CEO Guide to Site Selection

Washington

SEARCHING FOR TECH AND STARTUPS

Washington state finally lifted its last Covid emergency declarations in September 2022. The state continues to maintain momentum as a hub for tech and startups. In 2020 more than 15 companies announced initial public offerings, compared to one in the previous four years. As those companies expand with new investments, home-grown giants like Amazon, Expedia and Microsoft continue to add jobs. Google also opened the first phase of its Kirkland Urban campus in April 2022. When completed, it will make greater Seattle one of the company’s biggest engineering hubs.

“As the world turns the corner on the pandemic, Washington State is well positioned to lead the way into the future in key industry sectors. Our economic development strategy supports innovation and equity to drive growth. Small businesses and entrepreneurs from diverse communities throughout the state are the foundation—working on the ‘next big thing’ that will create a cleaner environment, lead to new scientific discoveries, improve global health and provide economic opportunities for all or our residents.”
Jay Inslee
Governor

TAXES

No corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

No

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

CERB: The Community Empowerment Revitalization Board provides low-cost financing for public facility improvements, such as access road maintenance and sewer and water line extensions, to foster private development.

Job Skills Program: Offers a competitive grant for an average of $1,200 per trainee to help employers partner with community and technical colleges on training solutions.

Sales and Use Tax Exemption on Equipment: Offers a sales and use tax exemption for machinery and equipment used directly in a manufacturing or R&D operation for savings that amounts to 6.5% plus the local rate.

B&O Tax Credit: Offers a one-time credit of up to $4,000 per employee when companies hire new manufacturing or R&D employees in rural counties.

Sales and Use Tax Deferral for Clean Tech Projects: Offers a deferral and possible reduction of up to 100% of sales and use taxes for eligible investments in clean technology projects and renewable energy storage, as well as production facilities for clean fuel and hydrogen.

EDCs

Washington State Department of Commerce

choosewashingtonstate.com/about-us

Seattle Office of Economic Development

seattle.ecdev.org

Thurston Economic Development Council

thurstonedc.com

Advantage Spokane

advantagespokane.com

Make it Tacoma

makeittacoma.com

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

Designed to help industry clusters grow, the state’s Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP) is a multi-year development program that connects entrepreneurs, industry, educators and researchers in nine industry innovation clusters. Current clusters focus on 5G, aerospace, clean technology, hydrogen and renewable e-fuels, bioscience, autonomous vehicles and quantum computing.

BIG DEALS

  • India-based life sciences company Jubilant HollisterStier broke ground on a $92 million expansion in Spokane in late 2021.
  • Blue Origin is expanding in Renton where it leased an additional 308,000 square feet of commercial space. The company currently employs 3,300 in the region.
  • Solar panel manufacturer Silfab announced it will double its manufacturing capacity and create 400 jobs at its Burlington facility.
  • Google opened the first phase of its Kirkland Urban campus in April 2022. It will have 760,000 square feet of office space, making greater Seattle one of the company’s biggest engineering hubs in the world. The company currently employs more than 7,200 in the state.

BIG COMPANIES

10 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in state: 

  • Amazon
  • Costco Wholesale
  • Microsoft 
  • Starbucks 
  • Paccar 
  • Nordstrom
  • Expeditors
  • Weyerhaeuser
  • Willow Group
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.