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Washington Wire
Welcome to the Washington Wire
The Washington Wire aims to be your first resource for receiving economic development information from around the state. The Department of Commerce is bringing together news, insights, and announcements from our statewide partners in order to create a single location for those looking to keep up to date on business developments in Washington state. We encourage you to subscribe to our RSS feed to get real-time updates on the latest economic development news.
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In Our View- State Is Friendly to Businesses
Monday 12:00 PM Washingtonians have always said “No” to a state income tax, and the companion message has been “Yes” to businesses seeking to move here. So powerful are these dual messages, our state typically ranks high in the national rankings of business-friendly states.Why anyone would want to change that winning formula is a mystery to us, but such foolishness seems to sprout like an invasive species whenever the state runs out of money. It’s happening again this year; another proposal for a state income tax is moving from a back burner to the front of the legislative stove. For full article, click here
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Governor's Aerospace Office Director
Friday 1/27/2012 2:00 PM
Governor Gregoire announced the intention to create an Office of Aerospace inside her Policy team. Below is the job description for that role. Please click the link below for more information.
Governor's Aerospace Office Director
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Governor asks DOR to grant filing extensions to businesses affected by severe winter storm
Tuesday 1/24/2012 10:00 AM Gov. Chris Gregoire has asked the Washington State Department of Revenue to grant tax return filing extensions to Washington businesses affected by the recent winter storm. For full press release, click here
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Governor Gregoire announces strategy to spur small business growth
Thursday 1/5/2012 4:00 PM Gov. Chris Gregoire today outlined a series of proposals to accelerate Washington state’s economic recovery. Gregoire’s plan includes new reforms to free up cash for our state’s small businesses to help them grow and hire, as well as strategies to help those hardest hit by the recession receive the training necessary to land a job and pump more money into our local economies. To read the full press release, click here
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Boeing shuttering Wichita plant, sending tanker work here
Wednesday 1/4/2012 10:00 AM
Boeing confirmed Wednesday that it will close its defense plant in Wichita, Kan., by the end of 2013, and will do final work on the Air Force tankers at its Puget Sound factories. For full article, click here
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Shift of Boeing tanker work would add many jobs here
Monday 12/19/2011 4:00 PM Political and labor leaders in Kansas are convinced Boeing is poised to announce closure of its defense facility in Wichita, a move that would bring thousands of additional Air Force tanker jobs to Washington state. For full article, click here
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Insitu to Improve Efficiency through New Facilities in Washington State
Wednesday 12/14/2011 2:00 PM
Insitu Inc
., today announced that it will expand its footprint in Bingen, Wash., with the addition of two new buildings, while also centralizing all production work. Construction of a 70,000-square-foot production facility and a 30,000-square-foot engine testing building is scheduled to begin in 2013 and conclude in 2014. Once those buildings are occupied, Bingen will be the sole location for all production operations. For full press release, click here
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State launches $1.6 million Export Washington program for small businesses
Tuesday 12/6/2011 8:00 AM The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched the Export Washington program, moving another step forward toward the goal of increasing the number of Washington state businesses actively exporting by 30% and growing export sales to $100 billion by 2015 as called for in Governor Gregoire’s Washington Export Initiative. For full press release, click here
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Washington Small Business Credit Initiative to spur $300 million in new lending
Monday 12/5/2011 2:00 PM Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Commerce today announced that help is on the way for our state’s small businesses seeking new sources of financing to grow and create jobs. Commerce was recently awarded $19.7 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury to launch the Washington Small Business Credit Initiative - three new programs designed to spur investment and lending to businesses throughout the state. For full press release, click here
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Gregoire’s reforms cause unemployment tax rate to drop, 2012 workers’ comp. rates to stay flat
Thursday 12/1/2011 2:00 PM Gov. Chris Gregoire’s unemployment tax and workers’ compensation reform bills from last legislative session continue to help businesses through a down economy by causing next year’s unemployment tax rates to drop and keeping workers’ compensation rates flat into 2012. For full press release, click here
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Boeing, Machinists reach sweeping agreement
Wednesday 11/30/2011 11:00 AM
Boeing and the Machinists union have reached a landmark agreement that will ensure the 737MAX is built in Renton and a new 4-year contract is reached between the union and the company. For full article, click here
