The ReConnect Program is a new pilot program that offers unique federal financing and funding options in the form of loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that don’t currently have sufficient access to broadband. This pilot program hopes to generate private sector investment to deploy broadband infrastructure to provide high-speed internet e-Connectivity to as many rural premises as possible. With this program, USDA is offering $600 million in loans and grants through a new initiative to help expand access to broadband in underserved rural areas. The program will prioritize projects that seek to deliver higher-speed connections to rural … » More …

Good Afternoon Cougs –

The 2018 Farm Bill has been sent to the President’s desk for signature and we expect him to sign the bill next week. This marks the first time since 1990 that a Farm Bill will be enacted in the same year that it was introduced. The conference report, which reconciles the differences between the House bill and the Senate bill, passed the House by a margin of 369-47 and the Senate by 87-13, indicating overwhelming support for the 2018 Farm Bill.

You will recall that Washington State University is a major recipient of USDA funds. We are pleased to relay that this Farm Bill represents … » More …

The two-year operating budget proposal released today by Gov. Jay Inslee partially funds WSU’s $14.4 million request to fund operations of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and would provide for small compensation increases for faculty and non-classified staff over the course of the biennium.

Notably, it also included foundational funding and other enhancements allowing the university to address key priorities.

The governor also released a capital budget proposal that funds construction of the Global Animal Health II project in Pullman and a new academic building in the Tri-Cities, while also advancing design and pre-design projects at WSU Vancouver and WSU Spokane, among other … » More …

Legislators in Vancouver and Everett this week got acquainted with some of WSU’s 60 new first year medical students during lunch events on WSU campuses, finding an alignment with the mission of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

“I chose WSU because of the mission statement to serve underserved populations,” one student said.

“WAZZU has a different mission statement,” another said. “Everyone talked about public service, but WSU has a program around it.”

WSU’s 60 first year medical students were in their designated regions this week, training … » More …

A new forecast of state tax collections released Tuesday has increased projections for the current 2017-2019 budget cycle by $163.4 million and for the 2019-21 budget cycle by $196 million.  This pushes total revenue projections to $45.8 billion for 2017-2019 and $50 billion for 2019-21.

This forecast will be used by Gov. Jay Inslee to draft the budget proposal he’ll unveil next month. The Legislature convenes Jan. 14 to begin writing its budget proposals and will have the benefit of one more forecast due out March 20 before releasing them.

Tuesday’s report found that Washington’s unemployment rate declined to an all-time low of 4.3% … » More …