Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 43.330 - Department of Commerce.
43.330.270 - Innovation partnership zone program.

RCW 43.330.270
Innovation partnership zone program.

(1) The department must design and implement an innovation partnership zone program through which the state will encourage and support research institutions, workforce training organizations, and globally competitive companies to work cooperatively in close geographic proximity to create commercially viable products and jobs.
(2) The director must designate innovation partnership zones on the basis of the following criteria:
(a) Innovation partnership zones must have three types of institutions operating within their boundaries, or show evidence of planning and local partnerships that will lead to dense concentrations of these institutions:
(i) Research capacity in the form of a university or community college fostering commercially valuable research, nonprofit institutions creating commercially applicable innovations, or a national laboratory;
(ii) An industry cluster as defined in RCW 43.330.090. The cluster must include a dense proximity of globally competitive firms in a research-based industry or industries or individual firms with innovation strategies linked to (a)(i) of this subsection. A globally competitive firm may be signified through international organization for standardization 9000 or 1400 certification, or evidence of sales in international markets; and
(iii) Training capacity either within the zone or readily accessible to the zone. The training capacity requirement may be met by the same institution as the research capacity requirement, to the extent both are associated with an educational institution in the proposed zone;
(b) The support of a local jurisdiction, a research institution, an educational institution, an industry or cluster association, a workforce development council, and an associate development organization, port, or chamber of commerce;
(c) Identifiable boundaries for the zone within which the applicant will concentrate efforts to connect innovative researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, industry associations or clusters, and training providers. The geographic area defined should lend itself to a distinct identity and have the capacity to accommodate firm growth;
(d) The innovation partnership zone administrator must be an economic development council, port, workforce development council, city, or county.
(3) With respect solely to the research capacity required in subsection (2)(a)(i) of this section, the director may waive the requirement that the research institution be located within the zone. To be considered for such a waiver, an applicant must provide a specific plan that demonstrates the research institution's unique qualifications and suitability for the zone, and the types of jointly executed activities that will be used to ensure ongoing, face-to-face interaction and research collaboration among the zone's partners.
(4) On October 1st of each odd-numbered year, the director must designate innovation partnership zones on the basis of applications that meet the legislative criteria, estimated economic impact of the zone, evidence of forward planning for the zone, and other criteria as developed by the department. Estimated economic impact must include evidence of anticipated private investment, job creation, innovation, and commercialization. The director must require evidence that zone applicants will promote commercialization, innovation, and collaboration among zone residents.
(5) Innovation partnership zones are eligible for funds and other resources as provided by the legislature or at the discretion of the governor.
(6) If the innovation partnership zone meets the other requirements of the fund sources, then the zone is eligible for the following funds relating to:
(a) The local infrastructure financing tools program;
(b) The sales and use tax for public facilities in rural counties;
(c) Job skills;
(d) Local improvement districts; and
(e) Community economic revitalization board projects under chapter 43.160 RCW.
(7) An innovation partnership zone must be designated as a zone for a four-year period. At the end of the four-year period, the zone must reapply for the designation through the department.
(8) If the director finds that an applicant does not meet all of the statutory criteria or additional criteria recommended by the department to be designated as an innovation partnership zone, the department must:
(a) Identify the deficiencies in the proposal and recommended steps for the applicant to take to strengthen the proposal;
(b) Provide the applicant with the opportunity to appeal the decision to the director; and
(c) Allow the applicant to reapply for innovation partnership designation on October 1st of the following calendar year or during any subsequent application cycle.
(9) If the director finds at any time after the initial year of designation that an innovation partnership zone is failing to meet the performance standards required in its contract with the department, the director may withdraw such designation and cease state funding of the zone.
(10) The department must convene annual information sharing events for innovation partnership zone administrators and other interested parties.
(11) An innovation partnership zone must annually provide performance measures as required by the director, including but not limited to private investment measures, job creation measures, and measures of innovation such as licensing of ideas in research institutions, patents, or other recognized measures of innovation.
(12) The department must compile a biennial report on the innovation partnership zone program by December 1st of every even-numbered year. The report must provide information for each zone on its: Objectives; funding, tax incentives, and other support obtained from public sector sources; major activities; partnerships; performance measures; and outcomes achieved since the inception of the zone or since the previous biennial report. The department must submit the report to the governor and legislature beginning December 1, 2010.

[ 2014 c 112 § 115; 2012 c 225 § 1; 2009 c 72 § 1; 2007 c 227 § 1.]

