Office of Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib

13/01/2021

It has been a tremendous honor serving in elected office these past eight years. As I begin this new chapter in my life, as a Jesuit in formation, I do so with a deep and lasting love for Washington state and a profound gratitude for everything we have been able to accomplish together.

I could never adequately thank the women and men who have worked so tirelessly on my staff throughout the years; they represent the very best of our state.

I wish Lt. Governor Heck and everyone in State government the very best as they begin another historic legislative session. They will be in my prayers every day, as will you all.

— Cyrus Habib

08/01/2021

It is with great pleasure that we announce the recipients of the 2021 Washington Leadership Awards. This past year has been unlike any other -- and the acts of service we are recognizing are equally extraordinary. We look forward to the official awards ceremony this February.

First: the Washingtonian of the Year award will go to the celebrated Dr. Helen Chu of UW Medicine and the Brotman Baty Institute . Dr. Chu is credited as the first physician to identify community spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. Dr. Chu pursued the truth despite pushback and saved lives.

The Washington Organization of the Year winner is Northwest Harvest. NW Harvest is a food justice organization working statewide to end hunger and to address the root causes of poverty in Washington. NW Harvest has kept Washingtonians fed as need has doubled due to the pandemic -- to the tune of 2 million meals per month. Thank you for keeping WA healthy!

The WA Justice for All Award goes to Community Passageways, a non-profit org that has spent years on the ground working to reach zero youth incarceration. Their leadership training & services have helped hold youth accountable through community rather than incarceration.

This year, the Legacy of Service Award will be awarded jointly to Bill Gates Sr. and Jim Ellis, philanthropists and civic leaders who worked together at the Preston Gates & Ellis law firm, now known as K&L Gates.

Jim Ellis is remembered as a celebrated advocate for civic causes & the environment. He played a leading role in cleaning up Lake Washington, created the Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust, and much more.

Bill Gates Sr., who passed away last year, is well known for his philanthropy in Washington and around the world. Instrumental in the founding of the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Sr. was a champion for education, global health, and social and economic equity.

We are proud to recognize these exceptional Washingtonians for their acts of service. Learn more about the history of this traditional award and its recipients here:

Olympia - Earlier today Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib’s office announced the recipients of the Washington Leadership Awards, which are given every year on behalf of the State of Washington in recognition of outstanding service and leadership. This year, the Washington State Leadership Board selected

31/12/2020

Please stay safe as we celebrate the end of 2020.

2021 will be different only if we continue to follow social distancing guidelines until COVID is truly under control.

Wishing everyone a safe, happy new year!

26/12/2020

Wishing a safe and wonderful to all those celebrating. May this time bring joy, blessings, and harmony to you and your family.

25/12/2020

We wish all those celebrating today a very Merry Christmas! May your day be safely filled with family and love.

24/12/2020

Now that we’ve brought our to a close, we want to thank those who donated time, supplies, and expertise to keep others safe.

We hope to capture some of your generosity in this video. To all of our partners and volunteers — THANK YOU.

This is "Washington Mask Challenge Thank You Video" by Office of Lt. Governor Habib on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

23/12/2020

As we prepare to celebrate safely and reflect on what has been a difficult year for many of us, we would like to share with you some of our bright spots from this past year. Please take a look and have a safe and happy end to 2020!

Dear Friends, This holiday season is different. As we prepare to celebrate safely, we reflect on what has been a difficult year for many of us. Yet amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, political polarization in our country, and economic disruption, there have been many bright spots, too. 

18/12/2020

We’re excited to announce the launch of a new Apprenticeship Pathway degree program at Central Washington University designed specifically for workers: the ITAM Project Management BAS! The program was created as part of the Lt. Governor’s Complete Washington program through a partnership between Central Washington University, Renton Technical College, the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, and other industry partners.

This program counts eligible work and apprenticeship experiences for credit and is delivered in a flexible online format. That way, workers can continue working while completing their degrees.

Rolling admissions are now open for the 2021 winter quarter program. Learn more here:

Information Technology and Administrative Management Project Management

10/12/2020

Wishing all those celebrating a wonderful first night of Hanukkah. May the light of this holiday brighten a year that has been a dark one for so many of us.

Chag Sameach.

08/12/2020

The restrictions are working, but we’re not out of the woods by any stretch. Please continue to stay home if you can and always wear a mask when you can’t.

We are seeing some signs the current restrictions are working. But our hospitals are still on the brink. Therefore, I am extending existing restrictions for three weeks – ending January 4th.

The hospitalization projections are scary. We’re already at 80% ICU capacity in Washington.

Unless this turns around, our system will be overrun. That impacts everyone needing hospital care, not just COVID patients.

This is an incredibly hard decision to make. We know some of our businesses are hanging by a thread.

In light of that, we’re making an additional $50 million in grants available for businesses impacted by these safety measures.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. The first vaccine was given in the UK this morning. But our communities are not safe right now – and the vaccine won’t change that in the near future.

It is a dangerous time in Washington. We need to buckle down through the holidays and get this virus under control.

05/12/2020

Thank you to the Washington State Leadership Board for making this beautiful video commemorating the state delegation’s visit to India and interview with the Dalai Lama!

We’re especially proud of the way our student delegates have conducted themselves throughout the program. Check it out👇

This video commemorates 1 year since Lt. Governor Habib led a delegation with the Washington State Leadership Board to Dharamsala, India.