WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell will serve on the new Governor’s Economic Development Council. The council, established by Gov. Bob Ferguson, is designed to advise the governor on statewide economic development strategy.

“I really am moved by the opportunity to make sure that the future of the state is also a future where we continue to innovate across all of the challenges that may come up,” Cantwell said in a press release.

Cantwell is one of 26 leading Washingtonians who will be a part of the council. It is the first time since 2006, with Gov. Christine Gregoire’s Global Competitiveness Council, that a body of this sort has existed in Washington state.

Some other goals of the new council include advising Ferguson on the state’s economic development and competitiveness strategic plan due in June 2027, finding ways to increase family-wage jobs and making recommendations to attract out-of-state businesses.

Washington state has recently seen a lot of ups and downs in its economy.

According to the spring 2026 version of the Washington Employers Survey, 91% of respondent businesses did not plan to expand their operations in the state within the next year or two.

Seattle’s Starbucks, for example, announced in April it would expand its presence by locating a Southeast corporate office in Nashville, bringing the city 2,000 new jobs.

The unemployment rate in Washington has increased by 0.2% since the start of 2026, as of May. Ferguson also signed the biggest tax hike in state history into law in May 2025, which critics say has impacted businesses and consumer goods.

However, Washington ranked first in economic productivity in the most recent State of the States report and second overall in state economies by WalletHub.

Ferguson has also used the Strategic Reserve Fund to increase job opportunities, signed investments into law to increase housing supply in Washington and cut down permitting times at the Department of Licensing, Labor and Financial Institutions, according to the Governor’s Economic Development Council press release.

“We cannot take our strength for granted,” Ferguson said in the report. “I’m launching a historic convening of top leaders from around Washington state to help guide the next chapter of economic prosperity for our state.”

The new council will meet quarterly and provide advisory reports with its findings and recommendations.

Cantwell was invited to speak on Thursday at the signing of the executive order that establishes the new council.