HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6642

BYSenate Committee on Economic Development & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators McMullen and Matson)

Revising the Washington Marketplace Program.

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Cantwell, Chair; Wineberry, Vice Chair; Doty, Ranking Republican Member; G. Fisher, Kirby, Kremen, Moyer, Raiter, Rasmussen, Rector, Tate and Youngsman. 

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1) 

      Signed by Representative Schoon. 

House Staff:Charlie Gavigan (786-7340) 

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 28, 1990

BACKGROUND:

 The Washington Marketplace Program has been in operation since 1988.  The program, targeted to distressed areas, is carried out at the local level through local projects.  It offers import replacement services, matching local suppliers with local businesses currently purchasing out of state, to increase local commerce and create jobs in distressed counties.  An expansion into urban markets by rural suppliers, anticipated in marketplace legislation passed last session, will require a reallocation of resources. 

SUMMARY:

The number of nonprofit organizations that the Department of Trade and Economic Development is directed to contract with in carrying out the Washington Marketplace program is decreased from four to three.  Language regarding the requirements of contracts between the department and multiple nonprofit organizations is deleted.  The department will enter into contracts with economic development organizations to foster cooperation and linkages between distressed and non-distressed areas and urban and rural areas.  The requirement that local marketplace projects have 20 percent local funding is made optional at the discretion of the department.

 Technical amendments are added, clarifying it is the products of Washington State firms for which new markets and purchasers within Washington State are identified. 

Fiscal Note:      Available. 

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    No one. 

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one. 

House Committee - Testimony For:    None. 

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.