US Dept. of Energy awards Washington $23.4 million to strengthen and modernize critical electric infrastructure (2025)

OLYMPIA, WA – On Sept. 5, 2023, Washington state received a $23.4 million Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to modernize the electric grid and reduce impacts due to extreme weather and natural disasters. Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants aim to ensure the reliability of power sector infrastructure so that communities have access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity.

“Electricity is an essential lifeline for communities. Improving our systems by reducing disruptive events is key as we cross the finish line of a 100% clean electricity grid and ensure equitable benefits from the clean energy economy reach every community,” said Gov. Jay Inslee.

The federal funding for energy resilience will enhance and expand ongoing current grid modernization and resilience efforts throughout the state. For example, working directly with rural and typical end-of-the-line customers to develop resilience plans and collaborating with communities and utilities on building resilient and renewable infrastructure for essential services.

“This is a significant opportunity to supplement our state investments in building a robust, resilient electric grid that supports our long-term vision for clean, affordable and reliable electricity – the foundation for economic growth and job creation that strengthens our communities and keeps Washington globally competitive. It shows once again that we are maximizing the federal funding being made available by the Biden-Harris Administration to invest in the country’s infrastructure,” said Washington State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong.

Goals include:

• Reducing the frequency, duration and impact of outages while enhancing resiliency in historically disadvantaged communities.
• Strengthening prosperity by expanding well-paying, safe clean energy jobs accessible to all workers and ensuring investments have a positive effect on quality job creation and equitable economic development.
• Building a community of practice and maximizing project scalability by identifying pathways for scaling innovations.

“The Grid Resilience Formula Grants will enable communities in Washington to protect households and businesses from blackouts or power shutdowns during extreme weather,” said Maria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment Office, U.S. Department of Energy. “Projects selected through this program will benefit communities by creating good-paying jobs to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy across the country.”

“An innovative, reliable, and efficient power grid is vital to Washington’s continued economic growth and for community resilience especially in disadvantaged areas,”said U.S. Rep. Strickland, Co-Lead of the bipartisan Grid Innovation Caucus.“The funding announced today will invest in our energy grid, support good-paying jobs, and means a cleaner, more energy-efficient future.”

Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants distribute funding to states, territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribes, over five years based on a formula that includes factors such as population size, land area, probability and severity of disruptive events, and a locality’s historical expenditures on mitigation efforts. Priority will be given to projects that generate the greatest community benefit providing clean, affordable, and reliable energy.

To learn more, visit Commerce’s website and the DOE Grid Deployment Office’s website.

###

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project among organizations receiving funding to provide legal aid in communities across Washington state

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $15.4 million in grants to eight organizations across the state, expanding access to legal aid services for low-income immigrants. The 2023-25 appropriation from the Washington Legislature enables nearly a doubling of previous annual funding levels.

“Everyone deserves to be safe, remain together with family and loved ones, and have the opportunity to go to school and earn a living,” said Mike Fong, Director for the Department of Commerce. ”The funding increase from the legislature this year is critical to ensure that emergency legal aid for refugees in Washington continues to expand.”

“We are honored to partner with Commerce to reunite families, defend immigrant rights, and promote justice in our community, no matter where our clients were born or how much money they have,” said Malou Chávez, Executive Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), one of the grant recipients.

Haag continued: “When someone gains the legal rights that come from work authorization, permanent residency, or citizenship, the entire trajectory of their individual and family lives can change: Rather than live on the margins, often in poverty, they gain opportunities for economic advancement and can escape the constant trauma and hurdles that come with being undocumented.”

NWIRP, which has nearly 40 years of experience serving immigrants worldwide, provides immigration legal aid to community members in every corner of the state. It prioritizes complex cases and individuals facing imminent risks, such as deportation, domestic violence, mental illness, interaction with the criminal legal systems, or other emergencies.

Other organizations will provide services regionally and locally in over two dozen Washington counties. Counties with the most Ukrainian arrivals were prioritized in the grant selection process, including Clark County, which ranks third statewide for recent Ukraine arrivals, according to the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (ORIA).

Together, the organizations awarded funding expect to serve more than 2,700 clients annually, many with complex cases that can take years to resolve.

