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

Department of Commerce Submits Recommendations for Restructuring to Renew
Focus on Jobs, Washington Businesses
Report reflects Governor's call for more efficient, streamlined government

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)

SOURCE Washington State Department of Commerce

Penny Thomas of Washington State Department of Commerce, +1-360-725-2805,
press@commerce.wa.gov