NEWS

Pacific Northwest Maritime Education Alliance receives excellence designation

(MOUNT VERNON)- The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced that the Pacific Northwest Maritime Education Alliance (PAC Maritime) is among 32 entities designated as Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (COE). PAC Maritime is an alliance of seven community and technical colleges and one maritime training entity in Washington and Oregon – including Skagit Valley College, North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, South Seattle College, Clark College, Peninsula College, Portland Community College and Crawford Nautical Training, according to a news release from Skagit Valley College. PAC Maritime is one of six designees in     (read more)

USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest employees recognized at 2023 Chief’s Honor Awards

(PORTLAND, OR)- The USDA Forest Service honored two groups of Pacific Northwest Regional employees for their contributions and accomplishments toward meeting strategic goals during the 2023 Chief’s Honor Awards held on March 13, 2024. The Pacific Northwest Region’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscapes and the Office of Communication and Community Engagement Team received awards during the national event, according to a news release from the Forest Service. Award recipients were among 128 nominated across the agency, with only 37 final groups receiving awards. Nominees were considered based on five criteria: Mission, Outcomes, Work Environment and Culture, Initiative and Ingenuity, and Customer Experience. “The     (read more)

Second round of airport grant applications now being accepted

(OLYMPIA)– It’s time for airports to submit their applications for the second round of 2023-2025 Airport Aid Grant Program. The Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division anticipates awarding $2 million in funding. Airports can only apply for projects previously submitted through the Statewide Capital Improvement Program (SCIP). The SCIP is an unconstrained prioritized list of projects entered by Washington’s 132 public-use airports that captures project requirements for airports to address individual airport needs, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. To apply, airports can fill out the online application and airport aid application checklist.     (read more)

Initiative filing fee change now in effect

(OLYMPIA)— For the first time in more than a century of voter-submitted ballot proposals, the filing fee for Initiatives to the Legislature has moved from $5 to an inflation-indexed amount, currently set at $156. Similar adjustments to the filing fees for referenda and Initiatives to the People will take effect in January, the beginning of the next filing period for each, according to a news release from Washington's Office of the Secretary of State. The fee has remained static for more than a century, despite inflation. In 1912, voters approved Amendment 7 of the Washington State Constitution to create the ability to file initiatives     (read more)

Comment today on cleanup plans for a closed landfill in Snohomish County

(OLYMPIA)- The Washington Department of Ecology is inviting the public to review and comment on the draft clean-up plan for a historical Snohomish County landfill that was closed in 2022. The 30-day public comment period will end on April 7, according to a news release from Ecology. The Go East Corp. Landfill at 4330 108th St. SE in Everett received wood waste and construction debris from 1972 to 1983. The landfill was consolidated and closed in accordance with current landfill regulations to allow development of the property. Snohomish County Health Department issued a permit for the closure of the landfill and permits post-closure care     (read more)