Washington State Department of Commerce

A group of diverse individuals stands outside a building, holding a large ribbon for an opening ceremony.

A man and a woman stand next to electric vehicle charging stations.

Commerce joined partners to celebrate last week’s ribbon cutting for the Samaki Commons EV charging station project.

This new site expands access to electric vehicle charging in Rainier Valley, supporting cleaner transportation, local sustainability goals, and community-focused development.

A silhouette of a snowboarder performing a jump against a textured background that resembles snow. The text above reads "Snowboarding" and below, it states "Energy," followed by a descriptive phrase about boldness and thrill in the sport. A colorful logo is included at the bottom right.

🏂 Snowboarding = Energy
Bold, innovative, and ready to ride the edge of what’s possible—Energy brings the power and the thrill!

A silhouette of a skier navigating a slope, with ski gates in the background. Text overlay reads "Alpine Skiing" and discusses economic development, highlighting themes of progress and momentum. The background has a snowy texture.

⛷️ Skiing = Economic Development
Fast, forward-thinking, and carving new paths for growth—Economic Development is all about momentum.

A graphic featuring the word "Curling" at the top, with a silhouette of a curler in action on an icy surface. The text highlights "Community Services" and emphasizes precision, strategy, and overcoming challenges. A colorful logo appears at the bottom right.

🥌 Curling = Community Service
Precision, strategy, and sweeping up challenges to clear the way for support. That’s how Community Service scores big!

A silhouette of a figure skater in an elegant pose appears against a textured background. The text above reads "Figure Skating" with the word "Housing" below it. Additional text describes characteristics such as graceful moves and balance, emphasizing the importance of housing in figure skating.

⛸️ Figure Skating = Housing
Graceful moves, perfect balance, and building strong foundations—housing keeps everything elegant and steady.

A graphic featuring the title "Ice Hockey" at the top, followed by a message about teamwork in local government. Below the text, there is an illustration of a hockey player in action and a black hockey puck. The background has a light icy texture.

🏒 Ice Hockey = Local Government
Because teamwork makes the dream work—and they’re always ready to defend the goal for our communities.

The Winter Olympics are here! Over the next 2 weeks, we’re going to show our support for all our U.S. Olympians by celebrating the spirit of the Games.

No matter the sport, we’re chasing gold for Washington communities.

If our divisions were Olympic sports, here’s how they’d shine:

Graphic promoting the Young Entrepreneur Academy blog featuring Mazzy Eckel. The design includes a teal background, images of directional signs, and logos for the Employment Security Department and Washington State Department of Commerce.

Feeling stuck in the job market? Ready to take ownership of your career?

The Young Entrepreneur Academy Young Adult Advisory Council member Mazzy Eckel shares her story and why the Young Entrepreneur Academy is creating new paths forward for young adults.

Read: mystartup365.com/creating-you...

In this week’s Commerce in the News: HOMES-HOMES-HOMES! 🏡

Commerce has released millions through two awards that will bring thousands of new homes to the state.

Housing Trust Fund awards:
heyor.ca/0rdWUh

Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) awards: heyor.ca/GEGFan

Introducing the Young Entrepreneur Academy - Startup Washington

YEA is a free, virtual, on-demand business training resource co-designed by young entrepreneurs, for young people ages 16-30. Learn at your own pace with practical tools to turn your ideas into action.

Learn more about YEA today!

Graphic announcing the Young Entrepreneur Academy, featuring logos of the Employment Security Department and Washington State Department of Commerce. The design has a brown background with a signpost graphic indicating direction.

Starting a business is hard, and it can be even harder for teens and young adults. That’s why Commerce, @washingtonesd.bsky.social, and the Young Adult Advisory Council partnered to create the Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA).

mystartup365.com/introducing-...

A Chinook salmon jumps out of the water, accompanied by an announcement from the Washington State Department of Commerce. $3 million in grants were awarded to support salmon recovery plans for local and tribal governments.

We've announced $3M to local and tribal partners to integrate salmon recovery efforts into comprehensive planning.

These investments support stronger land management and enforcement strategies that protect habitat and improve water quality.

www.commerce.wa.gov/commerce-boo...

Gov. Ferguson appointed Sarah Clifthorne interim Commerce Director effective Jan. 20. Sarah has served as Commerce’s deputy director since February 2025. In this role, she'll work closely with agency leadership to help with the transition process.

governor.wa.gov/news/2026/go...

Graphic promoting a $32 million available from the Washington State Department of Commerce for compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard. The background features modern buildings integrated with green trees.

Commerce has $32.4M available to assist public and private building owners in complying with the Clean Buildings Performances Standard. This competitive request for applications is open to private, public, and tribal building owners.

Full details: www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/clea...

Commerce invests $54.5 million in affordable housing across Washington

We announced $54.5 million in grants to create nearly 5,000 affordable housing units across WA. These awards are part of the latest round of the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program, which helps cover critical water infrastructure costs.

www.commerce.wa.gov/commerce-inv...

An aerial view of a large multi-story building surrounded by trees. A text overlay announces the Washington State Department of Commerce's funding for 2,461 affordable housing units through 47 awards from the Housing Trust Fund and federal programs.