Need continues to surpass available funding. Even with the welcome significant increase this year, Director Fong said strong grant applications had to be turned away.

The following organizations were selected to receive 2023-25 funding, pending final contracts with Commerce:

• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project – $12 million (statewide)
• Entre Hermanos – $660,000 (serving King, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Yakima counties)
• Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center – $600,000 (serving Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason counties)
• IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) – $500,000 (serving Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania counties)
• Jewish Family Service of Seattle – $500,000 (serving King, Pierce counties)
• Catholic Charities Eastern Washington – $400,000 (serving Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla and Whitman counties)
• ReWA, refugee Women’s Alliance – $400,000 (serving King, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Yakima counties)
• Tacoma Community House – $340,000 (serving King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Thurston, counties)

###

Contributions in exchange for tax credits will fund grants to eligible lending institutions to provide services and investment capital for small businesses lacking access to traditional bank loans.

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched a new program to address inequities in accessing capital for small businesses. The Equitable Access to Credit Program, created by the state legislature (HB 1015), creates a new funding mechanism to help Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) offer technical assistance services, small business training, and loans and investments to borrowers who may not be eligible for traditional bank loans.

“This program is a win-win for businesses and communities. Contributors to the grant fund receive tax credits, and in turn, enable small business owners who have faced barriers to accessing traditional sources of assistance and funding,” said Washington Commerce Director Mike Fong, “Unlocking the tremendous potential of small businesses only enriches and strengthens communities and local economies.”

Commerce will award up to $8 million annually to CDFIs using funds generated by contributions from businesses in exchange for tax credits. Any business with state B&O tax liabilities can now contribute to the program and receive a $1 for $1 tax credit through the Department of Revenue.

“The Washington Community Investment Coalition is excited to partner with the Washington State Department of Commerce toexpand access to responsible capital for many more of Washington’s underserved businesses and residents,” said Joe Sky-Tucker, board president of the Washington Community Investment Coalition. “This funding marks a strong commitment to equity and inclusion by the state of Washington, and welook forward to being part of this work.”

The Equitable Access to Credit Program encourages community and economic development in communities that have historically lacked access to capital. At least 65 percent of the value of all grants awarded in any calendar year will be provided for CDFI’s serving or investing in tribal communities and rural counties.

Contributions for 2023 are now being accepted through Commerce’s website: Equitable Access to Credit Program – Washington State Department of Commerce. The grant program is anticipated to roll out by the end of 2023.

Funding will support pre-construction activities in Benton, Clark, Douglas, King, Kitsap, Okanogan and Walla Walla Counties.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Public Works Boardlast Friday approved $4.37 million for pre-construction projects in eight Washington communities. The awards support roads and streets, domestic water, sanitary sewer, and solid waste, recycling and organics infrastructure.

The Board considered eight pre-construction applications from local jurisdictions seeking a total of $4,368,630, all of which passed the minimum scoring threshold to be eligible for funding. The Board approved full funding and conditionally awarded the following project loans or combination of grants and loans:

• Benton County – a $500,000 loan to the City of Richland for the Horn Rapids Landfill Expansion and Organics Processing project.
• Clark County – a $625,000 loan to the City of Ridgefield for the S. Royle Road Improvements project.
• Douglas County – a $1 million loan/grant to the City of East Wenatchee for the N. Kentucky Avenue Corridor Improvements project.
• King County – a $566,500 loan to the Southwest Suburban Sewer District for the Salmon Creek Sewer Basin Rehabilitation and Repair project.
• Kitsap County – a $1 million loan/grant to the City of Port Orchard for the Bay Street Lift Station Replacement project.
• Okanogan County
  • City of Pateros – a $100,000 loan/grant for the Pateros Water System Plan.
  • Town of Twisp – a $150,000 loan/grant for the Twisp Water System Plan.
• Walla Walla County – a $427,130 loan to the City of College Place for the Reservoir #4 Design project.

“Infrastructure is fundamental and the foundation of healthy, safe, and vibrant communities,” said Board Chair Kathryn Gardow. “The Washington State Public Works Board is delighted to work with our communities and partner agencies to be a reliable and affordable source of funding and technical assistance to maintain the health of our state’s infrastructure systems. The Board is pleased to award these pre-construction contracts to jurisdictions who are doing the much-needed work prior to proposing a locally-needed construction project.”

