Agency: 103 - Department of Commerce

The Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC) is a private nonprofit agency that provides local government officials with research, information, and advice under a personal services contract with Commerce pursuant to RCW 43.110. MRSC responds to requests for information on municipal law, finance, growth management, public works, management, and operations from Washington’s 281 cities and 39 counties. MRSC also maintains a vast knowledge base of municipal reference materials, produces a variety of publications, newsletters, and blogs, and operates a web site that receives over 3 million visits per year. These consolidated services reduce the need for local staff and are especially crucial to smaller units of local government. The MRSC is principally funded through a small portion of the cities' distributions of the state liquor profits and the counties' distribution of the liquor excise tax.

This activity includes new initiatives, short-term efforts and other services designed to enhance the cooperation of programs and improve the effectiveness of community housing and community development programs. The Developmental Disabilities Endowment Trust Fund is established in RCW 43.330.210. The purpose of the Governing Board is to design and establish all policies to administer the Developmental Disabilities Endowment Trust Fund program. The Governing Board and the operation of the Developmental Disabilities Endowment Trust Fund are funded by fees generated by the program. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program is established in RCW 43.330.460. The purpose of the Governing Board is to design and establish all policies to administer the ABLE program. The Governing Board and the operation of the ABLE will be funded by fees generated by the program. The Office of the Developmental Disabilities Ombuds is established in RCW 43.382.

This activity allows the state to provide direct financing to private businesses without violating the constitutional prohibition of lending the state's credit. Federally funded programs in this activity (Rural Washington Loan Fund and Brownfields Loan Fund assist businesses in rural communities each year with loans of up to $1 million. The loans leverage substantial local resources from governments, banks, and the businesses receiving the loans. As a result of these investments, businesses are retained, able to expand, and/or move to Washington State. This activity also provides loans from the state-funded Manufacturing Innovation and Modernization and Hanford Economic Investment programs.

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is authorized by the federal Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 (PL 97 35, as amended) for the benefit of people with incomes at or below 125 percent of the poverty line. CSBG allows communities to develop and provide anti poverty services and community development activities that best meet their local needs. Funds can be used for direct services such as employment readiness and training, emergency services, and housing, to raise other funds, and to support certain capital investments. Commerce contracts with 30 community action agencies to fund social and economic challenges and provide ongoing training and technical assistance, board training and development, strategic planning, and problem solving with community action agency staff.

The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council is mandated by federal law, public law 106-402. The purpose of the Council is to identify needs, develop strategies and solutions to create or improve support services by conducting advocacy, systems change, and capacity building efforts. The goal is for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities to live meaningful lives based on the values of self-determination, integration, and inclusion of individuals into the community. Key activities include conducting outreach, providing training and technical assistance, removing barriers, developing coalitions, encouraging citizen participation, and keeping policy makers informed about disability issues. The Council is funded with federal funds provided through P.L. 106-402.

The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) ensures that every county in Washington can provide services to help victims recover and return to normal life. Victim services include information and referral, crisis intervention, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, general advocacy and support, support groups, and therapy. OCVA provides funding to Community Sexual Assault programs and other community agencies so victims can access local services and resources during their recovery.

Victims look to the criminal justice system to provide offender accountability and a sense of justice. The criminal justice system depends on the cooperation of crime victims for reporting, investigation, and sometimes prosecution and corrections. This interdependence has been recognized by both state and federal legislation and funding, resulting in specific programs within the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy. These programs improve coordination and response to victims as they interact with law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and crime victim services. This activity also funds services that support victim safety and support victim participation in the criminal justice system.

States are required by the federal Older Americans Act to have a Long-term Care Ombudsman Program. Commerce administers our state’s program under Chapter 43.190 RCW using multiple funding sources, including an interagency agreement with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for Older Americans Act (Titles III B and VII) funds, State General Fund, and some local dollars. The Long-term Care Ombudsman Program ensures the safety and quality of care of long-term care facility residents by intervening when complaints and situations of possible abuse, neglect, or exploitation arise. Over 500 volunteer ombudsmen are trained, certified, and assigned to nursing homes, boarding homes, and adult family homes. The Long-term Care Ombudsman Program partners with the Office of Public Guardianship, to develop and offer training targeted to the legal community and persons working long-term care facilities. The training focuses on the different types of decision-making authority that guardians, persons with powers of attorney, and persons with surrogate health care decision-making authority have. Commerce contracts with a nonprofit organization to run the program, which subcontracts with 13 regional programs and two legal services contractors. Commerce's staff negotiates funding with DSHS, develops the statewide Long-term Care Ombudsman contract, monitors expenditures and performance, provides technical assistance, and approves plans and policies.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal block grant program authorized by the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (Title XXVI of PL 97 35, as amended). LIHEAP helps households with incomes below 125 percent of the federal poverty level meet the cost of home heating, avoid utility shut off, and reduce the use of unsafe heating alternatives. Commerce contracts with 26 community based organizations and local governments to provide funds directly to utility companies on behalf of eligible households. Contractors also provide energy education, furnace repair or replacement, and referrals for other services. Commerce is required to create a LIHEAP State Plan with participation from nonprofit organizations, low-income representatives, utility companies, and other community members. The agency administers contracts, monitors compliance, reimburses expenditures, provides technical assistance, establishes policies and procedures, operates a secure website for on line data entry and reporting, and evaluates contractor performance.

