Washington Maritime Blue wins $500,000 as finalist in Build Back Better challenge

Washington Maritime Blue is the only Washington State organization to move on to the second round of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, earning $500,000 in the first round.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration launched the challenge to stimulate economic recovery from the pandemic and rebuild American communities, including some that have struggled with decades of disinvestment.

Washington Maritime Blue will use its $500,000 to further integrate the state’s blue economy cluster to commercialize new technologies to decarbonize heavy transportation. Some of these newly developed technologies include an electric-powered hydrofoil passenger ferry designed by Green Marine partner Glosten along with Bieker Boats for Kitsap Transit, and a system to distribute, store and use hydrogen as a cleaner fuel source.

A total of 60 finalists made it through the first round from a pool of 529 proposals nationwide. The finalists must now bolster their projects for the Phase 2 deadline in the spring. The two-phase competition will ultimately award between 20 to 30 regional coalitions up to $100 million to implement three to eight projects that support an industry sector.