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, the creative economy, 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 Washington BEST Manufacturing Act.
In 2021, the Legislature passed The Washington BEST Manufacturing Act (Act), which directed Commerce to develop a biennial report on the state of the manufacturing and research and development industry and workforce.  The report must identify progress or challenges the state has encountered in achieving the goal and identify recommendations.  Commerce must convene a Manufacturing Council to advise and consult on the development of the biennial report and recommendations.  The Act also established a workforce innovation sector lead within Commerce.

Commerce must perform an independent assessment of opportunities for Washington to capture new and emerging industries that align with statewide greenhouse gas reduction limits and strengthen its existing manufacturing base.  The independent assessment must submitted to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by October 1, 2024.  Commerce must use the independent assessment to develop a state industrial strategy by June 1, 2025.

The independent assessment must include, but is not limited to:

• an assessment of how the transition to net zero emissions by 2050 will impact manufacturing in Washington;
• an assessment of the needs of the state's existing manufacturers;
• the identification of opportunities to build and maximize environmental and economic benefits of a circular economy in new and existing industries;
• the identification of requirements to attract new investment;
• the identification of opportunities to support minority and women-owned firms, and small and medium-sized firms in capturing new and emerging industries;
• the identification of existing and potential future gaps in the state's manufacturing sector that inhibit in-state manufacturers from creating the infrastructure and goods to transition to the net-zero economy; and
• an evaluation of opportunities for the state's use of public ownership investment in developed and emerging manufacturing industries. 

Commerce must appoint an industrial policy advisor to ensure that Washington fully leverages available federal funding for manufacturing to meet the state's economic development goals and statutory greenhouse gas emissions reductions and guide implementation of state industrial strategy.  The industrial policy advisor must:

• track federal and other funding opportunities to transform and strengthen existing Washington manufacturers and promote the growth of new and emerging industries;
• alert Washington manufacturers to relevant federal and other funding opportunities;
• support Washington manufacturers in applying for federal and other funding opportunities and in completing required reporting;
• work to ensure that Washington's pursuit of its manufacturing and greenhouse gas reduction goals are aligned and mutually reinforcing;
• foster interagency coordination and collaboration on manufacturing-related policymaking and activities;
• coordinate with the workforce innovation sector lead, particularly with respect to building the manufacturing workforce pipeline; and
• provide quarterly reports to the Manufacturing Council.