Advocacy
IT Coalition
Because innovation takes action.
The Information Technology Coalition was launched as an initiative of the WTIA to raise the awareness of the tremendous contribution the ITC sector has made to Washington’s economy and to advocate for public policy that will help it continue to thrive.
This initiative to keep our innovation ecosystem robust and
competitive has been seeded by a mix of small, mid-size, and
large companies who recognize the time has come to claim the
importance of being visible and speaking up on behalf of a
technology industry sector that wants all Washington citizens to
have access to better K-12 education, more STEM programs in higher
education, and a good business environment that benefits
everyone.
Keeping Washington's IT industry competitive both nationally and
globally is critical to our state's future prosperity. Washington's
track record in growing successful technology companies is one of
the best in the world. It's vitally important to position our
state as the premier location in the US to start and build a
technology company.
The IT Coalition's objective is much more than a PR campaign.
Technology industry leaders and legislators combined have an
opportunity to develop the strategies required to solve the
technology education and employment gap that is now the #1 issue
facing Washington's technology-driven economy. The Information
Technology Coalition is taking the following steps:
Enhance our Higher Education system's ability to produce
qualified candidates for technology jobs
- Restore funding lost over the last several budgets by making
higher education a funding priority in the 2013-15 biennium;
- Prioritize degree programs in STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math) disciplines
- Increase access to post-secondary education for students from
all income levels
Improve the talent pipeline by enhancing the
effectiveness of the K-12 system
- Ensure students have the expectation and opportunity to
graduate high school prepared for college and/or career and able to
compete with their national and international peers
- Strengthen STEM preparation for all students
- Make the foundational skill of computer science available to
every high school student
Use state revenue policy to encourage growth in the
technology sector
- Pursue supportive tax policies that encourage investment and
growth of existing companies, new start-ups, and relocation of
technology firms from other areas to the state
- At a minimum, make the existing B&O credit for R&D
expense and sales tax deferral/exemption for R&D facilities and
equipment permanent to provide needed predictability for those
looking to invest
Create a more fertile business environment to grow and
attract technology employers
- Build on the state's high quality academic and private research
institutions by making technology transfer and commercialization
more efficient
- Improve access to capital for early stage companies
- Ensure that the state's regulatory environment encourages
entrepreneurship and investment by innovative technology
businesses
Download more
information on the ITC.
Download the ITC
Fact Sheet.
Download the
Legislative Agenda.
Download the
Economic Profile.
Download the IT Coalition JLARC
Rebuttal.
Download the Policy Brief.
Download op-eds on tax incentives:
Visit ITC online: 
ITC Sponsors:
