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Using Data to Drive Results
Over the past several months, we've been working with Governor Inslee's Results Washington team to develop this new statewide performance management and process improvement system. We are following through on a commitment to data-driven decision making and expansion of Lean management principles throughout state government operations.
Connecting with the public and our stakeholders is crucial for Results Washington to have significant, meaningful impact on the issues Washingtonians care most about. I'm especially interested in your thoughts about our concept of a "Red Tape Index"...
Read the full story > |
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Asia Trade Mission Takes Off |
Gov. Inslee plans to join a delegation of more than 100 Washington state business, education and economic development leaders on a 10-day trade mission to China this month. Secretary of Agriculture Bud Hover and his team will join our team from Commerce and leaders from the Washington State China Relations Council in hosting a series of events and meetings focused on developing trade, inbound investment and research relationships. Agriculture and wine, aerospace, clean tech, and life sciences sectors take center stage. The mission also features exchanges with Chinese businesses and officials representing opportunities for partnership in education, film, tourism and information and communications technology (ICT). Follow us at www.commerce.wa.gov and on Twitter @WAStateCommerce, hashtag #WaAsiaTrade. |
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Market Focus: China
Commerce researchers take a look at this very important trade partner in their Quarterly Trade Bulletin. Learn More
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October Economic Update
Exports are up, building permits and home sales show signs of slowdown. Keep up-to-date on Washington's economic climate data with the Department of Commerce's monthly economic report. |
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Work Start Grants
Hexcel Corporation and Omak Wood Products are the first beneficiaries of Washington Work Start grants, a new economic development program that offers customized workforce training incentives to eligible companies.
Hexcel is a leading supplier of carbon fiber and composite materials for aerospace, wind energy and automotive applications. Their training program, developed jointly with the Washington State Department of Commerce and Green River Community College, will provide 150 workers with the necessary education and hands-on experience to follow highly complex engineering drawings and exacting manufacturing specifications.
In Omak earlier this month, Gov. Jay Inslee joined state, local, private and Colville tribal leaders to celebrate reopening of a plywood mill closed in 2009. Work Start helped fund specialized training to prepare workers to start up the refurbished mill, now known as Omak Wood Products.
For more information about Work Start and other incentives and services available to businesses in Washington state, call or email Sally Harris at Commerce: (206) 276-0059. |
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Federal Grant Matching Funds
The Clean Energy Fund (CEF), Federal Funds Matching Component is open to Washington research institutions. Research institutions include colleges, universities, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and any other entities able to demonstrate continuous and intensive engagement with the research community, preferably through both a publication history in academic literature and success in patenting and licensing relevant technology.
Commerce will begin accepting and evaluating applications submitted to the CEF Federal Funds Matching after 2:00 pm PST on Thursday, November 14, 2013. Applications received before this time will not be evaluated.
Applications to the CEF matching program will be evaluated on a rolling basis. As long as the $6 million funding pool has not been entirely obligated, the availability of matching funds shall be posted on this webpage, along with a description of the application procedure.
http://www.commerce.wa.gov/Programs/Energy/Office/Pages/CEF-federal-match.aspx
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Extra...Extra...
Will Saunders is the new lead for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector strategy and activities at Commerce. Saunders spent more than a decade working in the private and public sectors including responsibilities in a multinational environment with a telecommunications project on the Pacific Coast of Russia. He has been the Director of the Washington State Broadband Office since 2010 and served as Assistant Director of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. He will build on his strong history with app developers, educators, public and private service providers and economic development agencies across the state. Reach Will at 360-902-2983, will.saunders@commerce.wa.gov
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20th Housing Washington Conference
Deputy Director Dan McConnon joined Commerce partners, stakeholders and experts in affordable housing presenting at the 20th Annual Housing Washington Conference in Spokane Oct. 7-9. Dan spoke about the Affordable Housing Needs Study, a new research and forecast partnership led by the Governor-appointed Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB). Major funders include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Association of Washington Housing Authorities, Washington REALTORS®, the Master Builders Association of Pierce County, Building Industry Association of Washington, and Olympia Master Builders. Dan also participated in a panel focus session on changes to the Foreclosure Fairness Act and he introduced keynote speaker Nicolas Retsinas of Harvard Business School. Popular author, poet and filmmaker Sherman Alexie, who grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation, was the closing speaker.
See pictures and download presentation materials from the Conference.
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Updates from Commerce Director Brian Bonlender are published about monthly. Visit our websites and follow us @WAStateCommerce. |
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