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*Spring 2025*

*Director's Newsletter*

Commerce: Built to serve, ready to build

Director Joe Nguyen and Commerce staff in the Tri-Cities.

Since starting at Commerce in January, I’ve repeated often that *our number one goal is good customer service*. We need a government that works, efficiently, for everyone. We need a government willing to do things differently and find creative solutions to avoid the red tape that has bogged us down in the past. *We can’t afford to continue business as usual — our work is simply too urgent and too important.*

I intend for Commerce to be a *model agency* for innovation, forward thinking, and positive change. We’re exploring new technologies that will allow us to work faster and smarter, completing work in a fraction of the time. Better, more modern technology also supports our dedicated employees, allowing them to spend less time on administration and more time making sure the program they administer has positive outcomes for communities we serve.

You can *read more on my philosophy* in this recent Geekwire article [ [link removed] ].

We’ve also taken quick, concrete steps to protect the public’s interest by reducing costs and removing barriers. At Commerce, we believe we are not just gatekeepers but stewards of our public tax dollars. Good stewards look for ways to save money and cut costs, so funds can be focused on where they will do the most good for people living and working in Washington.  

Soon, *we’ll move from our current headquarters building to a smaller location* in Olympia. Since so many of our employees work from home, we simply don’t need a four-story footprint any longer. This move will save us tens of thousands of dollars a year.

More *changes are coming*, some of which the public will never see, including more in-house research and less outside contracting, phasing out low-impact processes and tools, and reducing redundancies in technology and other areas of business.

This is the kind of *public stewardship we should be proud of* — not because it's flashy, but because it's honest, smart and grounded in accountability. I’ve made it clear to Commerce employees that I want to protect state resources just like we would protect our own money. Rest assured, we’re not done finding ways to save money and make government faster, leaner and more efficient.



*Take the survey: Tell us about your Commerce experience*

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*I want to know how Commerce can **better** serve communities, and that first means listening to feedback.*

To ensure we’re getting the information we need to support you, we launched an on-line survey, virtual listening sessions, and in-person focus groups across the state. Your feedback will help us understand how we can better support the individuals, organizations, and communities we work with every day.  

Serving you better begins with listening and accountability. *It’s a promise I’m making, along with Governor Bob Ferguson, as part of our ongoing commitment to public service*

*Register and join an in-person focus group [ [link removed] ]:*


* Goldendale: Monday, June 2
* Vancouver: Wednesday, June 4
* Omak: Thursday, June 5
* Shoreline: Tuesday, June 10


Take the survey [ [link removed] ]

More information is available on the Commerce Community Engagement page [ [link removed] ]. The survey closes at the *end of June*.  

If you need any assistance accessing the information or completing the survey, email [email protected] 

*Community stewardship*
Commerce Director Joe Nguyen and Tribal Relations Director Michelle Gladstone-Wade visited Lummi Nation this winter.

"A small Commerce team visited the Lummi Nation in March to learn about impactful projects shaping the community's future. ""Read more about the visit on LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]. "

Taking tribal concerns seriously — and taking action

*There are many ways that emphasizing good customer service and listening to community input can change outcomes and communities for the better.* This winter, when our Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) received an email from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community about concerns with a proposed clean energy research project, we took action.

I worked with the OTR team, along with the Energy Division, and we determined that Commerce’s best – and the right – approach was to honor tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. We chose to make the timely and decisive recommendation that we rescind the funding.

Read the full press release about the rescinded funding [ [link removed] ].

We also signed a new memorandum of understanding with the Tulalip Tribes [ [link removed] ], bringing us to six MOUs with tribal nations we share land with in Washington. The MOUs will improve their ability to do business with Commerce, reducing unnecessary red tape and administrative barriers and increasing efficiency.

This experience highlights the need for Commerce to recall its responsibilities to consult with tribal nations under Executive Order 21-02 [ [link removed] ]. We hope that before the end of the year Commerce will provide tribes with a consultation portal to streamline their access to information and opportunities to provide feedback on Commerce-funded projects that potentially impact tribes.

Hoh Rain Forest road reopens thanks to Commerce action

Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks during the Hoh Rain Forest Road reopening in May.

*We helped reduce burdensome red tape to respond to community need after a washout closed the only access road into the Olympic National Park's Hoh Rain Forest.* As a result of quick action from Commerce and the Governor's Office after last fall's bomb cyclone, the road reopened in May [ [link removed] ], in time for the summer tourist season and the businesses and communities that depend on the national park.

Gov. Ferguson was at the ribbon cutting for the newly repaired road on May 8. The Governor directed funding from the Economic Development Strategic Reserve Fund (SRF) [ [link removed] ], which Commerce administers, to help repair the road.

The RCW establishing the fund also allows Commerce to identify projects, such as this one, which would pave the way (pun intended) for economic development. Commerce’s business development team acted quickly with the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County to prepare and submit the application to the SRF. As a result, $623,000 in state funds was directed to repair the road, along with about $27,000 in private donations.

