The Washington Roundtable is among the 100 organizations representing business, labor, environment and transit advocates, and local governments that signed a March 29 letter urging state legislative leaders to pass a comprehensive transportation funding package this year. A bold infrastructure package that funds highways, bridges, and transit systems will support job creation and an equitable economic recovery in Washington state. Investing in transportation will put folks to work, move goods more effectively and efficiently, and ensure mobility for our essential workers. In addition, action this year will help address our state’s transportation funding gaps.

Read the letter here. Learn more about Keep Washington Rolling – a statewide coalition of business leaders, labor unions, local governments, and environmental and transit advocates – here.

Responding to COVID-19

The Seattle Mariners are partnering with UW Medicine and have provided $2 million in funding to help COVID-19 vaccines reach underserved communities. In addition, the Mariners have outlined health and safety measures that will be in place at T-Mobile Park when games begin again in April. Stan McNaughton of PEMCO, which transitioned to a work-from-home model about a year ago, reflects on learnings from the past year in a Seattle Business article.

Sharing science

At its upcoming Science Says event, Fred Hutch President and Director Dr. Tom Lynch will facilitate a conversation about the future of cancer research. Teri Foy of Bristol Myers Squibb shared her experiences pursuing a STEM career with Tacoma Urban League students at a virtual event.

Helping communities

As part of its commitment to invest $5 million in nonprofits serving Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) youth, The Starbucks Foundation announced its first group of grant recipients.

Advancing equity

A new report examines how racial economic inequality affects the city of Seattle. It also spotlights statewide data regarding inequities in employment, business ownership, home ownership, and education attainment. This profile is one of the first steps taken under the Building High Impact Nonprofits of Color project, funded by JPMorgan Chase. The project aims to advance best practices and strengthen resources for nonprofits of color to better address racial economic equity.

Responding to COVID-19

Starbucks, Microsoft, Amazon, Kaiser Permanente Washington, and Alaska Airlines were highlighted in the Puget Sound Business Journal as Washington businesses that are using their expertise in workflow, customer experience, technology, call centers, and scheduling to assist the state with COVID-19 vaccination efforts. This month, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is hosting a series of seminars about demystifying COVID-19.

Helping communities

As part of its $30 million commitment to advancing racial equity, JPMorgan Chase announced $40 million in investments and commitments to Black and Latinx-led Minority Depository Institutions, among other initiatives. Through its Open for Business Fund, Wells Fargo awarded nonprofit Ventures a $350,000 grant to keep Seattle-area small businesses open. A $500,000 gift from the McKinstry Charitable Foundation will create more research opportunities at Eastern Washington University.

Launching a new fund

PSL Ventures announced the launch of its second venture fund. The team raised $100 million for its Fund II, which it will invest in companies across the Pacific Northwest.