Washington State Department of Commerce

Washington State Department of Commerce

Agency overview
Headquarters	Olympia, Washington
Employees	735 (2023) [1]
Annual budget	$8.8 billion (2024-25) [1]
Agency executive	Joe Nguyen, Director
Website	Commerce.wa.gov

The Washington State Department of Commerce is a state agency in Washington. Based in the state's capitol, Olympia, Washington, the agency is responsible for community and economic development. The agency manages several boards and commissions with a focus on businesses, local governments, tribes, and community-based organizations. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Mike Fong, the former deputy mayor of Seattle and a regional director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, was appointed as head of the department in April 2023. ^[5]

In December 2024, Governor-elect Bob Ferguson appointed State Senator Joe Nguyen to succeed Mike Fong as the agency's director. ^[6]

As of 2023 ^[update] , the agency had approx. 735 employees and a $8.8 billion budget for the 2024-2025 biennium. ^[1]

References

1. McCarthy, Pat (November 25, 2024). "Accountability Audit Report, Washington State Department of Commerce, For the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023". Washington State Auditor. p. 18. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
2. "The Washington State Department of Commerce - Learn About Us". Washington State Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
3. "About Commerce's Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness". Washington State - Building Business Legends. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
4. "Washington State Department of Commerce – CleanTech Alliance" . Retrieved August 29, 2020.
5. Cornfield, Jerry (April 12, 2023). "Former Snohomish County official to lead WA Department of Commerce". The Everett Herald . Retrieved May 22, 2023.
6. Cornfield, Jerry. "Ferguson taps Seattle state senator to lead WA Department of Commerce • Washington State Standard". Washington State Standard. Retrieved March 12, 2025.