The research · 39 counties · RCW 43.176.020

Where the law can reach.

RCW 43.176 funds incubators focused on small businesses in an economically distressed or disadvantaged area. This is Washington county by county: where the economy is, where the state says it's distressed, and where incubators already work.

10 of 39counties are on the state's distressed list
7.9%of Washington's people live in those 10 counties
4.2%of the state's economy happens there
7 of 10distressed counties have no incubator or accelerator we could find
19 of 39counties have none at all
55.7%of state GDP comes from King County alone
What the law says
"Qualified small business incubator" means an incubator that is ... focused on developing small businesses in an economically distressed or disadvantaged area.

RCW 43.176.020(2)(b), 2004 c 237 § 2

The chapter never defines "distressed or disadvantaged area." The state's own test for a distressed county is the Employment Security Department list: a three-year unemployment rate at or above 5.4%. That list is what this page maps. Tracts, reservations and neighborhoods inside larger counties can be distressed too, and don't show at county scale.

Layers
Circle area = 2024 GDP, number = rank Distressed (3-yr unemployment ≥ 5.4%)

All 39 counties

Ranked by 2024 GDP. Circles on the map mark the top 20. Real GDP growth is inflation-adjusted, 2019 to 2024, the latest year BEA reports. Population growth is 2021 to 2026. Incubators counts active programs plus those listed in 2026 with no recent cohort confirmed. Rows shaded red are on the distressed list.

#CountyMain cityGDP 2024SharePop. 2026GDP / personReal GDP 5-yrPop. 5-yrUnemp. 3-yrIncubatorsDistressed

Sources and notes