Washington State Department of Commerce

11/05/2026

Commerce recently joined the Kennewick Housing Authority, City of Kennewick Government, and community partners for the opening of the Sunset Ridge Townhouses.

This new affordable housing community was funded in part with $5 million from the state Housing Trust Fund and funding from Commerce’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP).

The 58-unit property transformed an empty lot into a mix of garden apartments, townhouses, a community building, children’s play area, and ample green space. The development also included area infrastructure improvements, like road replacement, stormwater improvements, sidewalks, street lighting, and more.

Its one-, two-, and three-bedroom units will house low-income residents earning at or below 50% of the area median income, with units dedicated to families with children, military veterans, and individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities.

Congratulations to the Kennewick Housing Authority, City of Kennewick, and the partners that brought this project to life!

11/04/2026

🎉 Celebrating Laura Hodgson, 2026 Friend of Housing Unsung Hero Award Winner! 🎉

We’re pleased to recognize Laura Hodgson of the Washington State Department of Commerce, with the Unsung Hero Award.

As a Housing Planning & Data Manager in the Growth Management Services unit at Commerce, Laura has been a hero to local governments around the state as they embarked on updating the housing parts of their Grown Management plans.

She’s meticulous, exceedingly capable, and does everything she can to make housing information as transparent and accessible as possible.

Each email is personal, and the answer to each question is well-researched, so public servants can make good planning decisions.

She’s the mind behind the state’s Housing for All Planning Tool, which helps counties model projections for the housing units they need at all income levels.

She has also worked with the Center for Real Estate Research and OFM to publish housing data that’s public, free and easy to use.

On top of that, Laura created a displacement risk map to help protect naturally occurring affordable housing and address racially disparate impacts.

Thank you, Laura, for being the quiet, smiling unsung hero helping communities lay the foundation for housing!

11/02/2026

Agriculture is evolving, and innovation is taking root right here in Washington’s Yakima Valley! 🤖

FIRA brought together growers, technology developers, researchers, students, and industry leaders to explore how agricultural robotics and emerging technologies can address real-world challenges.

A special thank you to the partners who helped make this premier agricultural technology event possible: Yakima County, Yakima County Development Association, WTFRC, WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.

Commerce is proud to sponsor FIRA-USA and looks forward to continuing to support collaborations and innovative ideas that will shape the future of a resilient agricultural economy in Washington State. 🍎

10/31/2026

Happy National Weatherization Day! ❄️🏠

To celebrate, Commerce staff visited Lora Lee at her Kent home. For years, Lora struggled to keep her home warm, all while dealing with respiratory illnesses. With no insulation, doors and windows that wouldn’t stay closed, and broken ventilation, Lora said the conditions in her home even kept family away.

Thanks to support from Commerce’s Weatherization Program and the King County Housing Authority, several improvements transformed Lora’s home to keep her safe and comfortable.

Interim Director Sarah Clifthorne and Allen Carbert, Commerce’s Weatherization Unit Managing Director, were able to see firsthand how weatherization services transform lives.

As we celebrate 50 years of the National Weatherization Assistance Program, Commerce remains committed to helping create healthier and safer homes for families across Washington.

10/31/2026

Joann had no working heat and old windows. Lora and her son had no heater at all, no insulation, and a mold problem that was keeping her grandkids away. Neither could afford to fix these problems. King County Housing Authority's weatherization team gave them new windows, insulation, heating, and cleaner air.

Fifty years ago, the Weatherization Assistance Program started with weatherstripping and caulk. Today, it's a whole-house approach that keeps people warm, healthy, and in the homes they love. We weatherize 100 single-family homes and hundreds of multifamily units a year.

None of this happens alone. Funding for the Weatherization Program comes from the Washington State Department of Commerce, including support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, WA State Plus Health, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Bonneville Power Administration. Puget Sound Energy is also a major funder and partner in the KCHA Weatherization Program.

10/30/2026

Celebrate Weatherization Day!

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the national Weatherization Assistance Program which helps eligible households improve energy efficiency and lower utility costs. Governor Bob Ferguson has signed a proclamation recognizing the importance of energy efficiency and affordability.

Washington is proud to be a part of this effort, our state works with local agencies to bring weatherization services to different communities, helping create safer and healthier homes for Washingtonians, while reducing utility bills.

Visit our website for more information about weatherization services in your county: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/weatherization/

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¡Celebra el día de Climatización de Hogares!

Este año se celebra el 50 aniversario del programa nacional de Asistencia de Climatización de Hogares, una iniciativa que ayuda a mejorar la eficiencia energética de hogares y a reducir costos.

El estado de Washington esta orgulloso de formar parte de este esfuerzo nacional, trabajamos junto con agencias locales para impulsar servicios de climatización de hogares en diferentes partes del estado. Estamos ayudando a crear hogares más seguros y saludables, mientras reducimos facturas de electricidad.

