Washington state has banned noncompetition agreements effective about a year from now, and businesses need to start preparing now.

This October, AWB will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the bus tour, visiting manufacturing and training facilities across the state over six days. In May, we kicked off these celebrations early, helping support three student-focused events in Spokane, Everett and Tri-Cities that engaged 300 K-12 students.

In an era when public conversation often feels fractured, hurried or reduced to sound bites, genuine community dialogue has never been more essential. 

From Seattle to Spokane, the state of Washington has been a leader in cutting-edge technology. Today, technological advances focus on artificial intelligence.

The debate over salmon recovery and hydropower in the Northwest has shifted into a broader fight over grid reliability and cost, with critics arguing that reducing hydropower without reliable replacements risks worsening already strained electricity supply and sharply increasing prices for customers.

AWB’s spring employer survey of more than 400 employers found that 24% of respondents are now considering moving their business out of Washington, up from 17% last quarter and nearly triple what we found in our winter 2025 survey just 16 months ago. 

Here’s the reality: No one can make that choice for you. In every challenge, both signs are visible.

More women in leadership is our best hope to close the wage gap and hold corporations and government accountable when our rights are violated. 

It’s worth saying thank you to our business community. We should tell them more often.

With abundant land, affordable clean power and an experienced talent pool, the Tri-Cities can become the nation’s premier digital infrastructure hub. But the real opportunity lies in getting the balance right and pairing rapid growth with environmental responsibility, sound energy planning and meaningful returns for local communities.