Two Spokane innovation clusters have garnered infusions of funds through the Washington state Department of Commerce's Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program. 

The Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster has secured $140,000 through the grant program and plans to use that money to launch a bioscience incubator focused on "climate-smart lab operations." The initiative includes a two-year lease of a 3,400-square-foot lab-and-office space for startups working on public-health challenges. 

Michaele Armstrong, executive director of Evergreen Bioscience, says in a press release, "This award helps us activate underutilized space and drive inclusive economic development."

That cluster, which is sponsored fiscally by Greater Spokane Incorporated, is working in collaboration with My Green Labs, Washington State University, and local bioscience firms. 

The Inland Northwest Energy Innovation Cluster also will receive $140,000 and plans to use the funds to advance regional grid modernization, energy resilience, and clean energy. 

That cluster is a collaboration between Urbanova and the Inland Northwest Center for Energy and Decarbonization, which recently wrapped up work on a regional innovation engine development project funded by the National Science Foundation. 

Mason Burley, CEO of Urbanova, says the cluster will "expand regional energy partnership and elevate important energy innovation."