Structure Revised Code of Washington

Revised Code of Washington

Title 43 - State Government—Executive

Chapter 43.330 - Department of Commerce.

43.330.005 - Findings.

43.330.007 - Management responsibility.

43.330.010 - Definitions.

43.330.020 - Department created.

43.330.030 - Director—Appointment—Salary.

43.330.040 - Director powers and duties.

43.330.050 - Community and economic development responsibilities.

43.330.060 - Trade and business responsibilities.

43.330.062 - Recruitment and retention of business—Protocols for associate development organizations and department staff.

43.330.065 - Identification of countries of strategic importance for international trade relations.

43.330.068 - International companies investing in Washington—Eligibility for excise tax incentives.

43.330.070 - Local development capacity—Training and technical assistance.

43.330.075 - Local government regulation and policy handouts—Technical assistance.

43.330.080 - Coordination of community and economic development services—Contracts with county-designated associate development organizations—Scope of services—Business services training.

43.330.082 - Contracting associate development organizations—Performance measures and summary of best practices—Remediation plans—Report.

43.330.084 - Washington state quality award—Reimbursement of application fee.

43.330.086 - Contracts with associate development organizations—Schedule of awards.

43.330.090 - Economic diversification strategies—Targeted industry sectors—Film and video production.

43.330.094 - Tourism development and promotion account—Promotion of tourism industry.

43.330.100 - Local infrastructure and public facilities—Grants and loans.

43.330.110 - Housing—Energy assistance.

43.330.120 - Growth management.

43.330.125 - Assistance to counties and cities.

43.330.130 - Services to poor and disadvantaged persons—Preschool children—Substance abuse—Family services—Fire protection and emergency management.

43.330.135 - Court-appointed special advocate programs—Funds—Eligibility.

43.330.145 - Entrepreneurial assistance—Recipients of temporary assistance for needy families—Cooperation with agencies for training and industrial recruitment.

43.330.150 - Fees—Conferences, workshops, training.

43.330.152 - Fees—Service and product delivery areas.

43.330.155 - Community and economic development fee account.

43.330.156 - Fees—Adoption by rule.

43.330.165 - Housing for farmworkers—Proposal review and funding recommendations—Farmworker housing advisory group.

43.330.167 - Washington youth and families fund.

43.330.170 - Statewide housing market analysis.

43.330.181 - Office of apple health and homes—Responsibilities.

43.330.184 - Apple health and homes account.

43.330.187 - Rapid permanent supportive housing acquisition and development program.

43.330.190 - Reimbursement of extraordinary criminal justice costs.

43.330.250 - Economic development strategic reserve account—Authorized expenditures—Transfer of excess funds to the education construction account.

43.330.260 - Inventory of economic development grant opportunities—Joint efforts for grant seeking and attracting major events.

43.330.270 - Innovation partnership zone program.

43.330.280 - Documentation of clusters of companies having a comparative competitive advantage—Process and criteria—Working group.

43.330.300 - Financial fraud and identity theft crimes investigation and prosecution program.

43.330.310 - Comprehensive green economy jobs growth initiative—Establishment.

43.330.320 - Obtaining energy efficiency services—Awarding grants to financial institutions—Credit enhancements.

43.330.330 - Funding energy efficiency improvements—Risk reduction mechanisms—Legislative intent.

43.330.340 - Appliance efficiency rebate program.

43.330.350 - Use of moneys by local municipalities to leverage financing for energy efficiency projects.

43.330.360 - Findings—Involvement of state bond authorities in financing energy efficiency projects.

43.330.365 - Electric vehicle incentive account.

43.330.370 - Evergreen jobs initiative.

43.330.375 - Evergreen jobs efforts—Coordination and support—Identification of technologies, barriers, and strategies—Outreach efforts—Performance reports.

43.330.400 - Broadband mapping account—Federal broadband data improvement act funding—Coordination of broadband mapping activities.

43.330.403 - Reporting availability of high-speed internet—Survey of high-speed internet infrastructure owned or leased by state agencies—Geographic information system map—Rules.

43.330.406 - Procurement of geographic information system map—Accountability and oversight structure—Application of public records act.

43.330.409 - Broadband mapping, deployment, and adoption—Reports.

43.330.412 - Community technology opportunity program—Administration—Grant program.

43.330.421 - Advisory group on digital inclusion and technology planning.

43.330.425 - Advisory committee on permanent supportive housing.

43.330.430 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Definitions.

43.330.431 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Trust fund.

43.330.432 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Authority of state investment board—Authority of governing board.

43.330.433 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Governing board—Liability of governing board and state investment board.