This activity supports organizations that recruit, train, and maintain volunteers, mediators, and counselors who provide free or low cost services to low-income communities, children, and homeowners. Volunteers, mediators, and counselors allow organizations to expand their capacity to reach more vulnerable citizens and improve individual and community well-being. The Washington State Foreclosure Fairness Act Mediation Program provides homeowner foreclosure mediation. Retired judges, employees and volunteers of dispute resolution centers, attorneys and experienced mediators approved through the Foreclosure Mediation Program mediate in-person discussions between homeowners and representatives of financial institutions to reach an agreeable resolution after a referral. Dispute resolution centers train volunteer mediators so that all citizens have access to low-cost alternatives to litigation regardless of the clients' ability to pay. Dispute resolution centers also provide training and education related to mediation, communication, conflict resolution, and negotiation. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) uses the talents and experience of volunteers over age 55 to help with diverse community needs. Local RSVP coordinators recruit, screen, and work with city, county, and nonprofit programs throughout the state to place volunteers where needed. State funds count toward the 30 percent match required to receive federal RSVP support.

Agency Administration represents less than 2 percent of Commerce's total operating and capital budgets, and includes the services and costs which provide effective direction, management, and support of the agency. The Director's Office is responsible for the overall management and leadership of Commerce, including strategic policy development and research, communications, and government relations. Administrative Services provides information technology, human resources, facility management, purchasing/inventory, mail processing services, budgeting, accounting, contracting, and audit review services. Commerce's Agency Administration costs are supported by all programs and fund sources, through a combination of direct appropriation and indirect assessments. The agency negotiates an annual indirect cost rate with the cognizant federal agency.

The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) makes strategic investments in local public infrastructure to foster high-wage job growth. CERB awards must generate either significant job creation or significant private investment. CERB provides local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes with financial assistance, primarily in the form of low-interest loans to achieve this. The public infrastructure may be either basic, such as water, sewer, and roads; or more specialized as in port facilities, energy, and telecommunications.

The Energy Policy Division (EPD) promotes the state and its businesses in the global and domestic marketplaces by actively supporting the development and expansion of the renewable energy, energy efficiency, fuel cell, and related industries. Activities include providing technical assistance to clean energy companies and CTED economic development staff, and strategically investing oil overcharge funds in industry development, such as market research, incubator development, workshops and forums. The EPD manages the federal State Energy Program (SEP) and Oil Funds Settlement Agreements between the U.S. Department of Energy, state Attorney General's Office, U.S. District Court, and Energy Policy Division. This division subcontracts with the Washington State University (WSU) Extension Energy Program, the state Department of Transportation, and other entities to perform contract functions. Funds must be administered in conformance with U.S. Department of Energy regulations and court orders for the oil settlement funds. EPD, in its designated role as Washington's energy office, is ultimately responsible to the federal government for all of these contrcts. This division also partners with the WSU Energy Program, other state agencies, and public and private organizations in identifying and securing federal funds for activities and projects that support state energy priorities, such as energy education, energy efficiency in public buildings, improved energy codes, renewable energy, alternative fuel development, and economic development and industrial competitiveness.

The Energy Office (EO) provides energy policy support, analysis, and information for the Governor, Legislature, Commerce, and other energy decision makers (Chapters 43.21F and 19.29A RCW). The Energy Office analyzes key energy issues including natural gas, alternative fuels, energy efficiency, renewable energy development, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy supply and price. The Energy Office administers grants from the U.S. Department of Energy as well as the state’s Clean Energy Fund in support of the state’s clean energy objectives. The Energy Office also provides technical and policy support to Washington members of the NW Power and Conservation Council, other state agencies, and state congressional officials on federal and regional energy policies and legislation. The Energy Office ensures statewide energy security and preparedness by protecting the state's energy infrastructure (especially electricity, petroleum, and natural gas). During energy supply or other energy emergencies, it provides assistance to the state emergency operations center, Governor's office, energy companies, utilities, local governments, and others. As needed, it implements emergency actions set forth in RCW 43.21G.