According to Jefferson County officials, approximately 450,000 people visited the rain forest in 2024, spending more than $440 million. Without those visitors, the community would suffer. The funding will support the whole county’s economic future, as well as six businesses that employ about 30 people.

Without visitor access, any or all of those businesses could have closed, resulting in job losses and economic hardship county-wide. Instead, thanks to the state’s fast response and our help, the road is open and ready for summer visitors to the Olympic Peninsula.

"Photo: Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks during the Hoh Rain Forest Road reopening in May. Photo courtesy the Governor's Office.

"


OHY members at a conference this spring.

Office of Homeless Youth team members and representatives from Washington attended the International Conference on the Prevention of Youth Homelessness in Toronto this spring.

Youth, young adults take the lead on homelessness issues

*Customer service means listening to what people in impacted communities need, including people experiencing homelessness. Housing and homelessness is a top priority for Gov. Ferguson and me, as most of the state’s housing work is done within Commerce.*

We’re making progress. Thanks to the Office of Homeless Youth [ [link removed] ] and its commitment to listening to youth and young people, youth homelessness has declined by 40% from 2016 to 2023. [ [link removed] ]That means that there are nearly 10,000 kids in our state who are securely housed today that weren’t in 2016.

Cacey Hanauer-Sutton [ [link removed] ] joined Commerce this spring as the new OHY executive director, and I know that she has the same dedication to centering lived experience and continuing to bring youth into safe and secure shelter.

*This Commerce-funded program will support youth exiting homelessness**​*

Commerce celebrated the groundbreaking of the Broadway Center for Youth, a new community hub to address youth homelessness in King County, earlier this year. You can watch a short video about the event here [ [link removed] ]. 

Located at the corner of Broadway and Pine in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, the project will pair 84 units of affordable housing provided by Community Roots Housing with YouthCare’s Constellation Center [ [link removed] ]—a first-of-its-kind resource offering workforce training, education and wrap-around services for youth experiencing homelessness. That means kids can find safe shelter, mental health care, and job training at the same place, with fewer barriers to entry.

Commerce supported the development with over $18 million in funding from the state Housing Trust Fund. Additional funding was provided by King County, the City of Seattle and private partners. Fifteen units of housing will be reserved for youth exiting homelessness. 

Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2027. ​

Climate Commitment Act funding keeps classrooms comfortable for Pasco students

*State funding and services should help solve problems, and students and staff at Pasco High School had a problem.* Space heaters and noisy fans are no way to keep classrooms comfortable, but that was the reality at Pasco High School for the past couple of years. Thanks to funding from the Climate Commitment Act, kids and teachers in those same classrooms will soon have year-round climate control from a new HVAC system [ [link removed] ].

I helped write the Climate Commitment Act when I was a State Senator, and I was thrilled to see how it can help our communities during my visit to the Pasco School District this spring. Commerce awarded Clean Building Performance Standards (CBPS) grant funding [ [link removed] ] from the CCA to the district, which allowed them to replace the failing HVAC with a new, modern system. The district is also preparing more properties to switch to clean energy, including adding solar panels and wiring for the future.

“This funding allows us to make meaningful improvements that will enhance the learning environment for our students while also reducing energy costs,” said PSD’s Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Supports Raúl Sital.

Clean energy and comfortable classrooms are vital. Read more about all of our recent Clean Building funding [ [link removed] ], and on LinkedIn [ [link removed] ].

*Open funding opportunities*

As of June 1, Commerce has more than *$40 million available* in funding opportunities — not including $100 million from the Public Works Board [ [link removed] ] and $1.2 billion in Broadband Equity Access and Deployment. [ [link removed] ] Here are some highlights:


* *2025-2027 climate planning grants [ [link removed] ], *applications due by July 1
* *OCVA Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program* [ [link removed] ], applications due by July 2
* *Tribal Electric Boats Program [ [link removed] ]*, application opening soon

Find more opportunities [ [link removed] ]

*Resources*

Commerce website [ [link removed] ]

Jobs at Commerce [ [link removed] ]

Connect with the Community Engagement Team [ [link removed] ]

Public Records Request [ [link removed] ]

Access the Contract Portal [ [link removed] ]

Legislative resources [ [link removed] ]

Agency contact information [ [link removed] ]

Director Joe meets with community members in Bellingham.
*ICYMI: Commerce highlights*

These are some highlights of our work this winter and spring. You can find more on the Commerce News webpage [ [link removed] ].

*Social media highlights*

Malden's path to recovery [ [link removed] ]

Point Roberts takes resilience to a new level [ [link removed] ]

State Broadband Office stands up for digital equity [ [link removed] ]

Commerce, Tulalip Tribes sign MOU [ [link removed] ]

Supporting new housing in Seattle’s Central District [ [link removed] ]

Cecil Daniels’ choice to work at Commerce [ [link removed] ]








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Commerce works with local governments, businesses, community-based organizations and tribes to strengthen communities. The department’s diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs and effective public and private partnerships promote sustainable community and economic development to help all Washingtonians thrive. For more information, visit [link removed]. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit choosewashingtonstate.com [ [link removed] ].

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