A Message from Commerce Director Lisa Brown
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Lisa Brown
Washington economic activity
*Director's Update*
MESSAGE FROM LISA BROWN?
Point-in-time Count helps inform work to combat homelessness
Thumbnail from Point-in-Time Count video [ [link removed] ]
Over 25,000 people experiencing homelessness were reported across Washington in last year's Point-in-Time Count. This? annual census conducted by service providers and volunteers across the country every January documents people living sheltered? - in transitional housing or shelters, for example - and unsheltered. I took part in Spokane's count last Saturday. Watch our video [ [link removed] ].to learn more about the annual PIT Count.
Ending youth and young adult homelessness is especially challenging. Our Office of Homeless Youth provides funding for programs throughout the state, including incorporating input and guidance from young people with lived experience. Recently, Walla Walla's successful approach was featured in this?"Seattle Times "story [ [link removed] ].
Experiencing homelessness is traumatic, especially for people with behavioral health issues. More treatment options are needed in virtually every community across the state. Commerce recently awarded $20.4 million in grants [ [link removed] ] to several projects. One new crisis center in King County was featured in this story on "KING TV." [ [link removed] ]
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State survey: Housing is the #1 issue for most people
Top issues bar chart
Housing and homelessness topped a list of 12 issues in a new survey released earlier this month that asked Washington state residents to rank their top two problems facing the state. Commerce partnered with the Puget Sound Regional Council to conduct the 12-county survey in late 2022. Other issues on the list included crime and public safety, traffic and transportation, climate change and healthcare.?*Read more [ [link removed] ]*
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Human trafficking statistics infographic [ [link removed] ]
Raising awareness of human trafficking
Lisa at human trafficking month event in Spokane
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. I was honored to join our Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) team and partners from Lutheran Community Services Northwest in Spokane to raise awareness and share important information about this complex global problem.
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ICYMI...
Boosting manufacturing in rural communities
Photo of engineers at a construction site
Commerce recently awarded $2.5 million in grants to six projects that will expand the state?s portfolio of project-ready industrial sites and incentivize private investment. With help from this state funding, publicly owned sites become more competitive for business attraction nationally and globally. *Read more [ [link removed] ]*
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Pacific NW Hydrogen Hub bid moves forward
Pacific NW Hydrogen Association logo
Backed by a letter of encouragement from the US Department of Energy (DOE), the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) will submit a full application for funding to construct a regional clean hydrogen hub in the Pacific Northwest. PNWH2?s concept paper is one of 33 concept papers given the greenlight to proceed from among 79 submitted to DOE late last year. In the Dec. 27 letter of encouragement, DOE said it expects to review and select six to 10 of the full applications for federal funding estimated at around $1 billion per hub.
*Read more* [ [link removed] ]and visit PNWH2's website [ [link removed] ] to learn more and follow.
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ADVANCE 2023: Annual Aerospace Conference comes to Lynwood Feb. 6-9
Aerospace worker screenshot from video [ [link removed] ]
Washington's aerospace industry is as vibrant as ever, and many of our state's 1400 aerospace companies, industry leaders, over 30 other states, multiple Canadian provinces and over a dozen countries outside of North America will gather for the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance's annual conference next week. We're pleased to be a leading sponsor.
Watch our short video [ [link removed] ] filmed at last year's conference to hear more from Aerospace Industry Sector Lead Robin Toth and others.
Learn more and register to attend [ [link removed] ] the conference.
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Got grants? Funding opportunities open now.
Several Commerce programs opened applications for funding this month:
* *Clean Energy Fund - Electrification of Transportation System grants - *$2.5 million available to?Tribes and rural local governments for procurement, installation, and integration of electric vehicle supply infrastructure and/or hydrogen refueling station infrastructure in rural communities.?Learn more [ [link removed] ]
* *Clean Energy Fund - Rural Clean Energy Project grants* - $4.6 million available for dairy digester bioenergy projects and clean energy research, development and implementation in rural Washington communities, including $921,500 available for Tribal projects.
Learn more [ [link removed] ]
* *Affordable housing - HOME & National Housing Trust Fund grants* - $10.8 million available for eligible multifamily rental projects. Learn more [ [link removed] ]
* *Solar Plus Storage for Resilient Communities grants* - $35.4 million available to local governments, state agencies, Tribal governments or affiliates, retail electric utilities and nonprofit organizations. Learn more [ [link removed] ]
*STAY INFORMED ON ALL OF OUR FUNDING*
*Subscribe* [ [link removed] ]?to our "*Open Grants, Loans and RFPs*" topic list to get email and/or SMS text updates on all open funding opportunities with Commerce.
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Congratulations Sarah Fox
Sarah Fox headshot
Sarah Fox, Climate Program Manager in our Energy Division, was named to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Local Government Advisory Committee. In her work with the 34-member committee, Sarah will be contributing to environmental health and taking state and local feedback to the federal level.
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Are you passionate about making a difference? Think about joining Team Commerce.
We're hiring promotional image [ [link removed] ]
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 [ [link removed] ].
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About Commerce
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 public and private partnerships promote sustainable community and economic development to help all Washingtonians thrive. For more information, visit [link removed]. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit choosewashingtonstate.com [ [link removed] ].
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