The purpose of the Public Works Traditional Pre-Construction program is to accelerate project readiness to proceed to construction. This competitive programis open continuously, with quarterly funding awards until all allocated funds are exhausted. After this awards cycle, $2,906,370 pre-construction resources remain. This is the first of four planned quarterly pre-construction awards in state fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). The next round of pre-construction awards is expected in October.

For more information on Public Works Board programs and funding opportunities, visit pwb.wa.gov.

###

Nearly 1,500 businesses across the state still struggling with pandemic recovery receive grants to cover losses

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has distributed $79 million in grants to 1,493 hospitality sector businesses impacted by the pandemic. Authorized by the Washington Legislature in 2022 (ESSB 5693), funding provided through the Washington Hospitality Grant program is assisting businesses across the state with much needed relief right in time for the summer season.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has seen dramatic impacts to businesses across many sectors, the hospitality industry was hit particularly hard with continued operational challenges making it difficult for many restaurants, hotels and small hospitality businesses to fully recover. Commerce provided every eligible business that applied with a grant.. View a map of grants awarded.

“Many small businesses are family owned, providing a key pathway to building generational wealth,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “Today, even as pressure from the direct financial impact of the pandemic is easing, small business owners are faced with ongoing obstacles as they adapt to new business models and uncertainties around workforce, supply chain disruptions, and other challenging economic conditions.”

Fong spoke to the range of resources Commerce has to offer and continues to advocate for: “Above and beyond this relief funding, our team works with small business owners and entrepreneurs to provide a spectrum of services to support every stage of business, from planning and startup resources to export assistance and equitable access to working capital to grow.”

The grant came at the perfect time for organizations like Midtown Public House, a family style pub in Port Angeles, said Ket Voang, operator of the establishment. “We were contemplating the idea of closing our doors. The grant is giving us some breathing room and a fighting chance to continue serving our community and visitors alike.”

Businesses in 37 counties received funding, including many in economically distressed counties around the state. Despite pandemic emergency orders coming to an end, “Events, and games have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels here in the Yakima Valley,” said Maninder Kaur, owner/operator of My Place Hotel-Yakima. “The funds are really needed. It keeps our heads above the water. Though we are not swimming just yet, we are thankful to be able to utilize the funds to cover payroll and other operating expenses.”

“Thousands of Hospitality Businesses in Washington were left with huge debt and no relief after COVID. We are very grateful to the 2022 legislature for stepping up and providing $100 million in much needed small business support. Our industry has several years to go yet before we see the light at the end of the tunnel. While these grants won’t make our industry whole, they will definitely help main streets recover and keep doors open.”

“As small businesses face day-to-day challenges and continue to navigate the lasting impacts of the pandemic, support like the Washington Hospitality Grant program is critical for our recovering hospitality sector in Seattle and across the state,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “From the Chinatown International District and downtown to neighborhoods across the city, we know an equitable recovery requires thriving small businesses who are the backbone of our local economy, integral to our communities, and vital in generating wealth for families. We must be intentional to ensure businesses of all sizes have the resources and support they need to stabilize, grow, and continue to provide the goods and services we all love and cherish. I look forward to continued partnership with the state and with small businesses to advance these shared goals.”

In addition, 31 lodging establishments impacted by the pandemic eviction moratorium are seeing some relief with reimbursements for unpaid room charges, damages and legal fees. View a map of eviction relief grants.

To date, Commerce has distributed over $500 million in emergency relief grants to support the economic recovery stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. More information on past funding rounds can be found at https://commercegrants.com/covid-19-resources/small-business-grants-report/.

Director Fong is visiting small businesses throughout the state this summer to discuss the impact of the pandemic, current challenges and business needs moving forward.

###

State funds leverage nearly $11 million in private and public resources expected to create and retain 100 high-wage jobs.

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $3.375 million in low-interest loans and $1.175 million in grants for economic development and public infrastructure improvements intended to spur business growth and job creation in Thurston, Skagit, and Whitman counties.

