NOAA selects University of Washington to host regional institute for climate and ocean research, Sound Transit will receive $166M in federal funds, and more from this week’s Seattle in the Spotlight.

NOAA Selects Univ. of Washington to Host Regional Institute for Climate and Ocean Research

GeekWIre | Alan Boyle | May 21

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/univ-washington-selected-host-regional-institute-climate-ocean-research/

“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has selected the University of Washington to host a Pacific Northwest research institute focusing on climate, ocean and coastal challenges, supported by a five-year award worth up to $300 million. The Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies, or CICOES, will be a collaboration involving UW as well as the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and Oregon State University. It’ll build on the 42-year history of UW’s Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, under the continued directorship of UW marine biologist John Horne.”

Sound Transit Will Receive $166M in Federal Funds

KOMO News | Alfred Charles | May 20

https://komonews.com/news/local/trump-tweet-sound-transit-will-receive-166m-federal-award

“President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday morning that Sound Transit will receive a federal grant of $166 million to help offset losses by the transit agency, which has reduced fares on some routes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his tweet, Trump said the federal funds will help shore up finances of the agency, which had stopped collecting fares weeks ago but is now poised to begin collecting them again now that Washington state is slowly restarting its economic engine. Many Puget Sound businesses slashed ridership fares and curtailed some services to account for the loss of passengers and lost revenue.”

Seattle Launches Marketplace to Connect Businesses with Local Face Mask Producers

GeekWire | Monica Nicelsburg | May 20

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/seattle-launches-marketplace-connect-businesses-local-face-mask-producers/

“The City of Seattle launched an online marketplace Tuesday to connect organizations that need face coverings with local producers manufacturing them. Seattle Protects is a project of the city’s economic development and public health officials to promote locally-produced face coverings. A number of companies in the area have pivoted to manufacturing face masks over the past few months. Public health officials are urging Seattle-area residents to wear face coverings in public settings where social distancing may not be possible.”