Amazon Donates $10M for New University of Washington Computer Science Building

GeekWIre | Todd Bishop | October 6

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/amazon-donates-10m-new-university-washington-computer-science-building/

“Amazon is putting $10 million toward a second building for the University of Washington’s Computer Science & Engineering program, helping to increase the pipeline of technology talent in the Seattle-based tech giant’s hometown. UW and Amazon officials are announcing the donation this morning, describing the donation as a ‘significant boost’ for the $110 million fundraising campaign for the building. Amazon joins Microsoft, which kicked off the campaign last year with a $10 million donation of its own. Including the Amazon donation and a state contribution, about $86 million has now been committed to the fundraising campaign.”

 

Nathan Myhrvold: “Seattle is Absolutely the Silicon Valley of Saving the World”

GeekWire | CLare McGrane | October 5

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/nathan-myhrvold-seattle-absolutely-silicon-valley-saving-world/

“Seattle may be known as the birthplace of tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon, but its global health and development work often flies under the radar. Intellectual Ventures CEO Nathan Myhrvold gave a shout out to Seattle’s powerhouse global development community at the 2016 GeekWire Summit Wednesday, saying ‘Seattle is absolutely the Silicon Valley of saving the world…There’s the Bill Gates foundation, there’s the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, there’s PATH,” he said. “We made a list and there’s like a dozen entities in Seattle that are doing fantastic work to help the developing world.’”

 

Meet the 191 Women Business Leaders Who Have Shaped the Puget Sound Region

Puget Sound Business Journal | Becky Monk | October 5

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2016/10/meet-the-191-women-business-leaders-who-have.html

“The PSBJ started a program in 2004 as a way to highlight the accomplishments of this region’s women business leaders. This year’s 14 PSBJ Women of Influence honorees include accomplished executives from Boeing, Starbucks, Microsoft, Costco, Vulcan, Mutual Materials, The Ballmer Group, KUOW and more. In addition to this year’s powerful and inspiring leaders, the alumnae of the PSBJ’s Women of Influence award program can boast a lot of firsts. Sheryl Willert was the first African-American partner at Seattle law firm Williams, Kastner & Gibbs and the first woman to be named managing director in 1996.”

 

Seattle Home Prices Still Raging Despite Extra Inventory, Slow Fall Season

Seattle Times | Mike Rosenberg | October 5

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/seattle-home-prices-still-raging-despite-extra-inventory-slow-fall-season/

“After a punishing year for anyone looking to buy a home in and around Seattle, the fall price cool-down that many buyers have been waiting for hasn’t arrived with much force. The good news for buyers is that Seattle isn’t setting any more home-price records like it did this spring. And the rate of home-price increases has slowed to about half of what it was earlier in the year…The market remains one of the hottest in the country, even though the region is finally starting to see more houses come on the market.”

 

Bertha Now Halfway to South Lake Union

Seattle Times | Mike Lindblom | October 2

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/bertha-nearly-halfway-to-south-lake-union/

“Bertha on Friday reached the halfway mark of its monumental dig toward South Lake Union, the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced on Monday. Bertha has been on the rise during its hidden voyage from Sodo. The giant drill on Monday was about 190 feet beneath First Avenue between Pike and Pine streets, just north of the future Highway 99 tunnel’s deepest point. As of Monday morning, the dig had covered 4,662 feet on the future Highway 99 tunnel’s 9,270-foot route, according to WSDOT.”

 

Healthy Housing Industry Means Big Gains for Puget Sound Area Home Remodelers

Puget Sound Business Journal | Melissa Crowe | September 30

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2016/09/30/puget-sound-home-remodelers-projects.html

“New residential construction may be booming in the Seattle area, but home remodelers are still in high demand. Whether it’s homeowners preparing to sell (especially given the seller’s market in and around Seattle) or new owners who want to customize their homes, industry experts say the healthy housing market will translate into bigger gains for remodeling this year and next. Residential remodel project spending is trending upward, according to a National Association of Home Builders report, and the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates the remodeling industry is closing in on $350 billion annually in improvement and repair spending.”