• Thurston County – $1.125 million loan and $375,000 grant to the City of Tenino for the “Southwest Washington Agricultural Business and Innovation Park Project.” This project includes engineering, design, and construction of a public facility, along with new sidewalks and parking lot. Their Committed Private Partner, Dragonwheel Investment Group, Inc., is investing $2.1 million in the project, which is estimated to create and retain 40 jobs. Approximately $2.7 million in other state and local resources match CERB funds.
• Skagit County – $2.25 million loan and $750,000 grant to the Port of Skagit County for the “Watershed Business Park Project 1 Development Project.” This project will build utility infrastructure and make multi-modal road improvements to develop Watershed Business Park Project 1, including landscaping and other site work. This project is estimated to leverage $3.1 million in private investment and create 60 jobs. CERB funds are matched by $3 million in local resources.
• Whitman County – $50,000 grant to the City of Palouse for the “St. Elmo Revitalization Study.” This study will determine the feasibility of renovating the St. Elmo hotel building. CERB funds are matched by $12,500 in local resources.

“These three projects represent the range of projects that CERB funds. Projects that lead to job growth across the State through infrastructure development and planning. Strategic infrastructure funding is a crucial building block for economic growth. The board is pleased to collaborate with each of these communities as they work to create permanent private sector jobs.” said CERB Chair Michael Echanove.

The release of CERB funds to these projects is contingent upon each applicant completing specific pre-contract requirements, such as finalizing other funding sources and obtaining necessary permits. If you are a Washington local government or federally recognized Tribe and have project ideas, please reach out toJanéa Stark at janea.stark@commerce.wa.gov.

Since 1982, CERB has committed more than $243.8 million to local jurisdictions across the state, an investment generating more than 39,000 jobs, and private capital investment of $6.3 billion – a $26-to-$1 return on CERB investments. Read the 2022 CERB Legislative Report to learn more.

As Washington’s strategic economic development resource, CERB is focused on creating private sector jobs in partnership with local governments by financing infrastructure improvements. These improvements encourage new business development and expansion. In addition to funding construction projects, CERB provides limited funding for studies that evaluate high-priority economic development projects.

Learn more about CERB at www.commerce.wa.gov/cerb.

The shows will go on across the state as 200 organizations in 36 counties receive much-needed pandemic relief grants

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Washington Festivals and Events Association (WFEA) and ArtsWA, has awarded over $3 million in grants to 200 community events and festivals that either had to suspend operations or restart due to the pandemic. The qualifying grantees reported a total revenue loss of $73.2 million due to COVID-19.

The grants provide much-needed support to “legacy-level” events, festivals, civic and holiday celebrations, cultural and heritage events, music festivals, and street and arts fairs – those that have taken place for five or more years – in communities with populations of 100,000 or less.

“Festivals and events are important to a community’s sense of place. They bring residents together and visitors from out of town,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “Many of these celebrations also support other causes, from local food banks to college scholarship programs. They are an essential part of Commerce’s mission of strengthening communities and growing Washington’s economy.”

Grants could be used to restart local festivals and events suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic or to stabilize depleted budgets. Eligible grant uses included deposits on infrastructure (security, temporary fencing, staging, lights, sound equipment, etc.) and staff and labor costs. Grants ranged from $46 to $35,000 based on need and demonstrated financial losses. The program was made possible through a $10.6 million tourism relief grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Funding goals included increasing business revenues in affected communities, preserving the vibrancy, diversity and growth of events celebrating the area’s arts, history and culture and providing opportunities for entertainers, artisans and craftspeople who depend on these events for their income.

“The grant we received ensured that Tumwater could continue to provide a high-quality event for our local residents while promoting tourism and businesses from all over Washington state,” said Chuck Denney, Parks & Recreation Director for the City of Tumwater. “Our losses through the pandemic had a significant impact on our overall budget and options for future festivals. The grant has allowed us to return to normal operations and work toward making 2023 our best event ever.”

View a full list of grant recipients.

###

Office of Homeless Youth sought input from those with lived experience to evaluate competitive proposals for funding from service providers across Washington state

OLYMPIA,WA — Nearly 60 young people with lived experience of homelessness from across Washington state gathered recently in SeaTac over three days to help evaluate hundreds of applications for funding through the Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) at the Washington Department of Commerce. The more than $40 million in grants announced today will increase support and direct services to ensure that no young person spends a single night without a safe, stable place to call home.