Broadband capacity building supports Washington State’s transition to a digitally-based economy. The program does this by collecting data and initiating activities that identify opportunities and issues in the broadband arena; monitoring, tracking and encouraging statewide broadband deployment; and supporting the creation of programs that effectively promote access and adoption of broadband services around the state. The program delivers services through a mix of contracts and direct engagement. Per statute, the program contracts with a private company (Sanborn) to provide data collection and mapping services. Reporting (annually to the legislature) and community outreach services are provided by program office staff. In FY13 the program staff will begin sub-grants or procurements to support 2 new activities: local/regional technology planning and an applications contest.

The Lead-Based Paint Program provides services to ensure work performed in homes and buildings with young children will be done in a safe and healthy manner. The program is responsible for processing certification and accreditation applications, tracking licensees, reviewing training and program effectiveness, providing technical assistance, investigating potential violators, enforcing rules, conducting outreach, maintaining the lead-safe housing registry for low-income housing, and reporting to federal, state, and interested parties.

These programs improve and preserve affordability of housing through energy conservation investments (such as insulating attics, walls, and floors; air sealing the home diagnostically; modifying or replacing inefficient furnaces), Weatherization plus Health measures, conservation-related health and safety actions (including indoor air quality, mold and lead paint hazard remediation), and other cost-effective necessary conservation-related repairs and retrofits (such as roof repair or replacement, plumbing and electrical fixes, ramp replacement). Program resources include U. S. Department of Energy, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program, Bonneville Power Administration, and state capital funds. Private and other non-state resources are leveraged through utility companies, rental housing owners, federal and state resources, and private grants. Commerce provides technical assistance to local, public, and private nonprofit agencies that deliver these services and coordinates program and technical training to maintain a qualified workforce.

The Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Program provides financial assistance to low-income homeowners forced to move their homes as a result of mobile home park closures. Reimbursement of actual, documented eligible expenses, up to the published maximums, is paid directly to qualified homeowners or their assignees.

The Bond Cap Allocation Program provides authorization for lower-cost tax-exempt private activity bond financing for eligible affordable housing, environmental, and industrial development projects and for student loans. The bond cap is the maximum level of tax-exempt private activity bonds that can be issued in the state in a given year. Under federal tax law, the 2015 cap for Washington State was equal to $100 per capita resulting in an annual maximum amount of $706,153,000 in tax-exempt private activity bond authority. This ceiling is adjusted each year in response to changes in the state's population and an IRS cost-of-living index. Funded through the Bond Cap Allocation Program, the Bond Users Clearinghouse is mandated under RCW 39.44 to report on municipal debt and on all bonds issued by the state and local jurisdictions.Debt Update” twice a year.

The CDBG program invests federal resources in communities through grants for planning, construction, facility upgrades and services in the areas of housing, general infrastructure, community facilities, and economic development that benefit low- and moderate- income households. The state CDBG program serves counties with populations under 200,000 and cities with populations under 50,000. The rest of the state receives direct funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. CDBG also partners with the state Departments of Ecology and Health to support the Small Communities Initiative (SCI). SCI provides technical assistance to water and wastewater systems with significant deficiencies that need upgrades to meet regulatory standards.

Growth Management Services (GMS) provides technical and financial assistance on growth management issues, as required by RCW 36.70A.190, so that 320 Washington cities and counties can effectively plan for future growth and economic development. It offers grants, data, training, technical publications, direct consultation, and guidance to help local governments plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA) and other planning statutes. GMS assistance helps reduce litigation over GMA compliance issues, avoiding costs to state and local governments. Staff also extensively supports other state priorities that depend on local land use planning, such as economic development strategies, infrastructure funding, affordable housing, the Puget Sound Action Agenda, and energy planning.

The Local Government Fiscal Note Program produces objective analysis of the financial impacts of proposed state legislation on counties, cities, and all special purpose districts except for schools and courts. This program produces the largest number of fiscal notes of any state agency, 14 percent of total notes during the last decade. Local government fiscal notes cover a broad range of issues, such as taxes, criminal justice, natural resources, economic development, social services, energy, land use, and government operations. This program has been in operation for 35 years and is mandated by statute (Chapter 42.132 RCW).

The Public Works Assistance Account provides loans for the repair, replacement, rehabilitation, and expansion of local infrastructure systems to ensure public health and safety, preserve the environment, promote economic sustainability, and ensure proper system performance. In-depth technical assistance on funding acquisition, system management, and financial sustainability are provided by staff to the Public Works Board (RCW 43 155.020).

