Commerce awards $1 million to encourage innovative business and manufacturing expansion

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced $1 million in grant funding to seven businesses and organizations to accelerate manufacturing expansion, creating workforce development and economic opportunities across the state.

The grants include $150,000 awards to four businesses and $130,000 awards to three industry cluster organizations.

“Washington offers manufacturers a strong culture of innovation and a highly skilled workforce,” said Commerce Interim Director Sarah Clifthorne. “These investments build on those advantages, helping businesses grow and compete while expanding opportunities in rural and underserved communities.”

The funding is from the Evergreen Manufacturing Growth Grants program, which supports projects that increase manufacturing and research and development jobs through investments in business expansion, technology advancement, workforce development and industry collaboration.

“These grants help Washington businesses expand, create living-wage jobs and strengthen local economies,” said Andrea Chartock, assistant director of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. “This round includes projects in communities that don’t always have access to the same investment opportunities as larger markets.”

Business expansion projects

Atlas Technologies (Jefferson County): Funding will support the expansion of the company’s existing manufacturing facility at the Glen Cove Industrial Park, including increased production capacity, improved workflow, and lean manufacturing implementation. The project is expected to generate $1.6 million in capital investment and create high-wage manufacturing jobs in Jefferson County over the next three to five years. The project will also continue Atlas’ participation in machinist apprenticeship through AJAC and support additional workforce pipeline development.

“This grant comes to us at just the right time,” said Jed Bothell, owner of Atlas Technologies. “We’ve increased customer count and production volume to the point that we just don’t fit in our current space. The grant money will allow Atlas to increase innovation, expand production, and grow our team, thus supporting more family-wage manufacturing jobs in our small, rural community.

Custom Source Woodworking (Lewis County): For expansion to the City of Chehalis, grant funding will support market analysis and workforce development initiatives to recruit and train new manufacturing employees over three years. The project also anticipates approximately $4.9 million in capital investment, including building acquisition and improvements.

Agpro Marketing & Manufacturing (Whitman County): Grant funding will support infrastructure improvements at a new facility at the Port of Wilma as the company continues to scale its Washington operations. The project is expected to generate rural manufacturing jobs with wages above the county average. Capital investment includes $2.2 million in facility purchase and an additional $80,000 in infrastructure investments.

Thompson Metal Fab and Panthalassa (Clark County): The companies are collaborating on next-generation prototypes and preparing for scaled production of an offshore energy platform designed to power AI inference at sea. Grant funding will support facility expansion and infrastructure improvements needed to install and operate specialized fabrication equipment at the Vancouver facility. The project is estimated to generate living-wage jobs over three years and $800,000 in capital investment.

Innovation Cluster awards

VERTical Innovation Cluster (Tri-Cities): Grant funding will support a site and market analysis, investment readiness for a proposed large-scale advanced manufacturing facility in the Tri-Cities, and the development of a Washington Supplier Ecosystem Connectivity Program. The project anticipates supporting manufacturing jobs among partner organizations and participating suppliers over the next one to three years.

“This investment impacts much more than a single project,” said Executive Director Rick Heath. “It supports a connected statewide innovation ecosystem, with the Advanced Technology at Large Scale (ATLAS) PM-HIP initiative serving as a catalyst for advanced manufacturing growth. We’re honored to work alongside our project partners and the Department of Commerce to help make that vision a reality.”

Natural Resources Innovations Center (Olympic Peninsula): The project will support efforts to reactivate and modernize an existing cogeneration facility at a former 72-acre industrial waterfront site in Port Angeles. Grant funding will support engineering, permitting, and facility upgrades necessary to resume operations. The repurposed facility is expected to create jobs while using significant quantities of regional wood fiber feedstock. The project includes $22.4 million in matching investments from partners including private businesses, the Makah Tribe, and the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure.

Space Northwest (Greater Seattle): The organization’s proposed project will support efforts to strengthen Washington’s commercial space industry through research, workforce development, and expanded operational capacity. Activities will include a comprehensive study of Washington’s space industry ecosystem and development and delivery of curriculum-based workforce programming. Space Northwest will leverage $100,000 in committed funding and support new jobs across participating companies and project participants within three years.

Supporting Washington manufacturing

The Evergreen Manufacturing Growth Grants help Washington businesses and industry organizations expand manufacturing capacity, develop skilled workers, and strengthen industry networks that support economic growth in communities across the state.

The program invests in projects that advance manufacturing growth in Washington’s key industries, including business expansion, workforce development, technology adoption, and industry collaboration.

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