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State invests in more jobs by increasing its exports
Monday 11/21/2011 10:00 AM One of the greatest untapped opportunities for job growth right now is exports. Washington state has a lot to gain by encouraging and supporting our businesses as they step up efforts to sell their world-class products and services overseas, where economic growth is projected to surpass that of our domestic market. We must not forget that 95 percent of all consumers and 75 percent of all economic activity lies outside the U.S. For full article, click here
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Governor Gregoire announces strategy to ensure 737 MAX is built in Washington state
Wednesday 11/16/2011 12:00 PM Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced a series of action items intended to ensure the Boeing 737 MAX, expected to support up to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, is built and manufactured in Washington state. For full press release, click here
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Starbucks moves Tazo Tea operations to Kent
Wednesday 11/16/2011 9:00 AM Starbucks Corp. is relocating its Tazo Tea operations to Kent in suburban Seattle from Portland, where it's been headquartered since its inception in 1994. For full article, click here
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Gregoire grants 'Best Practices' awards to businesses
Wednesday 11/16/2011 9:00 AM Gov. Chris Gregoire named four businesses as winners of the 2011 Governor’s Best Practice Awards, citing their efforts to create jobs and, at the same time, offer training that will enable workers to make living wages. For full article, click here
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Gov. Gregoire to announce plan Wednesday to keep Boeing 737 Max in Washington
Tuesday 11/15/2011 2:00 PM When Gov. Chris Gregoire announces on Nov. 16 her plan to keep The Boeing Co. 737 Max in Washington, the strategy will probably pivot on worker education. For full article, click here
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WA Companies Raked in Nearly $32M in September Deals
Monday 10/31/2011 12:00 PM Washington companies in the technology, biotech, and cleantech sectors rolled up nearly $32 million in financing in September, according to data compiled by our partners at research firm CB Insights. For full article, click here
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Commerce, WSDA assisted export sales jump 20 percent
Wednesday 10/26/2011 3:00 PM Washington State reported record Fiscal Year 2011 sales of $241.3 million from state export assistance, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce announced. Both agencies are encouraging more businesses to consider export strategies. For full press release, click here
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Sen. Cantwell seeking more aerospace training funds
Wednesday 10/26/2011 10:00 AM Sen. Maria Cantwell will hold a second “roundtable discussion” on Friday in Spokane, as she seeks new ideas and backing for funding aerospace worker training in Washington state. For full article, click here
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Aerospace training in state gets $20 million boost from federal grant
Monday 10/17/2011 9:00 AM Washingtonians interested in a career in aerospace will have more opportunities for training, thanks to a $20 million federal grant.
The U.S. Department of Labor grant was first announced Sept. 30. On Friday, representatives of the 14 community colleges, technical schools and training organizations involved met Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, both D-Wash., in Seattle to provide a general overview of how the $20 million will be used. For full article, click here
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Trade pacts likely mean jobs
Thursday 10/13/2011 9:00 AM
Ending a long stalemate, Congress gave final approval to new trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama Wednesday in a move aimed at increasing U.S. exports and creating more jobs. For full article, click here
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Commerce names three new Innovation Partnership Zones to foster economic growth
Tuesday 10/4/2011 8:00 AM The Washington State Department of Commerce today designated three new Innovation Partnership Zones (IPZs) and reauthorized nine others to help spur regional economic growth through key sectors such as manufacturing, global health and technology. For full press release, click here
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Seattle adds 35K jobs in past year, nation’s fifth-biggest gain
Thursday 9/29/2011 1:00 PM
Seattle added 34,800 jobs in the past year, which is the fifth-highest amount in the U.S.
Seattle now has 1,669,900 nonfarm jobs, compared with 1,635,100 in August 2010. For full article, click here
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SBA Grants $30 Million to States for Trade, Export Promotion
Wednesday 9/28/2011 2:00 PM The U.S. Small Business Administration is providing $30 million in grants to states, territories, and the District of Columbia, to help increase exporting by small businesses during the next 12 months. The grants were authorized by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, under the State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP). For full press release, click here
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Nisenfeld to run Vancouver, Wash., business group
Monday 9/26/2011 4:00 PM
An economic development veteran will assume the reins of Vancouver, Wash.’s most prominent business advocacy group.
