These Publicly Traded Tech Companies are the Fastest-Growing in Washington

Puget Sound Business Journal | Melissa Crowe | June 14

“Washington’s fastest-growing publicly traded technology companies saw revenue increase 31 percent over 2013 levels. Together, the 12 technology companies on Washington’s Fastest-Growing Public Company List — from Amazon to Zillow — reported a combined $205.3 billion in revenue in 2015. That fast growth also shows up in the number of new workers the tech companies have hired. Between 2014 and 2015 the workforce of these dozen companies increased by 16 percent.” Read more.

Higher Bar for Diplomas May Bring Trimester System to Seattle High Schools

Seattle Times | Paige Cornwell | June 14

“To accommodate new state graduation requirements, a district task force is recommending that Seattle high schools switch to a trimester system starting in fall 2017, with five periods each day. Under state law, all Washington students will soon have to earn 24 credits to graduate — some by spring 2019 and others, in districts granted waivers, one or two years later…The trimester schedule would allow students to earn a maximum of 30 credits over four years. If approved, the schedule change also would affect current eighth-grade students, freshmen and sophomores.” Read more.

Seattle-Area Tourism Poised to Break Records, Again

Seattle PI | Lynsi Burton | June 13

“Seattle tourism is expected to increase this year, building on a record-breaking streak, according to national research firms. The number of visitors who came to Seattle and King County increased 2.6 percent last year to 38.1 million, topping a record-breaking 2014, according to Tourism Economics and Longwoods International, the research firms that crunched the numbers. Overnight visitors increased 2.3 percent to 19.7 million. Visitors spent $6.8 billion in Seattle and King County last year, which is 5.8 percent more than in 2014.” Read more.

Sounder South Trains: So Popular, Sound Transit’s Trying to Add More

Seattle Times | Mike Lindblom | June 11

“Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff is negotiating with BNSF Railway, to try to bring all-day service to the Sounder train line between Seattle and Pierce County. Trains now operate during commute hours, plus weekend trips to sporting events in Sodo. Transit managers are aiming to schedule longer peak periods, or even midday trains, to be funded by this fall’s Sound Transit 3 ballot measure. The “Holy Grail” is hourly service, said Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow, a transit-board member whose city is on the train line.” Read more.

Why this German Connected Car Company Likes Seattle Better than Silicon Valley

Puget Sound Business Journal | Rachel Nielsen | June 10

“German connected car company Elektrobit says the Seattle area is its No. 1 choice for software development operations because of the tech talent that it can recruit – and retain. Elektrobit, which is owned by Erlangen, Germany- based Continental Corp., set up shop in Bothell in 2006 to tap into the deep pool of software engineers needed to design its automated and interactive technologies for cars. “It’s just a really, really good software town,” said Artur Seidel, a vice president and the head Elektrobit’s North American operations. “I can hire and retain really good developers.”” Read more.