Funded projects support a wide range of interventions to prevent and address housing instability among young people ages 12 through 24, including emergency housing and rental assistance, crisis intervention services, outreach to connect homeless youth with resources, mental health services, and flexible funding to divert young people from the homeless crisis response system.

View a complete list of the 112 grants awarded (PDF).

“Hearing from those we serve, particularly those with lived experience of the challenges we are addressing, is core to Commerce’s commitment to equity and transparency in our program design and funding decisions,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “We are grateful for the time, passion and invaluable insights these young people contributed to make this a better and more inclusive process.”

OHY Executive Director Kim Justice said that youth engagement and voice in the process is one of the office’s top priorities, noting this is the second year (Medium story) that young experts were consulted. Other priorities considered in determining the funding awards included geographic distribution and equity in services for youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth.

The lived experts were included in decision-making in a way not seen before in state government. Young people spent nearly six months engaged in this process, taking a lead role in identifying funding priorities, developing scoring criteria, and analyzing $120 million in funding requests through the lens of their own experience struggling with housing instability and accessing services and programs for support. Their evaluations, alongside other criteria identified in the competitive funding process, determined which applicants received funding.

“This is my second year of being involved in the RFP process and conference – it has opened my eyes and showed me how as youth and young adults we can directly impact our community,” said Jalen Hayes, OHY Youth Advocate from Snohomish County. “Making new connections and networking with my peers helped show me that others across the state are interested in making a change like myself. The OHY staff is dedicated to helping youth and young adults and making sure our voices are heard. They take pride in this new way of incorporating youth and young adult lived experiences into the system and we as youth appreciate it.”

Watch a video about this year’s conference of youth advocates.

The grants come from $37.7 million in state funds and $5 million in US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds for the Youth Homeless Demonstration Program available to 11 counties in the Balance of State Continuum of Care.

The Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) was created in the Department of Commerce by the Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Act in 2015. OHY leads statewide efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness for youth and young adults through five priority service areas to ensure ouryouth andyoung adultshave: Stable Housing– Every youth has a safe and healthy place to sleep; Family Reconciliation– Families are reunited when safe and appropriate; Permanent Connections – Youth have opportunities to establish positive, healthy relationships with adults; Education and Employment –Youth have opportunities to advance their education or training and obtain employment; and Social and Emotional Well-Being –Youth have access to behavioral and physical health care; services nurture each youth’s strengths and abilities. To learn more, visit Office of Homeless Youth (wa.gov).

###

TheWashington Statewide Reentry Councilhosted Concerts for Hope and Listening Circles at four prison facilities across the state this spring in partnership with the Department of Corrections.

The Statewide Reentry Council is part of the Department of Commerce. It was created in 2016 to improve public safety and outcomes for individuals reentering the community.

“These events give those experiencing incarceration an opportunity to feel valued,” said Janel McFeat, the council’s executive director. “It is rare for prisons to host this type of event, so it is often an emotional moment for those who attend.”

The events were held in Corrections facilities at Aberdeen, Shelton, Monroe and Purdy. The event allowed the audience of incarcerated people to find some calmness and reflect.

Read the full story on our Medium site

First cohort in new program will test potential for developing innovation clusters to drive growth and jobs in rural Washington

Olympia, WA – Can small rural communities successfully mobilize public-private coalitions in target industries to create innovation clusters that will drive economic growth and jobs for the future? The Washington State Department of Commerce aims to find out with a new version of its Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP) called ICAP Launch.

Innovation clusters are formalized, industry-led organizations working together to drive innovation, overcome industry-wide barriers, access new market opportunities and attract talent and capital. Clusters are often geographically-concentrated and include industry, entrepreneurs, academic partners, investors, and government agencies.

Established in 2022, Washington’s ICAP program was instrumental in launching nine innovation cluster organizations in industries such as clean energy technology, quantum computing, bioscience, and sustainable aviation and maritime.

With ICAP Launch, Commerce is partnering with four core teams of industry and community leaders, economic development organizations, research institutions and non-profit organizations to explore preparation and readiness to pursue an innovation cluster strategy in rural communities. In addition to $50,000 capacity-building grants awarded through a competitive process, each organization will participate in a year-long strategic guidance and technical assistance program to develop an early stage innovation cluster strategy for their targeted industries.

