OMWBE News

Governor signs Executive Order 12-01 - Regulatory Reform and Assistance to help Small Businesses Succeed and Grow

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Governor’s Jobs  and Tax Reform Proposals - Tax Reform - Jobs

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2011-13 OMWBE Technical correction to Expenditure Authority Decision Package - Technical Correction - Recommendation Summary

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Department of Health Seeks Public members to Serve on State Boards and Commissions

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Washington State Awarded STEP Grant  
(Reprinted from Congressman Adam Smith’s Business issue Update, 9.30.11)

This week, the Small Business Administration announced that Washington State was awarded a $1,591,919 State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant.  The Washington STEP Program includes an integrated strategy of new activities for working with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to increase exports, including targeted outreach to socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. The proposal also focuses on new-to-market opportunities in China for SMEs, a market where Washington has extensive experience and key relationships with government and business. Additional support will be given to individual SME activities by way of “export vouchers” for participation in targeted trade shows and missions, translation of marketing materials, and international certifications for products. All of these activities will be tied together under the program name “Export Washington” and promoted widely across the state in an active communication outreach strategy.

“Trade is closely linked to the strength of our economy in Washington State. Expanding market access for U.S. goods and services overseas is a critical part of growing our economy. We are one of the most trade-dependent states in the country due largely to the amount of container traffic at the ports in Tacoma and Seattle, as well as the demand for Washington exports. Over the past 30 years, Washington’s exports have contributed to nearly one-half of the state’s new jobs. In 2009, total Washington state exports equaled $51.8 billion, placing the state fourth in the nation, after Texas, California, and New York. Those exports benefit the entire region, from the longshoreman at the Port of Tacoma, to the software engineer at Microsoft, to the farmer in Yelm, to the machinist at Boeing,” Adam stated.

Businesses looking for assistance under the STEP program can contact Angela Kanevski, (206) 256-6100, at the Washington State Department of Commerce Businesses Services and International Trade.  The program will be implemented in this fall.

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2011 OMWBE Supplier Diversity Champions Presentation

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New DBE Final Rules 2011 - Effective February 28, 2011

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OMWBE Partners with Department of Veterans Affairs to Track State's Expenditures with Veteran or Servicemember Owned Businesses

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Small Business Jobs Act - The following link will provide you with the most current information we have about the Small Business Jobs Act:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/27/president-obama-signs-small-business-jobs-act-learn-whats-it

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SBA Announces New Small Business Commercial Real Estate and Working Capital Programs

WSDOT DBE RESOURCE LIST - September 3, 2010

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New Law Improves Tax Fairness for Employers - Employment Security Department Press Release

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New Tax Law Summaries Available in Six Languages:

English                                Russian                                 Vietnamese
Korean                                Spanish
Chinese                              Tagalog

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