 to remember Spokane neighbors who have lost their lives while experiencing homelessness. We're making progress but there is so much ore to be done, working together to make sure no one has to live outside.
Affordable housing and homelessness remain top priorities for the new year
National Homeless Persons? Remembrance Day is observed every December 21, coinciding with the winter solstice and the year?s longest night. I marked the day with community organizations and partners, elected officials and local residents at the CHAS Health Homeless Memorial in downtown Spokane. The annual event is held in honor of the lives of those lost while experiencing homelessness in the last year. Every person has a story and a life worth remembering. Today, we heard the names of 144 people in the Spokane community who died without a home in 2022.
Commerce homeless resources and assistance available for those in need:
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State Right of Way Safety Initiative Update: Spokane's Camp Hope is shrinking
In partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Patrol, Commerce has been working with local officials and a team of nonprofit partners to move people living on state rights of way in five counties to safer housing.?
Funding provided by the Legislature, and additional dollars identified by our housing team, have already helped dozens of people connect with supportive housing and services in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane and Thurston counties and we continue to ramp up resources almost daily. We won't rest until everyone is inside.
One of the most challenging of these efforts has been in Spokane, where at one point, it was estimated that more than 400 people were living in an encampment on WSDOT property next to Interstate 5.?(WSDOT?photo taken Nov. 15)
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Investments in affordable housing, behavioral health are key to preventing, ending homelessness
Working together with public, private and non-profit partners throughout the state, Commerce investments are making a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals and families. Gov. Inslee has proposed?extensive investments in affordable housing, homelessness and behavioral health, including a massive $4 billion construction investment over six years.
Read about Commerce's most recent $63.9 million investment, announced Dec. 21, to develop affordable housing.
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Young people with lived experience pf homelessness are helping guide priorities, projects serving homeless youth.
Homelessness is not just a big city problem - individuals and families in every community throughout Washington, including children and youth, are suffering. Commerce was recently awarded a $5 million federal grant for the Office of Homeless Youth to support programs that will provide services primarily in rural communities.
Selena Gonzalez, a member of the Youth Action Board, and Office of Homeless Youth Executive Director Kim Justice, spoke recently with KING5's Conner Board about the potential impact of this funding and how young people like Selena are helping decision-makers guide state investments.?Watch KING5 news video
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Working Washington Round 5 grants help small businesses, nonprofits
The holiday season is slightly brighter for thousands of Washington small businesses and nonprofits thanks to $75 million in pandemic relief grants awarded earlier this month.
While the worst of the pandemic is behind us, many small businesses and nonprofits were disproportionately impacted and are still struggling to recover. Our hope is that this round of Working Washington and Convention Center grants will help stabilize our cultural community, building a vibrant Washington State in 2023 and beyond.
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Can you spare a few minutes to help us improve our website?
We are working on making some changes to our website, and your input is essential. We are interested in your opinions on the organization of our site,?and would love it if you would please?take 5-10 minutes to complete the survey?at the link below.
Your answers will help us understand how to better organize our site so that you can easily find what you need. Thank you for your help!
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Broadband Updates
 FCC Broadband Map: Do they have it right?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published a new?FCC National Broadband Map. This map attempts to show where internet service is and is not available for every location in the country. The accuracy of this information is critical to the future of broadband in our state.
Your Washington State Broadband Office invites you to review the FCC map and check the information related to your household. It takes just a few minutes by visiting our webpage. If you don't have internet access at your house, you can give your input by using a mobile phone, a friend or family member's connection and computer or a public access point such as a library or community center.
Applications for funding broadband infrastructure projects due by Jan. 17
The?Washington State Broadband Office?is accepting applications now through Jan. 17, 2023 for grants of up to $12 million each for broadband infrastructure construction projects. With $120 million available, the grants target ?unserved? areas ? defined as areas lacking access to reliable wireline connection service at speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps. Washington?s goal is to provide high-speed internet access for all of its residents and businesses by 2028.
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.
Re-entry Council welcomes Janel McFeat
?I believe that the value and importance of the human connection is one of the most powerful tools we have to make communities safer and reduce recidivism." -- Incoming Statewide Re-entry Council Executive Director Janel McFeat
Human rights champion Janel McFeat will lead Washington?s Statewide Re-entry Council beginning Jan. 3. McFeat, who started her social work career in Tacoma and currently serves as strategic planner/program manager for the Port Gamble S?Klallam Tribe?s re-entry program, created a nationally-recognized re-entry program using evidence-based practices and a people-first human dignity model. She is a White House Champion for Change nominee and recipient of the Linda Gabriel Human Rights Award among numerous other honors for her leading work with formerly incarcerated young people, adults and their families.?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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