Department of Commerce.  The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is the lead state agency tasked with enhancing and promoting community and economic vitality in Washington.  As the agency responsible for growing the Washington State economy, it supports sector leads in areas such as aerospace, agriculture and food manufacturing, clean technology, information and communication technology, forest products, life sciences and biotechnology, maritime, and the military.  Sector leads work closely with the Governor, industry heads, and government leaders to develop strategies to support business growth statewide.

The Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account.  The account was created to prevent closure of a business or facility and relocation of a Washington State business or facility outside the state, or to recruit a business or facility to the state.  Only the Governor, with the recommendation of the director of Commerce may authorize expenditures from the account.

The Washington BEST Manufacturing Act.  Creates the Washington BEST Manufacturing Act to build and reinforce the state's manufacturing and research and development (R&D) centers.  The goal of the act is to double the state's manufacturing base, the number of small businesses, and the number of women and minority owned businesses within the next ten years.  Commerce is responsible for identifying and developing strategies to achieve the goal.

Report.  Each fiscal biennium, Commerce must develop a report that identifies progress or challenges in achieving its objectives and make recommendations.  The report may include:

• recommendations to:
  1. develop a manufacturing workforce pipeline and specific subsectors that present workforce opportunities or challenges;
  2. improve the state's competitiveness for manufacturing and R&D job retention and creation; and
  3. streamline environmental permit approval and appeal processes.
• identification of:
  1. high-demand global manufacturing industries and subsectors;
  2. site selection criteria of advanced manufacturing industries; and
  3. dislocated workers.
• other information on:
  1. career-connected learning opportunities; and
  2. financial aid that may fund manufacturing workforce training.

State agencies with workforce and economic development expertise are encouraged to assist identifying public policy challenges and developing recommendations.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) must be consulted in the first biennial report to assess gaps in delivering  hands on, skill-based learning remotely to those seeking to enter into, or upskill within, the manufacturing workforce.

Manufacturing Council. Commerce must convene a manufacturing council to advise and consult on the development of the report and make recommendations.  The director of Commerce is responsible for appointing council members.  Council members must include representatives of certain businesses, educational institutions, and workforce entities.  There should be equal representation between labor and business, regions, and women and minority manufacturing executives.

Regionally Tailored Strategies.  Commerce must provide grant funding for initiatives that accelerate the development of regional clusters intended to produce living wage jobs in manufacturing and research and development (R&D).  

Workforce Innovation Sector Lead and Reporting.  Commerce must appoint a workforce innovation sector lead to coordinate workforce activities and needs identified by industry sectors to connect the work to inform funding allocation.  

Beginning December 1, 2022, and once every four years thereafter, Commerce must report on the progress made developing, recruiting, and retaining R&D employers and workforce with a description of how competitor state policies strengthen each state's R&D sector in comparison to Washington's.

Account Created.  A subaccount is established under the economic development strategic reserve account.  Commerce may use the subaccount funds for regional cluster acceleration strategies.  Commerce is encouraged to seek matching funds to any state funds appropriated to this account.

PRO:  This bill is a result of seeing the impact of COVID-19 on manufacturing.  It will allow us to double the manufacturing jobs, number of small businesses, and the number of women and minority owned businesses.  This has been unanimously approved in committee and on the floor of the House.  COVID-19 has brought the need for a strong manufacturing sector.  Manufacturing provides the things we need, such as personal protection equipment, as well as good-paying jobs.  The goal of this bill will encourage more people to engage in manufacturing.  Many of the manufacturers in Washington have suffered long-term impacts because of the pandemic.  This policy is timely.

This bill aligns with the mission of Commerce and with new programs the agency is about to begin on sector acceleration efforts.  This will help get more resources out throughout the state.

PRO:  Manufacturing forms a critical backbone of Washington's tax base and it took a hit this year.  This pandemic has brought new focus to the manufacturing sector.  We rely on items produced created by manufacturing.  The goal of this bill is about doubling the state's manufacturing base, the number of small businesses, and the number of women and minority owned businesses within the next ten years.  Because of the pandemic, increasing the number of women and minority owned businesses this is important to equity.  We agree with the goals of this bill and helping the state achieve them, especially regarding regional strategies.  Regional offices is how the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber was established.