Washington state Rep. Stephanie Barnard has pre-filed House Bill 1057, aimed at facilitating local communities' access to federal grant funding to boost economic growth. This bill builds on the Moving Assets Towards Community Heath Program Act from the previous legislative session, created to streamline federal funding access by the Department of Commerce. Barnard's legislation expands on this by directing Commerce to establish a grant program to aid jurisdictions in hiring grant writers. The initiative emphasizes broadening funding opportunities beyond clean energy projects, advocating for assistance in procuring federal funding for various economic development endeavors. The Commerce Department, which has been actively pursuing federal funding for initiatives like CHIPS and Science Act, Regional Hydrogen Hubs, and broadband, expressed commitment towards leveraging federal funding for clean tech and innovation projects. Barnard highlights the complexity of the grant application process for smaller jurisdictions and aims to simplify it by providing templates and matching funds. She believes Washington can significantly improve its federal funding procurement, especially considering the state's projected budget deficit. Amidst debates on potential tax increases, Barnard stresses the importance of creating a dedicated fund of state matching dollars to enhance federal funding acquisition and generate substantial returns. The legislative session is set to commence on Jan. 13, with Barnard's bill poised to address key economic development challenges in Washington.