This activity funds a crisis response system to help people end their housing crisis and reduces homelessness and related social and economic costs,. Homeless housing and assistance are provided through a range of services including short-term rent assistance to prevent evictions, emergency shelter, short-term rent assistance to move homeless and special needs people into stable housing, longer term transitional housing (up to two years), and permanent supportive housing. Local nonprofit organizations carry out this activity with funds that Commerce distributes through formula and competitive grants. Program resources include the state's Consolidated Homeless Grant, Housing and Essential Needs Grant and the Homeless Student Stability Grant. Federal resources include the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program, Emergency Solutions Grant and the Continuum of Care Program. Operating assistance for housing projects is available from the federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.

Low-income and special needs households benefit from housing that is developed or preserved through this activity. Capital resources from the Housing Trust Fund and the federal HOME program provide grants and loans to eligible organizations to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate affordable housing. Grants are also available for down payment assistance programs. Funds are awarded on a competitive basis and successful projects must be maintained as affordable housing for persons at or below 80 percent of area median income for a period of 40 years. Operating and maintenance (O&M) subsidies are also available to projects that serve households at or below 30 percent of area median income. Funds for O&M grants are generated through a surcharge on document recording fees.

As the state's primary economic development agency, the Department of Commerce coordinates local economic development projects with state, federal, dedicated, and private sector resources, proactively identifying and facilitating business recruitment, expansion, and retention opportunities to increase or preserve business investment. The department manages grants awarded to Associate Development Organizations (ADOs) and other economic development focused organizations and ensures grants meet legislative intent; funds, convenes, and facilitates the commercialization of technologies through Innovation Partnership Zones; develops and maintains a business website to promote Washington State as a place to do business; provides a branded platform for the state in communications, marketing, and online to consistently position Washington's innovative business environment; delivers support to ADO network through providing marketing tools, economic data, and access to capital; creates opportunities and forums for Washington companies to develop and promote their products and services; educates national site selectors on benefits of doing business in Washington; and provides marketing kits to third parties to promote Washington State.

Small Business Export Assistance (SBEA) prepares companies to begin or expand exports, facilitates business introductions; identifies international business opportunities for Washington exporters, staffs high level trade missions to identify key business opportunities for the state, actively pursues strategic foreign direct investment projects, and reports results against the statewide export initiative targets. Also, SBEA provides "new-to-export" training, assistance and support to Washington businesses to optimize their global supply chains, and a branded marketing platform for the state in print and online to consistently position Washington's innovative business environment globally. Since 2011, many SBEA activities have been augmented through a State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration to help more small businesses launch or expand their export activities. STEP and the federal Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce offer qualified companies new to exporting or expanding into new export markets assistance with export-related expenses.

This activity provides federal funds for local crime prevention, crime investigation, and the prosecution of crime. These programs increase communication and cooperation between governments, businesses, and community organizations in order to increase public safety. The Justice Assistance Grant Program funds multi jurisdictional drug/gang task forces, drug courts, youth violence prevention, crime victim advocacy, criminal records improvements, and tribal law enforcement coordination. The Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Program provides funds to King, Pierce, and Spokane counties for task forces, prosecutors, law enforcement, and other support to reduce financial fraud and identity crimes. The Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Program’s funds are matched dollar-for-dollar by private sector sources.

The New Americans Program was created in 2008, consistent with the Governor's Executive Order 08 01 that affirmed the value new Americans bring to the workforce and state economy. The program provides naturalization assistance for the many legal permanent residents who come to Washington to work in high demand occupations in science and technology. This program funds U.S. citizenship preparation so the State of Washington can retain high demand workers. The program requires that participants are not receiving public assistance and meet all other U.S. citizenship requirements. This contract requires a 25 percent match of non-state funds.

Sector leads serve as the link between government and key industries in Washington State. The Department of Commerce, Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness has sector leads in the aerospace, agriculture, clean technology, , life science, maritime and military industries. They work with other Commerce staff and local partners to improve business recruitment, retention and expansion opportunities

The Office of Youth Homelessness (OYH) works with partners and communities to establish ongoing and future funding, policy, and best practices related to improving the welfare of homeless youth in Washington. The Office’s work is guided by a 12 member advisory committee comprised of legislators, advocates, law enforcement and service providers. OYH funding is allocated to four programs, each with a targeted mission, working together to increase the well-being of youth and young adults in transition: 1) Crisis Residential Centers provide short-term, semi-secure, and secure facilities for runaway youth, adolescents in conflict with their families; 2) HOPE Centers provide temporary residential placements for homeless youth under the age of 18; 3) Independent Youth Housing provides rental assistance and case management for eligible youth who have aged out of the state foster care system; and 4) Street Youth Services provide services and resources to youth under the age of 18 who are living on the street. Services can include drug/alcohol abuse intervention, counseling, emergency housing, prevention and education activities, employment skill building, advocacy, family focused services, and follow-up support. The Washington Youth and Families fund leverages matching private foundation funds to support innovative programs for homeless youth and families.