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Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-05) and Derek Kilmer (WA-06) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would open up new markets and create jobs for rural economies by providing research, assistance and incentives for the construction of tall wood buildings throughout the United States.

Clark County’s Property Information Center, Maps Online and other web resources are not working correctly at the moment. Unfortunately, that means property-related services and information in several county departments are temporarily unavailable

U.S. Senator Patty Murray, (D-WA), a senior member of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded the announcement that the Washington State Department of Commerce will receive $3,244,000 to increase the supply of rental housing and homeownership for low-income families. This grant was made possible through the first-ever disbursal from the Housing Trust Fund, a program that Senator Murray successfully fought to protect as a senior member of the THUD subcommittee, and part of her ongoing effort to tackle the homelessness epidemic

In response to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Act of 2016 amendment to the Senate Energy Bill passing the Senate and moving to the House, the Washington Department of Ecology issued the following statement

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today announced two federal grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for local airports in Skagit County. The Skagit Regional Airport will receive $73,675 and the Anacortes Airport will receive $298,675. Both grants will fund safety improvements

The Board of County Councilors last week approved adding nine positions in Community Development to help meet increased building and development activity spurred by the improved economy. Additional staff is needed to serve the steadily growing number of people seeking building and remodeling permits, site development approvals and engineering on larger projects. With the nine, Permit Center waiting times should decrease, some contracted engineering work will be brought in-house, and inspections and plan reviews will move more quickly, said Marty Snell, Community Development director.

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Patty Murray of Washington announced today that the U.S. Senate is pressing the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to move forward with construction of new tribal housing at historical fishing sites to replace villages that were flooded during the creation of the Columbia River dams.

Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) joined U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Celia Munoz at the White House with a local labor leader, members of Congress, and other officials for a meeting on growing opportunities for local workers that can make it easier to complete large, complex construction projects on time and under budget.

The future of affordable housing will be the topic of a Tuesday, April 19, meeting of the Commission on Aging, which is hosting a 2016 series of discussions focused on housing. The meeting will be in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. and be open to the public.

Federal grants to help Washington recover from the state’s worst wildfire season have topped $3.5 million, according to officials with the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Beginning April 15, the Central Transfer and Recycling Center will be open 8 a.m.‒4 p.m. Friday for household hazardous waste disposal. This is in addition to its 8 a.m.‒4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours.

A Regional Coalition of Housing (ARCH) recognized the City of Bellevue and Sound Transit Thursday for their efforts to create a transit-oriented community with affordable housing in Bellevue's BelRed area

Six new developments will add affordable housing through Washington State, thanks to an estimated $105 million in equity from Low-Income Housing Tax Credits allocated last week by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its eighth-annual “Top Cities” list, which ranks the 25 U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified commercial buildings in the preceding calendar year. For the second year in a row, Washington, D.C. held its lead with 686 certified buildings. Los Angeles came in second with 527 buildings followed by third place San Francisco with 355 buildings. Atlanta and New York City round out the top five, each with more than 300 Energy Star certified buildings.

New Seasons Market Fisher’s Landing has won the inaugural Clark County Green Business of the Year award. The store received the award, made of repurposed materials, Thursday during the annual Green Business Showcase.

Dog lovers have an opportunity to help create a new off-leash area where dogs can run and play in east Vancouver. The Board of County Councilors today unanimously approved an agreement with Dog Owners Group for Park Access in Washington (DOGPAW) to develop a dog park on a county-owned parcel at Northeast 192nd Avenue and Northeast Ninth Street.

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office has determined a recent late-night blaze originated in the kitchen, claiming the life of an adult. The investigation is ongoing and the victim has not been positively identified

Senator, Mayors Murray, Strickland and Stephanson, along with advocates announce ambitious goals to expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit - an important federal tool for financing affordable housing

Set to develop an affordable housing strategy, the City Council Monday approved $75,000 for consultant assistance on the project. Staff provided the council with an update of the city's housing needs assessment and obtained affirmation of project goals for this year's work program. The consultant will be paid out of the city's Housing Trust Fund

Thanks to a financing partnership between the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and Habitat for Humanity of Washington State, the Spokane Habitat affiliate will be able to build or rehabilitate twice as many homes over the next few years.