Led By Microsoft’s Brad Smith, Program Gives Out $6M in STEM Grants in Washington

Puget Sound Business Journal | Ashley Stewart | February 9

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/02/09/led-by-microsofts-brad-smith-program-gives-out-6m.html

“The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship – chaired by Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith – is giving out $6 million in grants to help three Washington state universities expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. The grants will go directly to schools to train more K-12 STEM teachers and expand computer science programs for low- and middle-income students to help fill the state’s estimated 23,000 unfilled technology jobs. ‘We all lose out when an inspired student can’t pursue a science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree,’ Smith wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing the grants. ‘We need creative, efficient programs that remove barriers to higher education and enable students to go from an interest in STEM to a degree, a job and a career in these growing fields.’”

 

For Chinese Home Buyers, Seattle Is the New Vancouver

Wall Street Journal | Laura Kusisto and Kim Mackrael | February 7

https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-chinese-home-buyers-seattle-is-the-new-vancouver-1486500393

“Chinese real-estate buyers are suddenly descending on the Seattle region. Some are lured by perceptions the coastal city is a bargain, others by warm memories of the 2013 Chinese film Finding Mr. Right, which put Seattle on the pop-culture radar there. The biggest draw, though, might be the fact that it isn’t Vancouver. In August, the Canadian province of British Columbia imposed a 15% tax on foreign investment in the city, which until recently was a popular destination for Chinese. The tax applies to anyone who isn’t a citizen or permanent resident of Canada and buys a home in metro Vancouver.”

 

Seattle No. 6 in New Ranking of Best Places to Live in U.S.

Seattle Times | Evan Bush | February 7

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/were-no-6-in-new-ranking-of-best-places-to-live-in-us/

“The Seattle area is the sixth best place to live in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual index, rising from seventh last year. The publication ranked metro areas by migration, desirability, quality of life, ‘value’ and job-market health. To assess value, U.S. News & World Report used U.S. Census Bureau data to compare income and cost of living in an attempt to show how comfortably people could live within their means. Department of Labor data indicated the strength of various regions’ job markets.”

 

As Jobs Grow in Downtown Seattle, Workers Are Turning More to Transit

Seattle TImes | Mike Lindblom | February 9

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/as-jobs-grow-in-downtown-seattle-workers-turn-more-to-transit/

“Transit evangelists have been saying for years there’s no room anymore to add cars in central Seattle. Apparently the area’s commuters agree. While the working population in and around downtown increased by 45,000 in the past six years, drive-alone commutes increased by approximately 2,255 morning trips, based on data published Thursday by Commute Seattle, a nonprofit funded by business and transportation agencies. In other words transit, walking, bicycling, carpools and telecommuting soaked up nearly all the growth.”

 

Silicon Valley Tech Workers Lead Migration to Seattle, Which Now Ranks in U.S. for Software Engineer Salaries

GeekWire | Jillian Stampher | February 9

http://www.geekwire.com/2017/silicon-valley-employees-leading-the-migration-to-seattle-new-study-finds/

“Technology workers have flocked to Silicon Valley for decades, but the Bay Area is facing new competition as a destination for skilled tech workers. Seattle and other cities are becoming increasingly attractive to engineers and scientists, according to a new report from jobs marketplace Hired. As the Bay Area’s cost of living continues to rise, other cities have been able to capitalize on the situation. In fact, if you account for San Francisco’s cost of living when looking at salaries, Austin, Denver and Seattle all promise a better quality of life.”