Lisa Nisenfeld will become the president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council. Nisenfeld will handle the job that Bart Phillips held for 11 years. For full article, click here
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Air Washington program gets $20 million grant
Monday 9/26/2011 2:00 PM
The Air Washington Program is getting a $20 million federal grant to train workers for the aerospace industry. The program is a consortium of 14 colleges, two aerospace companies and an apprentice committee. For full article, click here
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Twelfth month of job growth yields little change in unemployment rate
Wednesday 9/14/2011 10:00 AM August marked the 12th consecutive month of job growth in Washington state, with an estimated one-year increase of 46,600, while the unemployment rate barely budged. For full press release, click here
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Meet the Washington state companies that just landed on the Inc. 500 list
Wednesday 8/24/2011 11:00 AM Contour CEO Marc Barros is moving just as fast as one of the snowboarders who use his company’s helmet-mounted 3-D cameras. And that speed is being rewarded with Contour being named as one of the top 10 fastest-growing privately-held companies in the U.S. by Inc. magazine, ranking 7th. That’s an impressive jump from last year when the company debuted in the 183rd slot. For full article, click here
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Governor expands commission to accelerate innovation economy
Monday 8/8/2011 5:00 PM
Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced appointments to a newly strengthened Washington Economic Development Commission (WEDC) shaped by bi-partisan legislation passed in 2011. For full press release, click here
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Washington state No. 2 for entrepreneurs- Study
Wednesday 8/3/2011 11:00 AM Washington state ranked No. 2 in the nation for entrepreneurial activity, according to the State Entrepreneurship Index, a state-by-state measurement of entrepreneurial activity. For full article, click here
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Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) Launches New Machining Apprenticeship Program in Tri-Cities at Columbia Basin College (CBC)
Tuesday 8/2/2011 4:00 PM The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC), a non-profit, statewide developer of Washington State registered aerospace and advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programs, announced today that it will offer a new machining apprenticeship program this fall at Columbia Basin College (CBC) in Pasco, WA. Apprenticeship combines supervised on-the-job training experience (93%) with classroom instruction (7%) that includes theory and hands on learning. This will be AJAC's first program in the Tri-Cities area and sixth program overall. Other program locations include: Spokane, Tacoma, Everett and Seattle. In addition to machining, AJAC has designed and is developing training programs for nine other registered aerospace and advanced manufacturing occupations, such as composite manufacturing specialist, aircraft interiors assembly mechanic, aircraft mechanic airframe and maintenance machinist, etc. For full press release, click here
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Washington Export Initiative Launches Export Success Stories
Tuesday 7/19/2011 12:00 PM The Washington Export Initiative is launching a new outreach effort targeted to small and medium sized business to encourage companies to develop new international markets and customer bases. Governor Gregoire launched the Washington Export Initiative in June 2011 and set ambitious goals to increase the number of companies exporting as well as to increase the total export sales out of Washington. This campaign is designed to build momentum to deliver on the 5-year goals. For full press release, click here
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Foreclosure Fairness Act Takes Effect July 22, Washington Is Third Non-Judicial Foreclosure State To Offer Mediation
Monday 7/18/2011 4:00 PM The Washington State Foreclosure Fairness Act Mediation Program begins Friday, July 22. The program, a result of bipartisan legislation (SSHB1362, Chapter 58, Laws of 2011 (PDF)*) during the 2011 session, makes Washington the third non-judicial foreclosure process state in the country with a program designed to help homeowners find a resolution to foreclosure proceedings with their lender or servicer. For full press release, click here
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Boeing's workforce in state up 1,432 workers in June
Wednesday 7/13/2011 10:00 AM The Boeing Co. added 1,432 jobs in Washington last month, according to an update on the company's website Tuesday. For full article, click here
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U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council to Sign MOC with Washington State Department of Commerce
Monday 7/11/2011 10:00 AM The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council (USSABC) will sign a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) with the Washington State Department of Commerce (WADC) on July 15th in Seattle, Washington. The MOC will serve to promote the bilateral business relationship between the State of Washington and Saudi Arabia. Rogers Weed, Director of the WADC, and Edward Burton, President and Managing Director of the USSABC, will sign the agreement. For full press release, click here
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Report- Washington still nation’s No. 2 'sustainable' state
Tuesday 7/5/2011 4:00 PM Washington state remains the nation’s second-most “sustainable” state, according to a new ranking. For full article, click here
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State Broadband Program Launches New User-Friendly Website
Thursday 6/30/2011 2:00 PM
A cleaner look, the latest data, and feedback options are just the beginning of the resources available on the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) website. Beyond the front page, under the "Mapping" button is a new and interactive broadband map based on the latest service data from over 100 Washington broadband providers. Visitors can zoom, pan, or look up an address to find out which providers bring broadband to a community and at what speeds. The map also includes an easy-to-use feedback function, which allows for immediate input on broadband availability across the state. For full press release, click here
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Gregoire connects Washington automotive suppliers with key car manufacturers
