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“I believe it’s a 911 emergency for our state’s economy,” AWB President Kris Johnson told KIRO Newsradio. The personal migration trend is even steeper.
Another 55% said they are considering moving their personal residence to another state, a 44% increase from the previous quarter, according to a “In Spokane County, a short drive from the Idaho border, 67% of respondents said they were considering moving their personal residence to another state,” the report stated.72% of respondents rate Washington’s overall tax burden as a top business challenge, up from 64% last quarter and up 18 points since winter 2025.7% rate Washington’s economy as strong or very strong, down from 10% last quarter and down 16 points since winter 2025.9% plan to expand in Washington in the next year, down from 20% in winter 2025, while 38% are planning to expand in another state, up from 21% in winter 2025.46% expect a recession in the next year, up from 34% last quarter and up 29 points since winter 2025.
The cost of healthcare came in second on the list of business challenges behind the state’s overall tax burden, with 65% citing it as a concern. Government regulations ranked third at 58%, and the cost of fuel came in fourth, with 53% flagging it, the release said.
“It’s tempting for lawmakers to dismiss this kind of report and to suggest that businesses won’t really leave, but that would be a mistake,” Johnson said. “We are already seeing evidence of employers moving operations or moving their personal residence to other states, and we expect to see more in the coming years as plans that are being made right now are put into motion.
” Among the businesses considering moving out of Washington, 18% are developing a relocation plan, and 7% have secured a new location elsewhere, according to the survey.
'She revealed her true colors': Jake and Spike react to Katie Wilson's 'bye' to millionaires departing WAJohnson told KIRO Newsradio that other states are encouraging businesses to leave. “Seventeen percent of respondents say they’ve already been contacted by an out-of-state economic development official,” he said. “That means our employers are being courted by other states. They’re being courted to move personally, and they’re being courted to move their businesses.
So other states are lining up to recruit the golden goose that we have, this amazing economy that we have. ” AWB conducts the survey each quarter. This latest survey was conducted between April 8 and April 22, 2026.2 Washington whiskeys named among 50 greatest of the 21st centuryA recent UW survey found that the number of respondents reporting injecting drugs in a given year has dropped nearly 50% since 2021.
The robotics pioneer who helped unleash the Roomba vacuum is now betting that you might one day replace your beloved dog or cat with a plush robot that follows you around your home and adapts to your daily habits. Colin Angle unveiled a four-legged prototype of that artificial pet, called the Familiar, on Monday.
Imagine ‘We lived, laughed, and loved mas’: West Seattle viral artist holds funeral for long-closed Taco Bell Despite the location having been closed for more than three decades, the West Seattle community felt it was appropriate to hold a funeral for the long-closed Taco Bell. For four years, a mallard has nested behind a bush near the front door of Caitlin Deal’s home in a Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb, offering an up-close glimpse of nature for her young son and lessons for how people can coexist with wildlife.
The duck, dubbed Martha by the family, sits on her nest for about Redmond HVAC contractor earns triple recognition in 60 days, reflecting a shift in how homeowners vet contractors Three independent organizations that evaluate home service contractors each reached the same conclusion: Home Comfort Alliance is among the most reliable in its market. WSECU Community Champion: Chrystal Ortega’s mission to feed Spokane Chrystal Ortega's tireless dedication recently earned her the WSECU Community Champions Award and a $1,000 grant to further the mission.
When Shawn Tibbitts opened Tibbitts FernHill, he was just trying to survive. The small Tacoma restaurant has since earned culinary awards and praise. Wilcox Family Farms is continuing its cherished holiday tradition of giving back by donating nearly one million eggs to food banks across the South Sound region this season. Matthew Ballantyne has transformed that early awareness into action, embodying the organization's mission:"No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town. "
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