Clallam County Economic Development Council, Clallam and Jefferson Counties. Based in Port Angeles, WA, this group is working on a Natural Resources Innovations Center (NRIC) seeking to transform the legacy forest products industry to maximize the value of natural resources-based products, including sustainably harvested wood for green building while minimizing waste. The NRIC will bring together businesses, who will identify industry needs, with organizations, including researchers at the Olympic Natural Resources Center of the University of Washington, the College of Forest Resources at Washington State University, the Department of Natural Resources and the United States Forest Service, to find and field test solutions for economic viability.

Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, The Dalles, OR, Klickitat and Skamania Counties. This regional consortium is exploring opportunities around the regional Uncrewed Aerial Systems/Vehicles (UAS/UAV) industry ecosystem. They are looking to leverage their network of established large enterprises, growing midsize companies and emerging start-ups to foster increased innovation, explore untapped markets, and develop the UAS/UAV sector in their region. Goals include fostering a thriving Gorge tech community, promoting and supporting member businesses, supporting STEM education, and optimizing the impact of this emerging cluster.

Room One in partnership with Blue Sky Minds, Okanogan County. Working and living on the lands and waters of the Methow People, in Mazama, WA, this consortium seeks to support the growth of an equitable, sustainable and economically thriving food ecosystem for the Okanogan region. They will bring together farmers, ranchers, food producers, restaurants, food sellers, and the nonprofit community to develop a stronger localized food economy that will create jobs, increase wages and boost the demand for the local and regional foods. Additionally, increased food production will improve access to healthier, diverse, and culturally appropriate foods, through the food system, including schools and local food banks.

TwispWorks, Okanogan County. Based in Twisp, WA, the TwispWorks consortium is focused on opportunities in the circular economy in the Methow Valley to support innovative businesses and new industries to help the area address the effects and causes of climate change on a local scale. The core team is comprised of local industry and nonprofit leaders, as well as higher education, local businesses, and thought leaders in the region. They envision an economy rooted in livability. The combination of cluster development and the historic 6.4-acre former USDA Forest Service campus will help the community start, build, and grow businesses and cultural programs to reach that vision.

These organizations will lead local industry ecosystem partners in learning and implementing strategies and techniques to drive collaborative action, begin building an innovation cluster strategy, and position their networks to pursue private and public investment.

“In the years since the pandemic, many rural communities have been left on the sidelines of an influx of federal and state funding for economic recovery and growth,” according to Commerce Director Mike Fong. “Many rural communities lack the capacity to mobilize their existing industry ecosystems to take advantage of these opportunities. We believe the innovation cluster model can help equip rural communities to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. With strong, focused public-private coalitions operating in a cluster framework, communities and regions are more successful at cultivating businesses and creating jobs needed to thrive.”

The department also expects the pilot will inform how the new ICAP Launch program can best support regional and rural economic development moving forward.

“We are excited for this program to help increase innovation and collaboration within our Uncrewed Aerial Systems industry,” said Jessica Metta, Executive Director, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD). ”The industry has been regionally significant since the 1990s and ICAP Launch will help us take it to the next level.”

“The Olympic Peninsula was developed through the forest product industry, and today our local industry members are committed to consistent process improvement,” said Colleen McAleer, Clallam EDC Executive Director. “Demand for housing stock requires innovative processes to improve environmental stewardship and lower the cost of construction. The Natural Resources Innovations Center (NRIC) will expand existing nascent sustainable practices and create new solutions for our future.”

At present, McAleer said, the processes identified have made it possible to bring together sustainably harvested wood for use in green building materials – the advanced cross laminated timber being engineered locally by the Composites Recycling Technology Center for the production of affordable housing – and the use of organic waste products for the production of Humisoil®, an advanced soil amendment that reduces methane emissions and adds nutrients and water to soil.

ICAP Launch is supported by a Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of CommerceEconomic Development Administration(EDA). Successful innovation cluster programs around the world served as a blueprint for Washington’s innovation cluster development strategy, including Canada’s Superclusters Initiative and the Norwegian Innovation Clusters.

Get updates and follow the Innovation Cluster Accelerator atwww.icapwashington.org.

###