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April 2019
Lisa Brown is on Twitter! Follow @WAComDirector today to start hearing more about Commerce priorities, successes and challenges.
Everyone at Commerce is extremely pleased with the results of our agency request legislation this year. All three bills are moving on! The homeless youth bill is on its way to the Governor, and the energy bills will be voted on in the House for concurrence before making their way for signature, as well.
On behalf of our team and our many partners and stakeholders, I want to express our sincere gratitude to the legislature for recognizing the value of these important measures.
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ESHB 1428 - Disclosure of Attributes of Electricity Products. Thank you, Rep. Sharon Shewmake, for championing this bill that will help provide information to electricity customers about the sources of their electricity.
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2SHB 1444 – Appliance Efficiency Standards. Thank you, Rep. Jeff Morris, for supporting this legislation, and Sen. Reuven Carlyle for his companion bill 5115, that could save consumers an estimated $2 billion in energy and water costs by removing inefficient versions of products from the market.
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HB 1657 – Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) is now on its way to Gov. Inslee, thanks to the strong voice of Rep. Lisa Callan, Sen. Patty Kuderer who sponsored companion bill 5470, and many others. This bill makes modifications to our OHY programs that accomplish three things:
- Improves access to services for youth and young adults
- Allows us to better leverage our existing resources
- Amplifies youth engagement in our work.
As the session draws to a close, we are all eager to take on new challenges as we continue our daily mission of strengthening communities all across the state.
April events bring ChooseWashington message to Europe
Two separate Commerce-led delegations kicked off April in Europe, showcasing the latest from Washington companies in aerospace interiors, advanced manufacturing and clean tech. Initial reports are very positive from both the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany, and Hannover Messe, the world's largest industrial trade show. Business development specialist Conor Duggan wrapped a dozen solo meetings in one day at Paris Space Week before joining the team at AIX for another 18.
See highlights from Hamburg and read more from Hannover Messe
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Companies and capital from Japan, Europe, Canada converge in Seattle for Technology Innovation Meetup
Yoichiro Yamada, Consul General of Japan, joined Lisa Brown and Commerce Assistant Director Chris Green for pitch sessions by 10 exciting Washington technology innovators with potential partners and investors April 17. Another series of pitches and networking meetings rounds out the week. Thanks to our partners Innovation Finders Capital for another excellent gathering to match our mutual interests in leading the development of transformative artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy technologies.
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$7.1 million adds community behavioral health facilities
Commerce recently announced capital facilities grants to add 71 beds in six regions to help people with a wide variety of behavioral health issues. Twenty-eight of the new beds are dedicated as an alternative to treatment in state psychiatric hospitals, supporting Gov. Inslee’s five-year plan to modernize state mental health systems with more community-based facilities.
Here is some of the news coverage around the state:
Washington state awards grant to Excelsior Wellness Center in Spokane (Spokesman-Review)
Effort to open behavioral health facility near Olympia gets $1.5 million boost (The Olympian)
Commerce awards millions to add facilities for behavioral health (NBCrightnow.com)
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Grant helps international food processor expand, add jobs in Othello
Commerce awarded the Adams County Development Council a $100,000 grant from the Governor's economic development strategic reserve fund to support a $4.8 million investment by SVZ-USA in a state-of-the-art food processing facility, adding 17 new manufacturing jobs.
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