This week a very important new state committee — the Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability — had its first meeting. Our president, Rachel Smith, is honored to be serving on the committee alongside legislators, state agency staff, and labor representatives. If we’re serious about changing the budget trajectory and building something sustainable, we have to acknowledge both external pressures and the policy and political decisions that contributed to getting us here. And to solve problems, we need to say all the things that are true. Join the conversation on LinkedIn.

Roundtable members are making significant investments in Washington communities — from affordable housing and workforce education to aerospace manufacturing and outdoor recreation. Here’s just a sampling of recent news from around our table:

Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund committed $6.7 million in low-cost capital toward The Pointe at Thomas, a new affordable housing development on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Amazon’s housing fund is a $3.6 billion commitment to help create and preserve more than 35,000 affordable homes in the Puget Sound, National Capital, and Nashville regions.

Boeing opened its new North Line at the Everett fact

ory on July 10 — a $1 billion investment adding a 737 MAX assembly line and expanding the company’s single-aisle production capacity in Washing

ton state.

Expedia Group launched the Expedia Trails Fund, committing $4.3 million across 11 projects to restore trails and protect landscapes, including natural areas near Seattle.

JPMorganChase is expanding access to high-quality K–12 personal finance education through its American Dream Initiative.

Starbucks marked nearly 20,000 graduates of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, with its largest-ever class of partners earning degrees from Arizona State University.

T-Mobile completed its five-year Hometown Grants program, investing $22.8 million in 500 small-town community projects nationwide since 2021.

Governor Bob Ferguson announced a new Economic Development Council and our president, Rachel Smith, is honored to be part of it – serving on the council and as its chair.

When it comes to our economy, the reasons to double down on our assets, seize opportunities, wrestle down challenges, and make a plan are obvious. This is not going to be just another task force to write another report to put on a shelf with the rest of them. And that’s virtually a direct quote from the Governor himself. This Council is a strong signal that says: Washington’s economic future is important enough that we need to be intentional about it. To that we say: thank you, we agree, and we’re ready to get to work. And I’m delighted to be serving alongside Roundtable members Mary Kipp, Thomas Lynch, Stephanie Pope, Heather Rosentrater, Michael Senske, Brad Smith, and David Zapolsky. Join the conversation on LinkedIn.

We were proud to be part of STEM Signing Day on June 5, as 50 high school seniors and recent graduates from across Washington state made their commitment to STEM pathways official. Hosted by Boeing in partnership with the Seattle Seahawks and Partnership for Learning — the Roundtable’s education foundation — the event was a genuine reminder of why this work matters as we got to watch students sign letters of commitment to their futures — and where they are headed is remarkable. Aerospace engineering at Iowa State University. Marine biology at the University of Oregon. Materials science and engineering at MIT. Civil engineering at Washington State University. Network operations and systems security at Clover Park Technical College. Fields that will shape our state’s economy and our planet’s future, pursued by students who are curious, focused, and purposeful about the work they want to do. Thanks to Boeing and the Seattle Seahawks for making it happen!  Read more from Roundtable President Rachel Smith on LinkedIn.

That spirit of investment in Washington’s future workforce runs throughout our membership. A few recent examples:

Boeing was named 2026 Partner of the Year by the Washington State Association of College Trustees, recognizing its sustained investment in higher education and workforce development across Washington.

McKinstry is committing $1 million through its Building Futures initiative to expand access to careers in construction and STEM for women, with investments focused on early exposure and career-connected learning.

Microsoft is expanding AI training for skilled trades workers through a growing partnership with North America’s Building Trades Unions, delivering credential pathways that connect workers to the jobs of the future.

Puget Sound Energy is investing in Washington’s future energy workforce through its Powerful Scholars program, which funds scholarships for students at all 34 of the state’s community and technical colleges pursuing STEM and skilled trades credentials.