In Washington state, there are tax credit, waiver and deferral programs for qualifying manufacturers, R&D companies, high technology, warehousing and distribution firms. These incentives are intended to encourage the creation and preservation of family-wage jobs and include industries such as aerospace, timber and extraction, food processing, biofuels, semiconductor, aluminum smelting, farming and agriculture and renewable energy and those companies involved in some international activities.

In Spokane County, a Community Empowerment Zone has been designated which allows a company to become eligible for tax deferrals and/or exemptions on new or expanded manufacturing R&D and advanced computing (computer programming) facilities if the company hires staff from within the empowerment zone. In addition, if the company resides in a zone they may be eligible for B&O tax credits.