Commerce formed and stood up the Statewide Re-Entry Council to help men and women successfully reenter our communities and workforce following incarceration. The council has already notched legislative successes by assisting in passage of fair chance housing and income discrimination laws. In response to federal funding, we dramatically expanded the state’s crime victims advocacy work. The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy took advantage of a 400 percent increase in federal…
I believe that Gov. Inslee’s declaration – just weeks into taking office – that the state budget would no longer be balanced on the back of social services, is the single the most important step in helping Washingtonians who are experiencing homelessness. As homelessness and housing affordability overtook job creation as the most pressing needs facing our communities, Commerce worked hard to address these challenges. We moved new and existing…
When Gov. Inslee took office, we were still wondering whether we had hit the bottom to the Great Recession, so job creation was job one. From January 2013 until today: Washington ranked #1 for personal income growth #1 Fastest growing economy (GDP) Over 500,000 net new jobs created in the state Our work began with rebuilding the state economic development system by reestablishing trust with counties, cities and our associate…
Last week I announced my plans to step down as director of the Department of Commerce on January 15, 2019. It has been my honor to serve on Governor Inslee’s cabinet and to lead an amazing agency filled with passionate public servants dedicated to serving Washington’s communities. As I shared with the governor and my colleagues, I have very mixed emotions about departing Commerce. I am proud of our agency’s…
The report Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: A snapshot of data from 71 urban cities in the United States highlights “the maze of injustice that impacts Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) cases and demonstrates how they are made to disappear in life, the media and in data.”. Published by the Urban Indian Health Institute, the report identifies Seattle as having the highest number of MMIWG…
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $22.8 million in grants and loans for nine affordable housing projects in communities throughout the state. See the complete list here. These funds will help provide an estimated 301 multi-family rental units/beds, and 80 seasonal farmworker beds. Funding comes from the state’s Housing Trust Fund, and federal HOME and National Housing Trust Fund programs. “Our state Housing Trust Fund…
OLYMPIA – Investments in workforce training programs are a significant part of Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed budget. Under his plan, more students will be able to enroll in programs, training facilities at community colleges will be upgraded, and the Career Connect Washington Plan will create expanded learning opportunities for K-12 students. “The Choose Washington New Market Airplane Council strongly supports workforce investments that will benefit all Washington state industries, especially…
Bonlender’s tenure includes rebuilding state’s economic development apparatus, launching new ways to fight homelessness, establishing new capital programs in energy, mental health and early learning. Olympia, WA – Brian Bonlender today announced his planned departure as director of the Washington Department of Commerce. He has been in the position since Feb. 1, 2013, and his last day with Commerce will be Jan. 15, 2019. Bonlender, 48, said that while the…
Grants from $24,000 to $750,000 will fund vital local infrastructure and services throughout the state OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced that 17 cities and counties will receive a total of more than $10.5 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 2018. Nineteen projects were selected from 31 grant applications requesting almost $18 million. They will improve rural water, sewer, streets and fire protection systems;…
The RD&D application period closed on Nov. 13. They are being evaluated and awardees will be announced Feb. 21. The Solar Deployment application period closed on Dec. 3, but are still accepting applications. Awardees will be notified Jan. 22. Grid Modernization application period closes Dec. 28 with awardees announced on Feb. 20. Electrification of Transportation (ET) program will issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity on Jan. 19.