Washington State Department of Commerce :
Involved / Engaged / Supporting
U . S . Federal Government ’ s Role in Economic Development
Daniel Tappana — Aerospace Business Development Manager www . commerce . wa . gov
Joanna Boatwright
Washington State Department of Commerce , Aerospace International Trade Specialist
WASHINGTON STATE DEPT . OF COMMERCE
Washington State ’ s economic development ecosystem , like every state ’ s economic development ecosystem , is complex and consists of collaborative efforts ( and occasionally combative efforts ) by a variety of stakeholders , ranging from elected officials to state agencies to industry associations to academia to private sector . If we were to spell out every stakeholder , then the list would span several issues of this magazine ! In order to remain competitive and drive economic development , these partners and stakeholders must tap into a limited pool of resources comprised of different incentives , grants , infrastructure funds , and workforce development dollars . One of the key sources of economic development support is the United States federal government .
The U . S . federal government plays a key role in state economic development through its policies , programs , and initiatives . While the federal government primarily focuses on national and international issues , it recognizes the importance of fostering economic growth at the state level . Some ways in which the federal government contributes to state economic development include funding and grants , tax policy and incentives , infrastructure investment , workforce development , and emergency assistance . These dollars flow from the White House , Congress , cabinet-level agencies , and additional sources . The relationship is complex , with policies and strategies changing over time . While the effort to win federal funding doesn ’ t always result in a win , the reward is worth continuous pursuit . Below is a highlight of some of Washington State ’ s recent victories in federal support .
Regional Hydrogen Hubs
In October 2023 and after a competitive years-long multi-group , multi-state effort , the U . S . Department of Energy ( DOE ) selected the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association ’ s PNWH2 Hub as one of seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs . The DOE ’ s Hydrogen ( H2 ) Hubs will infuse public and private funding into the clean economy sector of the Pacific Northwest and scale up the national network of clean hydrogen producers , consumers , and private funding connecting infrastructure . The H2 Hubs will create tens
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