HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1783
As Reported by House Committee On:
Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans
Title: An act relating to supporting economic development in distressed areas through hiring of grant writers.
Brief Description: Supporting economic development in distressed areas through hiring of grant writers.
Sponsors: Representatives Sandlin, Maycumber, Couture, Chapman, Dent, Eslick and Volz.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans: 2/10/23, 2/15/23 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Department of Commerce to establish a grant program to support associate development organizations in the recruiting, hiring, and retention of full-time grant writers.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INNOVATION, COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, & VETERANS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 15 members:Representatives Ryu, Chair; Donaghy, Vice Chair; Rule, Vice Chair; Volz, Ranking Minority Member; Barnard, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chambers, Christian, Corry, Cortes, Paul, Senn, Shavers, Street, Waters and Ybarra.
Staff: Emily Poole (786-7106).
Background:

Associate Development Organizations. 
Associate development organizations (ADOs) are local organizations designated by each county to serve as the Department of Commerce's (Department) primary partner in local economic development activities in their county. 
 
The Department contracts with the ADOs to increase the support for and coordination of community and economic development services in communities or regional areas.  The scope of services delivered under the contracts must include direct assistance, including business planning, to companies throughout the county who need support to stay in business, expand, or relocate to Washington.  Services must also include support for regional economic research and regional planning efforts to implement target industry sector strategies and other economic development strategies.
 
As part of their contracts, the ADOs are required to submit annual performance reports to the Department.
 
The Department must also submit a final report to the Legislature by December 31 of each even-numbered year on the performance results of the contracts with the ADOs.
Summary of Bill:

Grant Program.
The Department is required to establish a grant program to support the ADOs in the recruiting, hiring, and retention of full-time grant writers.  The Department is required to award grants on an annual basis and must prioritize grants for distressed areas of the state.
 
The ADOs that receive awards are required to provide information in their annual reports to the Department on the use of the funds, including a description of the ADO's recruiting and hiring efforts and, if applicable, the number and types of grants applied for by the grant writers funded by the state.  Beginning December 31, 2026, the Department is required to include information on grant award funding and use in its reports to the Legislature on the ADO contracts.
 
Associate Development Organization Grant Writing Account.
The Associate Development Organization Grant Writing Account is created in the custody of the State Treasurer.  Expenditures from the account may only be used for annual grants to the ADOs to recruit, hire, and retain full-time grant writers.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill attempts to provide professional grant writers to underserved and unserved rural communities that may not have access to grant writers and need assistance.  Rural counties around the state could benefit from this bill. 

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Bryan Sandlin, prime sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.