Dept. of Commerce Selects Ernie Rasmussen of Okanogan as Coordinator for Tribal Governments Statewide

Economic development planner for The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Nation, Ernie Rasmussen, was selected as tribal liaison. His responsibility will be to coordinate Department of Commerce work with tribal governments statewide.

"Part of my responsibility is to provide the opportunity for tribes to be consulted on either policy or programmatic responsibilities that Commerce has at state level," said Rasmussen. "So it's bringing a voice from the tribes and the communities they represent to a more effective partnership with the state."

Rasmussen's resume includes playing an imperative role in establishing the North Star Opportunity Zone, coordinating National Science Foundation-supported STEM curriculum to serve grades 4-6 on the Spokane Indian Reservation and Coeur d’Alene Reservation and background as the executive director and network coordinator of the Empire Health Foundation-funded Spokane Tribal Network.

"(I'm most looking forward to) the opportunity to work across a broader region, a broader set of issues, to amplify some of the work that I've done previously and to have the opportunity to advocate and guide communities through a process that results in them receiving more benefit from their partnership with the state," said Rasmussen.

The Department of Commerce works with numerous public and private sector partners, including tribal governments.

Rasmussen started his new position on November 1st and is based out of Okanogan.