43.330.434 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Endowment principles.

43.330.435 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Development of operating plan—Elements.

43.330.436 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Program implementation and administration.

43.330.437 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Rules.

43.330.440 - Multijurisdictional regulatory streamlining projects—Establishment—Reports.

43.330.460 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Definitions.

43.330.462 - Washington achieving a better life experience program account.

43.330.464 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Investment of moneys—Responsibility of state investment board, governing board, and investment manager.

43.330.466 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Established—Governing board—Administrative support—Colocation with developmental disabilities endowment governing board—Advisory committees—Interagency agreements—Limited liability.

43.330.468 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Governing board authority.

43.330.480 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program—Definitions.

43.330.482 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program.

43.330.486 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program—Contracts with rehabilitation agencies—Reports.

43.330.488 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program—Account.

43.330.500 - Life sciences discovery fund.

43.330.502 - Life sciences discovery fund—Grants and contracts by department.

43.330.504 - Life sciences discovery fund—Department powers.

43.330.506 - Life sciences discovery fund—Limitation of liability.

43.330.510 - Keep Washington working statewide work group.

43.330.515 - Military installation incompatible development—Defense community compatibility account—Grants.

43.330.520 - Military installation incompatible development—Project list—Report.

43.330.530 - Broadband office—Definitions.

43.330.532 - Broadband office—Established—Purpose.

43.330.534 - Broadband office—Powers and duties.

43.330.536 - Broadband office—Goals.

43.330.538 - Broadband office—Reports.

43.330.539 - Broadband office—Digital equity plan.

43.330.5393 - Digital equity planning grant program.

43.330.5395 - Digital equity forum.

43.330.540 - Cannabis social equity technical assistance grant program.

43.330.542 - Environmental justice obligations of the department of commerce.

43.330.545 - Community engagement grants—Law enforcement.

43.330.550 - Employer-supported child care—Technical assistance.

43.330.560 - Office of renewable fuels—Definitions.

43.330.565 - Office of renewable fuels—Established.

43.330.570 - Office of renewable fuels—Duties.

43.330.575 - Renewable fuels accelerator account.

43.330.700 - Findings—Homeless youth.

43.330.702 - Homeless youth—Definitions.

43.330.705 - Homeless youth—Office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs.

43.330.706 - Homeless youth—Data and outcomes measures—Report.

43.330.710 - Homeless youth—Office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs—Report to the director—Grants—Program management and oversight.

43.330.715 - Homeless youth—Training program.

43.330.717 - Homeless youth—Review of state-funded programs.

43.330.720 - Unaccompanied youth—Publicly funded system of care—Department of children, youth, and families and the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs to develop plan.

43.330.723 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—Flexible funding.

43.330.724 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—Housing stability for youth in crisis pilot programs.

43.330.725 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—System of care grants.

43.330.730 - Finding—2015 c 296.

43.330.732 - Definitions.

43.330.735 - Washington small business retirement marketplace.

43.330.737 - Private sector contractor's duties—Director's duties—Rollovers—Rules—Participation of private sector financial services firms.

43.330.740 - Payment of marketplace expenses—Use of private and federal funding.

43.330.742 - Federal employment retirement income act liability—Prohibition on state-based retirement plan for nonstate employees.

43.330.745 - Incentive payments.

43.330.747 - Effectiveness and efficiency of the Washington small business retirement marketplace—Biennial report.

43.330.750 - Rules—Rule development process.

43.330.760 - Intent—2021 c 64.

43.330.762 - Manufacturing—Goals and strategies—Reports—Manufacturing council.

43.330.765 - Manufacturing—Regional strategies—Grants.

43.330.767 - Manufacturing cluster acceleration account.

43.330.770 - Manufacturing—Workforce innovation sector lead—Reports.

43.330.772 - Subject to appropriation.

43.330.900 - References to director and department.

43.330.901 - Captions.

43.330.902 - Effective date—1993 c 280.

43.330.9021 - Effective date—1994 c 5.

43.330.904 - Transfer of certain state energy office powers, duties, and functions—References to director—Appointment of assistant director.

43.330.905 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions pertaining to county public health assistance.

43.330.907 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions pertaining to administrative and support services for the building code council.

43.330.908 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions pertaining to the drug prosecution assistance program.

43.330.909 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions pertaining to the energy facility site evaluation council.

43.330.910 - Transfer of certain powers, duties, and functions of the department of information services—High-speed internet activities.

43.330.911 - Short title—2015 c 69.

43.330.912 - Conflict with federal requirements—2015 c 296.