Economy

Brown scores major wins for Tri-Cities in Senate capital budget
March 29, 2017
Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, said today she is pleased that her work to get significant funding for local colleges, historical projects and other key community improvements paid off with more than $40 million in funding for 8th District projects included in the Senate’s proposed capital budget. Brown pushed aggressively to... Read More...
Senate passes Brown’s bill to encourage job growth
March 06, 2017
Community Prosperity and Revitalization (CPR) Act will help resuscitate local economies, says Brown Today the Senate voted 28-21 to pass the Community Prosperity and Revitalization (CPR) Act, aimed at helping local communities create jobs by speeding up the permitting process for large-scale projects of statewide significance. Sen. Sharon Brown, deputy... Read More...
Senate Sessions Update for the 8th Week of the 2017 Session
March 01, 2017
In this week’s update, Sen. Brown discusses fiscal committee cut-off and two of her bills that were approved by the Senate this week. Senate Bill 5051, which passed unanimously, requires the Department of Natural Resources to give 180-days written notice before terminating an agricultural land lease early. Josh McDonald, executive... Read More...
Panel hears support for trio of Brown bills to encourage job growth
January 21, 2015
Measures would expedite permitting and help create new manufacturing and construction jobs  Sen. Sharon Brown, chair of the Senate Trade and Economic Development Committee, has made attracting and retaining employers in Washington and helping them create new jobs her top priority since coming to the Senate. Today, three of her... Read More...
Senate work session examines economic impact of slowdown at ports
January 14, 2015
A joint work session held this morning by the Senate Trade and Economic Development and Commerce and Labor committees took a detailed look at the reduction of trade volume at 28 West Coast ports that is crippling Washington’s agricultural community and other trade-dependent businesses. “Washington ports have been losing market... Read More...
Brown’s work on regulatory reform recognized by small business
May 19, 2014
Tri-Cities senator’s 100-percent small-business score earns her ‘Guardian of Small Business’ award Since her arrival in the Legislature, Sen. Sharon Brown has been a vocal advocate for employers and the Senate’s leading voice for regulatory reform, working tirelessly to make it easier for entrepreneurs and small-business owners to grow, expand... Read More...
In the News: Bill to help in-state manufacturers remains on track
March 12, 2014
A bill to help in-state manufacturers is still on track as the legislative session nears a possible conclusion Thursday. Senate Bill 6515, which would establish a pilot program and give five new manufacturing facilities a tax credit to cover portions of each facility’s construction costs, was not voted on by... Read More...