https://www.kentvalleywa.com Kent Valley Economic Development News Feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:47:07 +0000 en-US https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67820/space-northwest-teams-up-with-commercial-space-federation-on-business-accelerator-program https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67820/space-northwest-teams-up-with-commercial-space-federation-on-business-accelerator-program Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000 GEEKWIRE - Space Northwest, a nonprofit association serving the Pacific Northwest’s space industry ecosystem, says it’s partnering with the Commercial Space Federation to launch a regional space business accelerator.The initiative will begin with an executive roundtable scheduled this summer, followed by a 12-week accelerator program due to begin in autumn... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67811/blackstone-subsidiary-proposes-large-redevelopment-project-in-kent https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67811/blackstone-subsidiary-proposes-large-redevelopment-project-in-kent Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000 PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL - The industrial real estate arm of the world’s largest alternative asset management firm has proposed to redevelop an aging warehouse campus in Kent.  New York-based Link Logistics, a Blackstone Inc. subsidiary, intends to demolish four structures and replace them with two Class A speculative industrial... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67813/faa-approves-boeings-next-max-production-increase-ceo-ortberg-says https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67813/faa-approves-boeings-next-max-production-increase-ceo-ortberg-says Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 THE SEATTLE TIMES - Boeing has hit another regulatory milestone in its effort to increase MAX production, paving the way to build 47 planes per month this summer, CEO Kelly Ortberg said Wednesday.Boeing recently completed its “capstone review” with the Federal Aviation Administration for the next rate increase, Ortberg said,... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67809/boeing-ceo-says-200jet-china-deal-an-initial-tranche-with-more-to-come https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67809/boeing-ceo-says-200jet-china-deal-an-initial-tranche-with-more-to-come Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 REUTERS - China's commitment to buy 200 Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab jets during a recent visit by U.S. President Donald Trump will ‌be firmed up later this year and is only an "initial tranche" of a potentially far bigger deal, the planemaker's CEO Kelly Ortberg said.Investors had expressed disappointment... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67812/nasa-provides-update-on-moon-base-rovers-landers-missions https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67812/nasa-provides-update-on-moon-base-rovers-landers-missions Tue, 26 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 NASA - During a Moon Base event Tuesday at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington, the agency announced new contracts for lunar rovers for crew to drive and uncrewed cargo landers bound for the Moon. NASA leaders also shared target launch timeframes and upcoming milestones for the first Moon Base infrastructure and... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67808/nasa-taps-bezos-blue-origin-firefly-for-moon-base-contracts https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67808/nasa-taps-bezos-blue-origin-firefly-for-moon-base-contracts Tue, 26 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 BLOOMBERG - NASA picked Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace and other space firms to send robotic landers, rovers and even drones to the moon as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to jumpstart a lunar base before the end of the decade.The US space agency awarded Lunar Outpost and... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67806/at-tech-alliance-annual-luncheon-a-stark-analysis-and-a-call-to-action https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67806/at-tech-alliance-annual-luncheon-a-stark-analysis-and-a-call-to-action Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 GEEKWIRE - It’s a complicated moment in Washington, our home state, where the tech giants are strong, the satellites are abundant, and economic growth may no longer be above average.That was the feeling walking out of the Technology Alliance’s annual State of Technology luncheon Tuesday, where a deep dive on... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67621/trump-and-boeing-announce-china-will-purchase-200-planes https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67621/trump-and-boeing-announce-china-will-purchase-200-planes Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 THE NEW YORK TIMES - President Trump and Boeing said on Friday that China had agreed to order 200 of the company’s planes, potentially lifting the fortunes of the American jet manufacturer in one of the world’s largest aviation markets. But Beijing officials were noncommittal.Aboard Air Force One on his... