Gov. Bob Ferguson signs executive order creating Economic Development Council

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order at a Seattle event creating the Governor’s Economic Development Council, a 26‑member panel he said will advise his office and the Department of Commerce on a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan due in June 2027.

Ferguson told attendees the council is meant to produce actionable results rather than reports that “sit on the shelf.” “If you don’t have a plan, you’re drifting,” he said, arguing the state must act to keep Washington competitive as industries including aerospace, tech, clean energy and life sciences grow.

The governor outlined five early objectives for the council: advise on the Commerce‑led strategic plan; identify forward‑looking market opportunities and strategies to increase family‑wage jobs; evaluate Washington’s competitiveness against other states and global competitors; review regulatory barriers to growth in alignment with federal, state and local policies; and surface ideas state agencies can act on immediately.

Speakers from business, labor and higher education emphasized different priorities. Mike Katz, chief business and product officer at T‑Mobile, framed private‑sector participation as a commitment to push for results and highlighted housing, commutes and workforce readiness as real‑world concerns for his employees. Denise Moriguchi, president and CEO of Uwajimaya, described the family business’s century‑long history in Tacoma and urged multi‑sector partnership and adaptability to support small and multigenerational businesses. Heather Kurtenbach, executive secretary of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, urged permitting reform and expanded apprenticeship opportunities to ensure projects do not stall and that labor and business coordinate on outcomes. Dr. Betsy Cantwell, president of Washington State University, said the state’s research institutions position Washington to lead in areas such as the bioeconomy and stressed the council should consider the entire innovation cycle from research to commercialization.

After signing the order from the podium and posing for photos, Ferguson took questions from reporters. Asked whether the council was intended to placate critics of his business‑development record, Ferguson said he focuses on “solving problems” and that the council grew out of months of conversations with leaders across the state, not as a reaction to recent criticism.

On artificial intelligence, Ferguson said the council will address how to “maximize the benefits and minimize the harms” of AI and invited council members to weigh in. Cantwell noted AI will create numerous sector‑specific opportunities, citing agriculture and bio‑related fields as examples where AI could enable new areas of economic growth.

Reporters also pressed Ferguson on data centers and tax policy. He said the administration has already taken steps—creating a task force and removing one tax break for data centers in the last budget—and that more conversations and potential policy proposals are under consideration. On taxes, Ferguson said his proposed budget will not include new taxes and that he is communicating an expectation to legislators that the upcoming session proceed without tax increases; he emphasized aligning budget assumptions with official revenue forecasts and preserving the state’s AAA bond rating.

Ferguson said he plans to attend council meetings and stressed the importance of producing working outcomes rather than reports that produce no change. The executive order puts the council in place immediately; the Department of Commerce will lead the strategic‑plan process and the council’s recommendations are expected to inform the governor’s proposals for the next legislative session.