Commerce announced 47 awards from the state and federal Housing Trust Funds, totaling $208 million, to support affordable housing construction and rehabilitation in 19 counties across Washington. These funds will create 2,461 units.

www.commerce.wa.gov/commerce-ann...

YouTube video by Washington State Department of Commerce Commerce in the News, Jan. 15, 2026

In this week's Commerce in the News:

• A community turns an unexpected gift into child care
• Habitat projects help families put down roots in Clark County
• AI House is energizing innovation on the waterfront

www.youtube.com/shorts/sC6r0...

Beto Yarce joins us to lead Community Engagement & Outreach! He brings experience in community & economic development across nonprofit, government, & business sectors. Most recently, he served as SBA administrator, supporting 1.3M small businesses across the PNW.

www.commerce.wa.gov/beto-yarce-j...

YouTube video by Washington State Department of Commerce As Aerospace Grows, Opportunity Takes Off

Aerospace growth in Spokane means more than innovation — it means opportunity. ✈️

From K-12 exposure to advanced manufacturing careers, Commerce is working with industry and education partners to build the workforce of tomorrow — strengthening WA's aerospace sector statewide.

youtu.be/Z1I_Xr_RJB8

Graphic announcing $63 million for 621 affordable homeownership projects from the Washington State Department of Commerce. Next to the text, a pair of hands hold a small blue house icon.

Owning a home is a milestone. It's now within reach for hundreds in WA.

We announced $63M to 43 projects to create 621 first-time homebuyers across the state. The funding supports new home construction, down payment assistance & permanently affordable homes.

content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAD...

A modern library interior featuring bookshelves filled with various books. The text overlay announces the Library Capital Improvement Program, with an application deadline of April 15.

We're accepting applications for the 2027-29 Library Capital Improvement Program’s funding round through April 15. Grants fund up to 50% of eligible capital costs, up to $2M for the acquisition, construction or renovation of library facilities.

Details: www.commerce.wa.gov/capital-faci...

YouTube video by Washington State Department of Commerce Building Washington's Aerospace Workforce

Commerce recently met with leaders from across Washington’s aerospace ecosystem to spotlight the innovation happening in the greater Spokane area.

As Spokane’s aerospace sector grows, it strengthens the workforce pipeline and competitiveness of our state.

Watch: youtu.be/06LnYJR5bdM

CEO Jeff Thornburg with Prashaanth Ravindr, Portal Space System’s vice president of engineering pose together for a photo.

With support from Commerce, Portal Space Systems is expanding in Bothell with a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, supporting advanced spacecraft production and future job growth.

Read Portal's story: choosewashingtonstate.com/portal-space...

YouTube video by Washington State Department of Commerce 2025 reflections

2025 reminded us growth happens together.

From rural towns to big cities, communities & partnerships help shape the projects, policies & investments that move WA forward.

In 2026, we’ll keep investing, building & serving because strong communities are built together.

youtu.be/suBQKLsUTuc

How Swinomish youth sparked a clean energy movement

“Why don’t we have solar?”

For the Swinomish Tribe, that question sparked a clean energy transformation grounded in stewardship, resilience, and responsibility to future generations.

Read about their story and partnership with Commerce: www.commerce.wa.gov/how-swinomis...

YouTube video by Washington State Department of Commerce The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program brings dignity to those living in nursing homes

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program exists to make sure people living in nursing homes and community-based settings are heard, respected and treated with dignity.

In partnership with Commerce, this work strengthens resident rights and supports advocacy statewide.

Watch: youtu.be/LYhNs3bce3E

Graphic announcing a request for applications from Washington nonprofits for capital capacity grants. Phase one submissions are due by Jan. 20, 2026 to the Washington State Department of Commerce.

We opened a small grants funding round to support planning & readiness activities for capital projects of licensed WA nonprofits. Projects should be expected to be completed or shovel-ready within 5 years.

Initial project summaries due Jan. 20, 2026.

Details: www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/requ...

YouTube video by Washington State Department of Commerce Spokane area as a critical engine in the aerospace supply chain

Last week, Commerce met with leaders from across Washington’s aerospace ecosystem to spotlight the innovation happening in the greater Spokane area.

This growth creates well-paying jobs for the region and long-term opportunities for communities across Eastern Washington.

youtu.be/FfvfrYvMnLs

A graphic titled "Investing in Forks Economic Infrastructure" features a central circle with the title surrounded by four icons. In the background, there are stacks of logs under an overcast sky. The design includes the logo for Choose Washington.

Clallam County EDC recently received $200,000 from the Strategic Reserve Fund for infrastructure improvements at the Forks Industrial Park in preparation for the arrival of Riverside Forest Products.

The new sawmill & local jobs are just part of the story: choosewashingtonstate.com/community-co...

Illustration of the Portal Supernova. A spacecraft with large, reflective sails orbits Earth.

Gov. Ferguson is directing $350,000 from the Strategic Reserve Fund to support the manufacturing expansion of Portal Space Systems, builder of the first commercial next-gen spacecraft, Supernova. 700+ tech, manufacturing & engineering jobs are expected by 2030.

www.commerce.wa.gov/governor-fer...