Business | The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Olympia committee wants the city to be 100% EV ready

Land Use and Environment Committee members are eyeing the possibility of a 100% EV (electric vehicle) readiness in all residential parking in Olympia. "Having that goal having access to EV … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/17/22

This drawing shows the flow of energy in a small modular (nuclear) reactor, such as those being considered for the Centralia power plant.

Feds mull building nuke plant in Centralia

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is considering constructing a nuclear power plant to replace either one or both coal-fired power plants in Centralia. Pacific Northwest National … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 6/16/22 | 11 comments

Project engineer Chris Cramer updated the Site Plan Committee Review committee on a proposed 59-housing unit at 1627 Elizabeth St. on June 15, 2022.

Elizabeth St. housing to include two roads to 18th Ave.

Olympia’s Site Plan Review committee yesterday heard an updated plan for the 57-unit Elizabeth Street multifamily housing project at 1627 Elizabeth St. SE. According to project engineer … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/16/22

Olympia Site Plan reviewed Olympic Capitol Growth’s plans to build60 townhomes off of Sleater-Kinney Road NE during its meeting on June 8, 2022.

Olympia Site Plan hears 60-townhome project proposal

Olympia Site Plan Committee yesterday heard Olympic Capital Growth's proposal to build 60 townhomes on a five-acre parcel near North Thurston High School, just west of Sleater-Kinney Road … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/9/22

Raven Cruz, Transportation Choices Coalition operations manager,  said the group advocates for increasing transit service in Washington State.

Olympia proclaims June 2022 Ride Transit Month

The Olympia City Council approved a proclamation designating June 2022 as Ride Transit Month. The proclamation, signed by city council members yesterday, endorses the Transportation Choices … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/8/22

The City of Lacey and Paymentus, an electronic billing platform, are working on a new online payment portal that the residents can access to settle their utility bills conveniently.

Lacey mulls new online payment portal for utility bills

The City of Lacey and Paymentus, an electronic billing platform, are working on a new online payment portal that residents can access to make their utility bill payments … more

By JC Medina | 6/7/22 | 1 comment

CDBG’s revolving loan programs will focus on supporting housing-improvement activities such as rehabilitating single-family homes and apartment buildings that are rented to low-income community members.

Olympia reopens loan program to repair low-income rented homes

Olympia announced in a press release that it has reinstated its Rental Rehabilitation Revolving Loan Fund, which provides loans to rehabilitate homes being rented by low-income community members … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 6/6/22

Lacey City Council voted 3-1 in favor of the approval of the controversial Meridian Market Gas Station amid a furious crowd who attended the public meeting on June 2, 2022.

Lacey votes 3-1 in favor of Meridian gas station, residents furious

The Lacey City Council voted 3-1 in favor of the approval of the controversial Meridian Market Gas Station amid a furious crowd who attended the public meeting last night. Councilmembers Lenny … more

By JC Medina | 6/3/22 | 3 comments

Some residents attended the Lacey Board of Park meeting on June 1 to air out concerns about the controversial Meridian Gas Station that will be built across Meridian Neighborhood Park.

Residents air concern anew on controversial Meridian Gas Station

Two days after a Lacey Board of Park (BOP) Commissioner resigned over related issues, residents attended the BOP meeting on Wednesday, June 1 to raise concerns about the controversial Meridian Gas … more

By JC Medina | 6/3/22 | 1 comment

Olympia Site Plan committee hears a proposal to construct a fast-food restaurant 2930 Capital Mall Drive Southwest, Olympia.

Site Plan committee hears plan for new fast-food restaurant

The Olympia Site Plan Committee heard a proposal to construct 4,987-square-foot one-story Chick-fil-A restaurant at 2930 Capital Mall Drive Southwest, Olympia, on Wednesday, June 1. The location … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/3/22 | 2 comments

Commissioner Carolina Mejia answering a question during Thurston County Squares game.

County tourism group recognizes local leaders

Experience Olympia and Beyond, the county’s official tourism and destination marketing organization, held its annual meeting yesterday, June 1, giving out awards and hosting a Hollywood … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 6/2/22

Through Linger Boutique, Shauna Stewart hopes to normalize rest and pleasure and give more women the opportunity to feel good.

New Linger Boutique is on a mission to help women to slow down

Linger Boutique, specializing in elegant lingerie, sleep and loungewear opened in Downtown Olympia last month, with a commitment to normalizing rest and pleasure by reimagining the shopping … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 6/2/22

Nisqually tribe installs new internet connections on reservation, in nearby communities

The Nisqually Indian Tribe is working to install affordable fiber-optic internet connections to tribal and non-tribal communities in South Puget Sound to address what they identified as … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 6/1/22

A slide from the May 27, 2022 Olympia Airport Master Plan Update states that the airport is not being considered for commercial use.

Olympia Airport Master Plan update brings more concerns from residents

At the Port of Olympia's third open house for the Olympia Regional Airport Master Plan Update yesterday, port consultant project manager Leah Whitfield reiterated that Olympia Regional Airport is not … more

By Tiziana Piatos | 5/31/22 | 4 comments

Olympia Site Plan Committee reviews two downtown residential presubmissions

The Olympia Site Plan Committee on Wednesday, May 25, conducted presubmission hearings for two potential downtown housing development projects. 221 Fifth Avenue SW: Apartments Architect Jeff … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/27/22 | 3 comments

This is Slide 13 from the January 6, 2022 meeting of the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission, which identifies Olympia Regional Airport as having potential for additional capacity in general aviation, air cargo and air passenger service capacity.

Airport Master Plan Update Open House being conducted under the shadow of state effort to expand aviation capacity

The Port of Olympia will hold its third public open house on the Olympia Regional Airport Master Plan Update (MPU) on Thursday, May 26, 2022, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. For details about … more

By Tiziana Piatos and Danny Stusser | 5/25/22 | 3 comments

222 Market, a member of Olympia Downtown Alliance, serves locals and tourists with several restaurants and a florist housed together in a converted automobile dealership building.

Olympia Downtown Alliance and the City of Olympia seek community input on a business recruitment and retention strategy

The Olympia Downtown Alliance and the City of Olympia want to hear from the community. Together, they are working on a business recruitment and retention strategy for downtown. The final plan will do … more

5/25/22

Olympia’s Land Use and Environment Committee discussed developing three rental policy measures during its meeting on May 19, 2022.

Olympia committee seeks to legislate rent-increase notices, limit move-in costs

Olympia’s Land Use and Environment Committee wants to bring three rental policy measures to the city council to provide immediate relief to renters. In a meeting held on Thursday, … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/20/22 | 6 comments

Port of Olympia seeking input on Olympia Regional Airport Master Plan Update at third open house

The Port of Olympia will hold the third public open house on the Olympia Regional Airport Master Plan Update (MPU) on Thursday, May 26, 2022, from 2:00 – 3:30 PM via Zoom. The Port of … more

5/18/22 | 2 comments

Seated around the conference table are, l-r, Port Commissioners Amy Evans, Bob Iyall, Joe Downing, executive director Sam Gibboney, Thomas Architecture Studios’ Amos Callender and Ron Thomas.

Destination Waterfront: “A good investment for the next generation”

Thomas Architecture Studios, the firm overseeing development plans for Destination Waterfront, is eager to see green grass growing soon on some of Port of Olympia’s downtown waterfront … more

By Tiziana Piatos and Danny Stusser | 5/17/22 | 1 comment