washington business
Washington in the Making aims to rebuild the state ’ s economy in the wake of the coronavirus by using a mix of data and determination .
In Ferry County , more than 40 % of households don ’ t have access to broadband internet and one-third lack any kind of internet connection .
In Whitman County , nearly 37 % of renters spend half or more of their income on housing , compared to just 21 % of King County renters who pay the same proportion .
And in Lincoln County , more businesses are closing than opening each year . The most recent data shows the net number of new businesses in 2018 was minus 27 , making it one of 10 counties in the state where business creation is going in reverse .
These data points — and dozens more — are available at the new Washington in the Making website launched earlier this year as part of an effort led by the AWB Institute .
Washington in the Making was in the works before the Covid-19 pandemic , with the goal of creating an economic vision for the state . But its launch this summer was perfectly timed to enable Washington not only to rebuild an economy battered by Covid-19 , but rebuild it better than it was before .
That means creating economic opportunity for all people , including those who were previously left behind . And it means creating thriving , resilient communities
At A Glance
Washington in the Making , led by the AWB Institute , was in the works before the pandemic , but its launch this summer was perfectly timed to guide the state ’ s economic recovery .
A new data dashboard called “ Vitals ” is a key component of Washington in the Making . It includes data measuring Washington ’ s key economic vital signs — 34 indicators for all 39 counties .
The effort also includes three initial projects to connect young people with employers , expand broadband availability and rejuvenate rural communities .
www . WashingtonInTheMaking . org in every part of the state , including rural areas that are sometimes overlooked at the state level .
“ Washington has always been a state of makers and doers ,” said Mike Schwenk , chair of the AWB Institute board . “ We are facing enormous challenges as a result of the pandemic , but we can build on our history to create a future that ’ s better for everyone . It won ’ t happen by accident . We need everyone working together to reimagine Washington and create the vision for what we can and should become .”
driven by data
Washington ’ s leaders need good data to make good decisions , and that ’ s why a new data dashboard is a key component of the Washington in the Making website . The dashboard includes key data points , called “ Vitals ,” and it was developed in partnership with Patrick Jones , Ph . D ., and his team at Eastern Washington University .
“ We are facing enormous challenges as a result of the pandemic , but we can build on our history to create a future that ’ s better for everyone . It won ’ t happen by accident . We need everyone working together to reimagine Washington and create the vision for what we can and should become .”
— Mike Schwenk , chair , AWB Institute
There are Vitals for 34 indicators in all 39 counties , making it easy for anyone to see how the state is performing in everything from unemployment rate and median household income to percentage of income spent on rent and the percent of households without internet .
The Vitals also make it easy to drill down on the data to see how individual counties are performing , and to compare those counties to each other or to the statewide average .
Want to see how your county compares with the rest of the state on fourth-grade reading scores , per capita personal income or the number of residential building permits issued per 1,000 residents ? That information is all available in the dashboard . Curious about the number of STEM jobs in your county , or the high school graduation rate ? Those numbers are available , too .
In some cases , the numbers may serve to reinforce already held perceptions about a community , but they could also reveal strengths or weaknesses that weren ’ t so obvious .
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