Wednesday 6/22/2011 11:00 AM Continuing her eight-day trade mission in Paris, France today, Gov. Chris Gregoire introduced Washington automotive supply companies with key European car manufacturers like Peugeot and Renault – encouraging these manufacturers to look at Washington state companies for innovative vehicle technology. For full press release, click here
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Boeing and State of Washington Back Aerospace and Defense Supplier Summit
Tuesday 6/21/2011 10:00 AM In the first event of its kind in the United States, manufacturers and suppliers from major global aerospace and defense industries will come together in Seattle next year to help create business opportunities and share information on the industry growth trends. For full press release, click here
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Heath Tecna Reveals Supply Relationship with Korean Air for A380 Prestige Class Lounges
Tuesday 6/21/2011 9:00 AM
At the Paris Air Show today, Heath Tecna CEO Richard L. Ballantyne revealed the company's supply relationship with Korean Air, announcing an ongoing multi-year partnership with the airline to manufacture A380 upper deck bars, sofas, and other equipment for the carrier's Prestige class. The sleek furnishings are installed in the airline's second A380 being displayed at the show. While the program was awarded several years ago, due to the competitive nature of airline product development, program partnership details could not be revealed until now.For full press release, click here
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Heath Tecna Awarded Austrian Airlines B767 and B777 Integration, Cabin Furnishings, and NuLook Interior Program
Tuesday 6/21/2011 9:00 AM
At the Paris Air Show today, Heath Tecna CEO Richard L. Ballantyne announced that Austrian Airlines has selected HT to upgrade and reconfigure six Boeing 767-300 and four Boeing 777-200 cabin interiors as part of the airline’s plans to meet the changing requirements of international customers. The arrangement calls for Heath Tecna to provide their integration expertise to oversee the program, produce reconfiguration kits, manage the delivery and installation of buyer furnished equipment from third party suppliers, and to obtain a supplemental type certificate (STC) from the FAA (with subsequent STC validation by EASA) for all aircraft modifications. In addition, Heath Tecna will engineer, manufacture, and install new cabin furnishings for all aircraft, as well as engineering, manufacturing, and installing NuLook® Interior kits for five of the B767 aircraft. The program kick off has already occurred with deliveries commencing Q3 2012. For full press release, click here
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Gov. Gregoire opens Washington pavilion at Paris Air Show
Monday 6/20/2011 1:00 PM Gov. Chris Gregoire today, joined by leaders in the state’s aerospace industry, opened the Washington Pavilion at the Paris Air Show, the largest worldwide event dedicated to the aviation and space industry. Gregoire is using her time at the event to promote job growth by expanding the state’s aerospace industry, which already includes 650 companies and nearly 84,000 aerospace employees. For full press release, click here
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AJAC Offers European Companies Opportunities to Train Their Employees in Washington State
Monday 6/20/2011 11:00 AM The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC), developer of Washington State registered aerospace and advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programs, today announced that it is offering apprenticeship and training programs to European Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) who operate in Washington State. This will give these OEMs the opportunity to join the other 650 Washington State Aerospace Companies who rely on the number one strength of Washington State's aerospace industry: nearly 84,000 highly skilled workers. For full press release, click here
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Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee's (AJAC) Mobile Training Unit Travels Across Washington State to Provide Apprenticeship and Just-In-Time Technical Short-Term Training
Monday 6/20/2011 11:00 AM The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC), developer of Washington State registered aerospace and advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programs, announced today that it will take its training on the road beginning this fall with the new Advanced Inspection and Manufacturing Mobile Training Unit (AIM-MTU) . This 53-foot classroom on wheels will travel across Washington State to provide apprenticeship and just-in-time technical short-term training to the next generation of advanced manufacturing tradespeople. The AIM-MTU will visit employer worksites and community/technical colleges. For full press release, click here
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Job-growth paused in May
Wednesday 6/15/2011 11:00 AM Following eight straight months of job growth, Washington employment dipped by an estimated 700 jobs in May. For full press release, click here
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Pierson named CEO of Tacoma-Pierce County chamber
Tuesday 5/31/2011 11:00 AM
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State board invests more than $800,000 for Port of Vancouver to recruit SAPA Profiles
Thursday 5/19/2011 5:00 PM The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today announced an $800,000 public infrastructure investment targeting business growth and job creation in Clark County. For full press release, click here
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Comeback continues- Washington added jobs again in April
Wednesday 5/18/2011 11:00 AM The state added an estimated 5,800 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate dipped from 9.2 to 9.1 percent. For full press release, click here
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Boeing will add 1,200 workers in Renton over two years
Tuesday 5/17/2011 10:00 AM After years of shrinking its facilities in Renton, Boeing is hiring at its plant and preparing to build there again in anticipation of booming production lines for its workhorse 737 jet. For full article, click here
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Microsoft is buying Skype for $8.5 billion
Tuesday 5/10/2011 10:00 AM
Microsoft is buying Internet phone company Skype for $8.5 billion.
The cash acquisition, announced Tuesday morning, will give Microsoft a significant consumer brand online, access to 170 million people who use Skype for free or cheap calls, and Skype's phone and video calling software, which runs on the Web and Internet-connected devices. For full article, click here
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