No capital gains tax “selling point” for Washington
Discussions of Washington’s tax structure often include accusations that it is one of the most regressive in the nation. While some tax experts dispute that claim, another part of the conversation is...
View ArticleKing County tourism rocked by council plan
King County’s future tourism prospects took a hit when the county council elected to divert some of the lodging tax funding which was planned for local tourism to instead go to affordable housing and...
View ArticleLens Video: Promoting tech businesses in Vancouver
Lens attended the 2nd annual Vancouver Tech Tour which highlighted tech job openings at several businesses within the city as well as how the sector flourished as more companies moved to Vancouver. The...
View ArticleCity council approves KeyArena renovations
The Seattle City Council has unanimously approved a $700 million KeyArena renovation plan, paving the way for more music and sports events which city leadership and locals say will strengthen local...
View ArticleWhile economy booms, forecasters strike measured tone
As far as Washington state coffers are concerned, the good times keep on rolling. A new report from the Office of Financial Management (OFM) shows that the state revenue projections for the 2019-2021...
View ArticleWashington dairy and the USMCA
Representatives from Washington state’s trade and agricultural sectors are praising the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The trade deal would govern trade relations among the United...
View ArticleCondos stage comeback in Seattle, Bellevue
Condos are returning to Seattle and Bellevue on a large scale for the first time since 2010. Representatives from the housing sector say new condos will add variety for prospective buyers, however the...
View ArticleGrape growers expect great harvest
Washington’s wine harvest is well underway, and representatives from the wine industry are expecting a large harvest with low disease risk. Grape growers say they are thankful that the fall’s dry...
View ArticleThe need for rail infrastructure investment
If the Puget Sound region wants to continue its success as a leader in trade, then it must continue to make early investments in rail infrastructure projects. That is one key takeaway from the Seattle...
View ArticleLens Video: Promoting rail infrastructure investments
Lens attended the Seattle Community Rail Briefing to hear why investing in rail infrastructure is important for Washington state trade. The post Lens Video: Promoting rail infrastructure investments...
View ArticleExpedia’s ‘have job, will travel’ workplace
Expedia Group’s decision to move its headquarters from Bellevue across Lake Washington to Seattle at the 40-acre former Amgen waterfront campus may further solidify the city’s status as a major tech...
View ArticleManufacturing a new skilled workforce
Half of southwest Washington’s manufacturing 14,000-strong workforce is 45 or older, and regional employers and educators want to ensure there’s a steady supply of incoming labor as they retire by...
View ArticleState Ag Dept: Funding needed to offset tariffs
Amidst ongoing trade negotiations and retaliatory tariffs, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is putting forward a proposal to assist state growers who have struggled to find new...
View ArticleHow the state can invest in local growth
Before business growth or new developments can occur in a city, port or county, the conditions on the ground have to be right. To facilitate that needed development, local governments can turn to a...
View ArticleStakeholders brainstorm housing solutions
Housing prices have begun to stabilize in the Puget Sound region, however the trend will not last long if homebuilders and developers are unable to build enough housing to meet the projected inflow of...
View ArticleLens Video: Bolstering housing efforts to prepare for the future
Lens attended the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) Housing Solutions Breakfast on Oct. 24. The post Lens Video: Bolstering housing efforts to prepare for the future...
View ArticleCostco to expand Issaquah headquarters
Costco Wholesale has received the green light to proceed with a 1.2 million square foot expansion to double its office space in its worldwide headquarters in Issaquah. City staff is praising the move...
View ArticleStakeholders examine future of work
The Future of Work Task Force convened this week to discuss areas of focus in Washington’s educational system in need of change to better prepare the state’s youth for their careers. Representatives...
View ArticleThe dangers of tariffs
Leadership representing trade and business agree that tariffs create a long-term hindering effect on Washington state industries and impede the effectiveness of trade until trade agreements can be...
View ArticlePort of Bellingham to ramp up cargo capacity
A new agreement will allow the Port of Bellingham to handle more cargo shipments—a move which members of the port and the labor community say will strengthen the local economy and provide sustainable...
View Article