Visite nuestro sitio web para más información sobre servicios de climatización de hogares en su condado: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/weatherization/

10/29/2026

Early Learning Facilities Emergency Grant opportunity!

Our friends at Enterprise Community Partners are now accepting applications for emergency relief funds. These grants support eligible childcare facilities in Washington address urgent damage caused by natural disasters or immediate safety threats. Funding may support repairs, reconstruction, and more.

Informational webinar:
• Wednesday, November 4, from 12 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.

Registration and more information: https://www.enterprisecommunity.org/grants-and-rfps/enterprise-accepting-applications-emergency-relief-early-learning-facilities-grant

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¡Oportunidad de Subsidios para Centros de Aprendizaje Temprano en Washington!

Nuestros asociados de Enterprise Community Partners están aceptando solicitudes para fondos de ayuda de emergencia para instalaciones de aprendizaje temprano. Estas subvenciones pueden ayudar a los proveedores de cuidado infantil en el estado con reparaciones o mejoras a instalaciones afectadas por un desastre natural o que atraviesan por una amenaza de salud o de seguridad inmediata.

Seminario web informativo:
• Miércoles, 4 de noviembre de 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Mas información y registración: https://www.enterprisecommunity.org/grants-and-rfps/enterprise-accepting-applications-emergency-relief-early-learning-facilities-grant

Enterprise Community Partners is accepting applications for emergency relief capital grants from eligible early learning providers in Washington State.

10/29/2026

More access to credit means more opportunities for Washington businesses.

Commerce has awarded $4.36 million to 11 organizations through the Equitable Access to Credit program.

The grants help lending institutions connect businesses in historically underserved communities with financing, technical assistance and financial education. These resources support business growth and job creation for those that face barriers to financing.

Since 2024, at least 65% of the annual grants support Native financial institutions and those that serve and invest in rural communities.

Read the full news release on our website at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/commerce-awards-4-36-million-to-expand-access-to-business-credit-for-underserved-washington-communities/.

10/28/2026

Applications are now available for the Behavioral Health Facilities Closure Prevention Program for projects that help keep these facilities open. The funds support physical repairs, upgrades, and other projects needed to preserve existing behavioral health facilities in Washington state.

Closure prevention funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible organizations include nonprofits, for-profit businesses, public entities, tribes and Indian Health Care Providers, community hospitals, and community-based behavioral health providers.

Commerce is hosting two application webinars to provide more information:
• General audience (recorded) on Monday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.
• Tribes on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. (not recorded)

Get full details and webinar registration links on the funding webpage at: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/the-behavioral-health-facilities-bhf-closure-prevention-program-is-now-accepting-applications-for-capital-projects-to-preserve-behavioral-health-facilities-through-critical-repairs-or-upgrades-nece/

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Las solicitudes ya están disponibles para el Programa de Prevención del Cierre de Centros de Salud Conductual, un programa que apoya proyectos que mantienen abiertas estas instalaciones en el estado de Washington. Los fondos apoyan proyectos de mejoras, reparaciones y más.

Los fondos de prevención serán distribuidos por orden de llegada. Son elegibles organizaciones sin fines de lucro, empresas con fines de lucro, entidades públicas, tribus y Proveedores de Atención Medica para Indígenas, hospitales comunitarios, y proveedores de servicios de salud conductual comunitarios.

El Departamento de Comercio ofrece dos seminarios web informativos:
• Publico general, lunes 5 de noviembre, 3 p.m. (será grabado)
• Tribus, martes 10 de noviembre, 2 p.m. (no será grabado)

Para más información e inscripciones: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/the-behavioral-health-facilities-bhf-closure-prevention-program-is-now-accepting-applications-for-capital-projects-to-preserve-behavioral-health-facilities-through-critical-repairs-or-upgrades-nece/

10/28/2026

Life after incarceration can be daunting and support matters. Especially for underserved communities. People need help finding employment, healthcare, housing, and more.

In September, the Washington Statewide Reentry Council joined the first Washington Assembly of Restorative Practices (WARP), a one-day conference designed to help support reentry in rural and tribal communities. Nearly 200 people, including representatives from many tribes in Washington state, attended the event at the University of Washington Bothell.

“Many reentry conferences are in urban areas and rural people can’t get there or it costs too much,” said Candice Baughman, a member of the Washington Statewide Reentry Council and a WARP co-founder.

The conference with emphasis on rural and tribal reentry also brought service providers, justice-system partners, and people with lived experience of incarceration and reentry to learn and build trust.

“When you can restore someone’s sense of self-worth and identity, it can be a pathway toward healing," said Wesley Roach, employee with Unkitawa.

Read the full story on our website: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/why-reentry-matters-investing-in-individuals-builds-strong-communities/