Commerce awards $2 million to encourage innovative business and manufacturing

Second round of Evergreen Manufacturing grants anticipate creating up to 526 new jobs over three years

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington Department of Commerce today announced $2 million in grants to accelerate manufacturing job growth and economic opportunity across the state, with a focus on rural communities. Ten projects were awarded $200,000 each through the Evergreen Manufacturing grant program. Together, the projects anticipate supporting up to an estimated 526 jobs over the next three years.

“Innovation is a hallmark of each of Washington state’s key growth industries. From aerospace and clean energy to agriculture and timber tech, eyeing the future and investing in emerging technologies keeps us globally competitive,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “These new grants will help to advance expansion of existing projects with potential to spur new economic growth and good jobs in communities throughout the state.”

Grants to support specific business expansion projects were awarded to proposals submitted by local economic development groups, referred to as state Associate Development Organizations (ADOs). The nonprofit ADOs will administer the state funds for these projects:

• Port of Whitman County on behalf of Alternative Energy Materials project
  Alternative Energy Materials is developing a clean hydrogen production material and manufacturing technology to produce advanced ceramic electrolyzers that use renewable power to make carbon neutral fuels and fertilizers. Grant funding will enable an upgraded and expanded manufacturing space and a facility design for further expansion to scale the ceramic material production to enable larger equipment demonstrations.
• Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County on behalf of Chinook Enterprises project
  Chinook Enterprises is a 43-year old non-profit social enterprise that produces manufacturing and assembly solutions. Chinook follows an inclusive employment model which supports initiatives aimed at training, hiring, and retaining employees facing disabilities and other barriers. The project is a strategic expansion to meet increased demand by enhancing manufacturing capabilities, accommodating growth, and increasing the company’s workforce at its facility located at Skagit Valley College.
• Kitsap Economic Development Alliance on behalf of Inventech Marine Solutions project
  A developer of innovative marine technologies and marine vessels, Inventech’s project will support its expansion within the Port of Bremerton Industrial Park at a new advanced manufacturing facility to facilitate increased production and implementation of modern manufacturing practices and processes to aid in workflow to increase and expand product offerings.
• Economic Development Alliance Snohomish County on behalf of Lafarge & Egge project
  Established in Washington in 1962, Lafarge & Egge is a vertically integrated precision tubing and machined components company serving as an advanced manufacturer in the space, aerospace, medical, communications, defense, and emerging sectors, such as electric and hydrogen infrastructure and transportation. The project supports the company’s plan to scale the business two-fold by expanding the manufacturing space and workforce and to modernize its technology by implementing a more sustainable manufacturing process.
• Grant County Economic Development Council on behalf of Twelve Benefit Corporation project
  Twelve is a carbon-transformation company manufacturing an innovative electrochemical technology that uses electricity, water, and carbon dioxide to create chemicals, materials, and fuels, including a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Project funding will accelerate the company’s SAF facility deployment in Moses Lake, where the company broke ground in 2023.
• Klickitat County Public Economic Development Authority on behalf of Zepher Flight Laboratories (ZFL) project
  A HUBZone certified small business, Zepher Flight Labs is an uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) development and manufacturing firm developing sustainable autonomous vehicles with a hydrogen source for large-volume operations. Grant funding will enable setting up a manufacturing pilot project and R&D for a design-build package and process for scalable UAV manufacturing.

A second category of funding was awarded to cluster organizations. Commerce supports an Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP) as an economic development strategy to strengthen industry ecosystems and accelerate economic development. Clusters are industry-led consortia consisting of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, government, academia and investors working together to drive innovation, pursue market opportunities, and…