Washington State Department of Commerce

2024 has been another big year at Commerce. As we reflect on the highlights, we are grateful for our many partners across Washington that play a crucial role in helping communities thrive. We’re excited to accomplish even more together in the coming year!

Big news out of City of Everett, WA. Lafarge & Egge just unveiled their brand-new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with a ribbon-cutting celebration! This exciting expansion was made possible, in part, by a 2024 Commerce Evergreen Manufacturing Growth Grant, fueling the growth of Washington’s key industries like aerospace, maritime, clean tech, and beyond. Local partner, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, submitted this project for the grant award. What’s new? • Expanded capabilities to serve aerospace, space, defense, and other industries. • Infrastructure upgrades, including architectural design, permitting, and power enhancements, funded by the grant. • A 38,000-square-foot facility on Hardeson Road that will nearly double staff to around 60 employees as production and demand increase in 2025! In these photos, Owner/CEO Paul Raidna holds the scissors, with President Bryan Lutrell, GM Tyler Haist. Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin cuts the ribbon alongside staff and community leaders. We also get a close-up look at one of Lafarge & Egge’s advanced manufacturing machines—a nod to their roots as a tube bending supplier for Boeing and aerospace companies. Congratulations to Lafarge & Egge on this milestone and for helping drive innovation and opportunity in our state!

ICYMI: We’re looking for a third-party administrator for the Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebate programs. The programs will provide rebates to low- and moderate-income households for whole-home energy efficiency retrofits and electrification. There are two virtual upcoming pre-proposal workshops for interested applicants: • Wednesday, Jan. 8, 9:30 a.m.; Register: https://heyor.ca/dMhfdO • Thursday, Jan. 16, 12 p.m.; Register: https://heyor.ca/BfL5Hr Proposals are due Monday, March 3, 2025 by 4 p.m. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gKeN6MhE

A model in coordinated funding, Sunset Gardens is a four-story mixed-use building providing affordable apartments for veterans, individuals with disabilities, and seniors who earn less than 50% of the area median income. The Renton Housing Authority, city of Renton, JP Morgan Chase Bank, King County, and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission all partnered to complete the project in April 2024. With a project cost of $50 million, not including the land donated by the housing authority, Sunset Gardens fulfills part of Renton’s 2025 comprehensive plan and highlights the city’s use of a 0.1% sales tax increase to help with affordable housing and mental health services.

The City of Bellevue, Washington was awarded not one, but two Governor Smart Communities Awards in 2024! Now we're taking a closer look at these impactful improvements. With a partnership between King County Parks and the City of Bellevue, the Eastrail Wilburton Framework Plan earned the Judges Merit Award! The bold trail-oriented design transforms the Wilburton corridor into a thriving transit-oriented, multi-benefit neighborhood. Bellevue’s innovative 0.1% tax program is driving real impact through the Housing Stability Program (HSP)! In just two years, HSP has funded $16 million in affordable housing projects, supporting residents at 30% or less of AMI. Watch the video to see how Bellevue is paving the way for sustainable, inclusive growth:

CJK Community Homes is transforming lives through financial literacy in Pierce County. The nonprofit organization is using funding from Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Project to create pathways to financial independence for historically marginalized communities. Founder Noemi Cagatin-Porter has personally experienced homelessness, and is now using her journey from poverty to possibility to help others achieve the same transformation. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gH38BJc9

Under Washington’s HEAL (Healthy Environment for All) Act, nearly 55% of funding is directed toward creating environmental benefits for overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and tribes across the state. So far, funding has supported 5,600+ projects and programs aimed at reducing pollution, improving environmental health, and addressing disparities. Explore the HEAL dashboard to see how state agencies are making an impact: https://lnkd.in/gn-GbThB

The Clean Building Performance Grants funding opportunity is now open! The program, which aims to lower energy costs, reduce pollution, and create jobs, offers competitive funding to support energy efficiency improvements in private and public buildings to meet the Clean Buildings Performance Standard. These grants target Tier 1 covered buildings and Tier 1 and Tier 2 public buildings. Funding reimburses building owners for costs related to projects and services to meet CBPS compliance. Interested in joining an upcoming workshop to learn more? Join an upcoming applicant conference: • TOMORROW! Thursday, Dec. 19, 12 to 1 p.m.; Register: https://heyor.ca/dqNYbr • Thursday, Jan. 9, 12 to 1 p.m.; Register: https://heyor.ca/f3YiQK Get more details: https://lnkd.in/gw_5_YtV

Last week, Chris Lovings, Commerce’s Community Engagement Specialist in King County, attended a ribbon cutting for Island Center Homes, an exciting affordable housing development on Vashon Island. This is a demonstration project, the first of its kind in King County. The sustainable property features five separate buildings with eight studio-style units in each home with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. Each home has a common gathering room and full-sized kitchen, and two of the eight units are ADA compliant. The property will house 40 community members. Commerce proudly supported with project with $5.4 million of funding from the National Housing Trust Fund and state Housing Trust Fund. The ribbon cutting event included a property tour by Rachael Hetrick, the Island Center Homes program director, and a lineup of speakers: Chris; Kelly Rider, King County Department of Community and Human Services director; Christy Clements, Board President of Vashon HouseHold; Hilary Emmer, Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness representative; and Kari Dohn Decker, Vashon HouseHold interim executive director.

Commerce recently awarded Snohomish County, WA with a 2024 Governor’s Smart Community Award for the Little Bear Creek Advance Mitigation Site. This $4.2 million, 17-acre wetland project is revolutionizing transportation planning by combining mitigation needs into a single site before they’re needed. The result? $30 million in savings for future road projects and enduring ecological benefits. Watch the full story to see how innovation and sustainability go hand-in-hand!