Looking for a roundup of the latest headlines surrounding the Seattle tech community? You’ve come to the right place! This week’s Seattle in the Spotlight features: Norway and Washington State Sign Innovation Pact in Seattle, Connecting Tech and Maritime Industries, Washington will Create a Statewide Broadband Office to Expand Internet Access, Washington is the Best State in America, Says U.S. News Rankings and more.

Norway and Washington State Sign Innovation Pact in Seattle, Connecting Tech and Maritime Industries

GeekWire | Todd Bishop | May 16

“Norway and Washington state will cooperate on next-generation maritime technologies and clean energy innovations in both regions of the world, with goals including further modernizing and reducing the environmental impact of the fishing and seafood industries. Representatives of Innovation Norway and Washington state signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday morning at the Nordic Innovation Summit at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. It was a symbolic setting — an area of the city where an influx of tech workers has transformed the economy, conflicting at times with the neighborhood’s decades-old maritime industry.”

$15 million Gift will Help Build ‘Affordable High-Rise’ for Seattle’s Chronically Homeless

Seattle Times | Scott Greenstone | May 15

“On Wednesday, three major health-care companies headquartered in Seattle announced a combined $15 million gift to nonprofit Plymouth Housing, the city’s largest permanent supportive housing provider. Plymouth plans to use that gift and proceeds from other fundraising to build three complexes comprising more than 300 supportive housing units in the International District, Lower Queen Anne and on First Hill. The First Hill site will be the largest, with 112 studios for seniors and veterans, and will be Seattle’s “first affordable high-rise in 50 years,” according to Paul Lambros, Plymouth’s executive director.”

Washington will Create a Statewide Broadband Office to Expand Internet Access

GeekWire | Monica Nickelsburg | May 14

“Washington will soon have a dedicated broadband office tasked with expanding internet access to underserved parts of the state. Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill that creates the broadband office into law this week. The office will manage the state’s broadband budget and work to bring in federal funds. The new law also creates a competitive grant and loan program to fund projects that expand broadband to communities that don’t currently have reliable internet. The broadband office’s initial budget is $21 million and the governor’s office hopes to grow it to $100 million in the next four years, according to John Flanagan, policy advisor to Inslee.”

Washington is the Best State in America, Says U.S. News Rankings

USA Today | Brett Molina | May 14

“Washington state earned top honors on U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the Best States, published on Tuesday. The outlet calculates where all 50 states fall in their rankings based on several criteria, including health care, education, economy and opportunity. Certain categories are weighted more based on an annual survey with thousands of people to determine which issues are most important. Washington was the top state overall, followed by New Hampshire and Minnesota.”