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67546/blue-origin-tests-1st-moon-lander-ahead-of-lunar-launch-later-this-year https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67546/blue-origin-tests-1st-moon-lander-ahead-of-lunar-launch-later-this-year Fri, 08 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACE.COM - Blue Origin continues putting its first lunar lander through its paces, testing the spacecraft at NASA centers across the nation to prepare it for its upcoming mission to the moon.That vehicle, named "Endurance," is Blue Origin's uncrewed Blue Moon MK1 test lander, which is designed to pave the... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67475/blue-origin-moon-lander-completes-testing-at-nasa-vacuum-chamber https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67475/blue-origin-moon-lander-completes-testing-at-nasa-vacuum-chamber Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 NASA - Also known as Endurance, MK1 is an uncrewed cargo lander funded by Blue Origin as a commercial demonstration mission to advance Human Landing System capabilities in support of NASA’s Artemis program. The tests in Chamber A represent a public-private partnership model, with Blue Origin conducting work through a... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67453/egyptair-takes-delivery-of-first-boeing-737-max-jet https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67453/egyptair-takes-delivery-of-first-boeing-737-max-jet Sun, 03 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 BOEING - Boeing and EgyptAir announced today the Egyptian national airline took delivery of its first 737 MAX. The 737-8 is the first of 18 airplanes leased from SMBC Aviation Capital to be delivered and represents the first 737 MAX in Egypt."The delivery of our first Boeing 737 MAX marks... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67415/blacksky-wins-nearly-30-million-oneyear-assured-contract-from-international-defense-customer https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67415/blacksky-wins-nearly-30-million-oneyear-assured-contract-from-international-defense-customer Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 BLACKSKY - BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) won a nearly $30 million, one-year Assured contract from an international defense customer. The customer rapidly scaled from an initial six-figure Early Access program to the subscription deal in less than six months to meet an accelerated need for real time space-based tactical... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67416/blue-origin-certainly-has-ambitious-launch-targets-for-new-glenn https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67416/blue-origin-certainly-has-ambitious-launch-targets-for-new-glenn Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 ARS TECHNICA - Earlier this week, Blue Origin posted a job opportunity for a “senior manager” to oversee tank fabrication for “Quattro,” and the description contained some intriguing information.“As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers you will be the Senior Manager of Gen 2.0 Tank Fabrication,... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67413/boeing-and-scat-airlines-announce-order-for-five-737-max-jets-to-support-growth https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67413/boeing-and-scat-airlines-announce-order-for-five-737-max-jets-to-support-growth Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 BOEING PR - Boeing [NYSE: BA] and SCAT Airlines today announced the carrier will expand its fleet and boost capacity with the fuel-efficient 737 MAX. The airline's previously unidentified order for five more 737-9 jets will support operational efficiency and expand longer-range single-aisle service, including more routes to Europe.SCAT also... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67418/blue-origin-is-one-step-closer-to-having-lunar-lander-ready-for-launch https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67418/blue-origin-is-one-step-closer-to-having-lunar-lander-ready-for-launch Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 MSN - Blue Origin is getting closer and closer to having its lunar lander ready for an uncrewed mission to the surface of the moon.Billionaire Jeff Bezos' space technology company has been putting its Blue Moon spacecraft through its paces at testing facilities in both Texas and Florida. Ahead? a... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67414/panamas-copa-airlines-to-buy-60-boeing-737-max-jets https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67414/panamas-copa-airlines-to-buy-60-boeing-737-max-jets Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 REUTERS - Copa Airlines, opens new tab tied up an agreement ​with Boeing, opens new tab and GE Aerospace to ‌purchase up to 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for a list price of around $13.5 billion, ​the Panamanian carrier said on Monday.​The order, combined with 40 aircraft pending ⁠delivery from... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67283/powerlight-achieves-industryfirst-wireless-power-beaming-to-a-fielded-military-uas-in-flight https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67283/powerlight-achieves-industryfirst-wireless-power-beaming-to-a-fielded-military-uas-in-flight Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 POWERLIGHT - PowerLight Technologies has reached a defining milestone in wireless power transmission: successfully delivering power via laser to a fielded military unmanned aerial system (UAS) while in flight—an industry first that moves power beaming from concept to operational reality.This achievement marks a critical step forward in the evolution of... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67236/blue-origin-hot-fires-its-first-previously-flown-booster-prepares-for-weekend-launch https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67236/blue-origin-hot-fires-its-first-previously-flown-booster-prepares-for-weekend-launch Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACEFLIGHT NOW - Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket roared to life in a critical pre-launch demonstration of its main engines Thursday, less than an hour after the Sun crested over the horizon in Florida.The seven BE-4 engines fired for about 20 seconds, at 7:45 a.m. EDT (1145 UTC). Engineers will... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67228/boeing-hiring-more-than-100-factory-workers-a-week-to-grow-output-replace-retirees https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67228/boeing-hiring-more-than-100-factory-workers-a-week-to-grow-output-replace-retirees Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 REUTERS - Boeing, opens new tab ​is hiring around 100 to 140 factory workers a week, the highest pace since 2024, as the U.S. ‌jetmaker replaces retirees and increases staffing to support higher production rates and new models, a union leader said.Boeing's unionized factory workers in the Pacific Northwest now... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67230/senators-seek-increased-funding-for-nasa-mars-missions https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67230/senators-seek-increased-funding-for-nasa-mars-missions Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACENEWS - Several senators are asking appropriators to increase funding for NASA’s robotic Mars exploration efforts, fearing “severe and irreversible harm” if funding is not restored.In a letter this week to the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) subcommittee, four senators requested that NASA’s Mars... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67231/blue-origin-one-step-closer-to-launching-new-glenn-from-vandenberg-space-force-base https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67231/blue-origin-one-step-closer-to-launching-new-glenn-from-vandenberg-space-force-base Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACEFLIGHT NOW - Days ahead of the planned third launch of a New Glenn rocket, Blue Origin was tapped by the U.S. Space Force to proceed towards developing its first launch site in California.The Space Force said it picked Blue Origin’s proposal to develop Space Launch Complex 14 (SLC-14) at... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67275/venture-funding-gap-widens-between-seattles-haves-havenots https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67275/venture-funding-gap-widens-between-seattles-haves-havenots Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL - The competitive world of venture capital funding has grown even more fierce in recent years.It’s a byproduct of the intense age of artificial intelligence that is forcing startups to show parabolic growth early while investors, afraid of missing out on the next household name, make... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67232/apple-chooses-amazon-satellites-for-iphone-years-after-rejecting-starlink-offer https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67232/apple-chooses-amazon-satellites-for-iphone-years-after-rejecting-starlink-offer Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 ARS TECHNICA - Amazon today announced two satellite deals that it hopes will make its Amazon Leo network a more formidable competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. Amazon signed a merger agreement to buy satellite operator Globalstar and said it entered into an agreement with Apple to provide satellite service for iPhones... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67237/as-starship-v3-lags-behind-blue-origin-prepares-third-launch-of-new-glenn https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67237/as-starship-v3-lags-behind-blue-origin-prepares-third-launch-of-new-glenn Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 GIZMODO - Blue Origin is getting ready for the third flight of New Glenn, taking another step toward ramping up its heavy-lift launch cadence.According to a Federal Aviation Administration advisory, Blue Origin plans to launch New Glenn no earlier than 6:45 a.m. ET on Friday. The company said Tuesday that... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67156/avalanche-energy-lands-share-of-52m-dod-award-to-develop-longlasting-nuclear-batteries https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67156/avalanche-energy-lands-share-of-52m-dod-award-to-develop-longlasting-nuclear-batteries Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 GEEKWIRE - Seattle fusion startup Avalanche Energy was awarded a share of a $5.2 million contract announced Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop compact nuclear batteries.The award comes from the DARPA Rads to Watts program, which is focused on building long-lasting batteries for defense and space applications...