Department of Commerce Submits Recommendations for Restructuring to Renew Focus on Jobs, Washington Businesses

OLYMPIA, Wash., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Washington State Department of Commerce has submitted its official recommendation to Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Legislature for restructuring the department as a leader in the state's economic development efforts. Formerly the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Commerce's report outlines two options for creating a more focused and efficient organization dedicated to growing and improving jobs in Washington.

"After listening carefully to business and community leaders, employers and our other key stakeholders around the state, we believe the priorities and organization laid out in this report provide a framework to succeed in keeping Washington state competitive and helping our communities and economies thrive," said Commerce Director Rogers Weed. "Restructuring an organization with more than 200 programs is no small undertaking. I applaud the Governor and Legislature for their commitment to creating an efficient and effective department dedicated to job growth and improvement."

Reforming Commerce marks the latest effort under Gov. Gregoire's call to reduce bureaucracy and streamline operations in state government, including elimination of 54 boards and commissions by executive order and a major initiative underway to assess and consolidate the work of multiple natural resource agencies. Last week, Gregoire announced that her Office of Regulatory Assistance will move its business solutions manager to Commerce and, along with business leaders from around the state, endorsed the Commerce priorities for a more focused economic development agency. Commerce's final structure and any additional programmatic shifts will be determined by the Governor and the Legislature.

In 2009, the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development was renamed the Department of Commerce by the Legislature. Commerce was tasked with recommending a structure and mission that matched the focus of its new name. The report released today titled "Defining Commerce: Next Steps in Our Mission to Grow and Improve Jobs," follows an unprecedented statewide outreach effort to gather feedback from business and industry groups, local governments, utilities, community service agencies, housing groups, nonprofits, fellow state agencies, Commerce employees, legislators, and other stakeholders.

The Commerce recommendation to the Legislature is built on four "global" priorities affecting all Washington businesses -- competitiveness, education and workforce training, more efficient regulation, and infrastructure investment -- as well as four targeted priorities -- sector focus, rural focus, small business focus, and community capacity. The plan also aligns with the Washington Economic Development Commission's Feb. 2009 proposal for sustaining a world-class innovation economy in our state.

For more information on the Department of Commerce, please visit: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.

Download Commerce Report Fact Sheet (pdf)