Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has announced the creation of a new statewide economic council, a body he established through Executive Order 2602 and described as the first of its kind in decades. Speaking at the Summit Convention Center in Seattle, the governor presented the council as a central piece of his effort to strengthen the state's economy. The move signals an attempt to bring a more coordinated, longer-term approach to economic strategy in Washington.
At its core, the council brings together a broad cross section of the state's economic life. It is made up of 26 leading Washingtonians drawn from a range of industries, including forestry, clean energy and big tech. By assembling figures from such different sectors, the administration is aiming to capture both the traditional pillars of the state's economy and the fast-growing fields expected to shape its future, rather than leaning on any single industry to drive its recommendations.
The new body has been handed a clear central task. The group will be responsible for finding strategic solutions to strengthen the state's economy, working in an advisory capacity to the governor and to the Commerce Department. Rather than holding direct authority over policy, the council is designed to feed expertise and recommendations into the decisions made by state government, acting as a sounding board for the direction of Washington's economy.
Beyond that broad mission, several specific goals have been laid out for the council. Among them are raising wages for workers, increasing the state's overall competitiveness and marketing Washington's businesses on a national stage. Taken together, those priorities point to an agenda focused not only on attracting investment but also on improving conditions for residents and raising the profile of the state's companies well beyond its own borders.
The council has also been given a defined way of operating. It is set to meet quarterly and to submit advisory reports laying out its findings and recommendations, with funding for the effort provided in the state's 2027 proposed budget. That structure is intended to ensure the group produces regular, concrete output rather than serving as a one-off gesture, tying its work directly into the state's longer-term budget planning.
The decision to stand up such a council marks a notable shift, given that officials say nothing of its kind has been created in Washington in decades. By formalizing the group through an executive order and anchoring it within the budget process, the governor is signaling that economic strategy will be treated as a sustained priority. How much influence the council ultimately wields will depend on whether its recommendations are translated into action in the years ahead.