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Washington State Spending Freeze
Washington state is facing a significant operating budget deficit.
On December 2, Governor Inslee directed state agencies to freeze public spending in several different areas:
- Hiring
- Services contracts
- Goods and equipment purchases
- Travel for state employees
The spending freeze is in effect until rescinded.
While exemptions exist within these four categories, the freeze will affect many contracts that were in development. For goods and services, contracts and purchases under $10,000 are exempt from the freeze. The freeze also exempts contracts or equipment purchases that protect life or public safety.
If you have questions about a specific opportunity, please reach out to the agency coordinating that project or purchase. We will notify all certified businesses when the spending freeze ends.
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In light of a recent federal court order, reporting companies are not currently required to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN and are not subject to liability if they fail to do so while the order remains in force. However, reporting companies may continue to voluntarily submit beneficial ownership information reports.
A federal district court in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, issued an order granting a nationwide preliminary injunction that: (1) enjoins the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), including enforcement of that statute and regulations implementing its beneficial ownership information reporting requirements, and, specifically, (2) stays all deadlines to comply with the CTA’s reporting requirements. The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of the Treasury, filed a Notice of Appeal on December 5, 2024.
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SCORE Women-Owned Business Pitch Contest
The SCORE Greater Seattle Women’s Pitch Contest is designed to help women entrepreneurs build business skills and prepare them to be able to successfully seek funding for their business. Benefits include building skills through training, one-on-one mentorship to help you with pitch development and delivery practice, and feedback on your pitch.
In addition to cash prizes for the top competitors, winners will be featured at the Washington Small Business Awards Gala on May 7, 2025 and promoted on SCORE’s website and in the media.
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Attend a free tax workshop offered by Washington State Department of Revenue to learn about your tax reporting responsibilities. We will discuss tax classifications, deductions, sales tax collection, and recordkeeping requirements. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions about taxes that apply specifically to your business.
Multiple dates are available throughout 2025, including virtual webinars and in-person workshops. Register soon!
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Washington State Department of Enterprise Services has upcoming opportunities for small and diverse businesses. For questions, please email DESPIEProgram@des.wa.gov.
- Audio Visual Solution
- Lawn and Ground Equipment (4 months)
- ITPS Cyber security (4 months)
- Forklifts (4 months)
- Flooring and Installation Services (5 months)
- Fresh Dairy (6 months)
- Document Destruction (6 months)
- Personnel Investigator and digital forensics (6 months)
- Survey and Mapping Equipment and Supplies (6 months)
- Automotive parts (7 months)
- Bulk Foods Fully Refundable Airfare (8 months)
- Hazardous Waste Handling and Disposal (8months)
- Tractor and Shovel loaders (8 months)
- Traffic signs and supplies (8 months)
- Uniforms, rainwear, customization, and accessories ( 8 months)
- Frozen, Chilled, Canned, etc. (9 months)
- Community Outreach and Facilitation (9 months)
- PDF Remediation (10 months)
- HVAC Filters (10 months)
- HVAC Services (10 months)
- Translation Services Written Word (10 months)
- Transit busses (12 months)
- Body armor and ballistic resistant protective products (12 months)
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Are you a contractor interested in residential projects? The Department of Commerce's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebate Programs have $165 million to help homeowners improve their homes with weatherization and high-efficiency appliances — and we're seeking skilled contractors to make it happen!
Join Commerce for a webinar on January 15, 2025,12:30-1:30 p.m. to learn how the program works and how to join the QCN. You'll learn how residents will locate QCN contractors in their area, financial incentives available for contractors, and how contractors get paid.
The Qualified Contractor Network (QCN) will become a statewide list of residential contractors qualified to work on IRA home energy rebate projects. Contractors must be members of the QCN to work on these projects. We are seeking:
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- HVAC/heat pump technicians
- Home insulators and air sealers
- Home energy auditors
Register on Zoom and include questions for the Commerce team to answer during the webinar. The webinar recording and presentation will be provided to registrants afterward.
This webinar is tailored for individual contractors, companies that employ residential contractors, unions that work with residential contractors, community-based organizations interested in supporting this work, and utilities that have similar rebates and programs with contractors.
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Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season and new year! OMWBE offices will be closed December 25, 2024 and January 1, 2025.
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New Certifications
68 businesses obtained OMWBE certification in November! We share these monthly lists of newly certified firms with our contract and procurement contacts at State Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education.
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