Innovation and Modernization Program

Reports

Resources 

To apply for a grant, complete a project proposal. All proposals are reviewed and scored by the IT Investment Board using the pre-defined criteria. Project proposals should address each of the criteria. To ensure your project is ready to start and to ensure a successful project outcome, review the tips for a successful project. If you have questions about this program, please contact improgram@watech.wa.gov.

The Innovation and Modernization (IM) Program fosters a culture of innovation to address critical business challenges through enabling technology while accelerating the modernization of legacy systems for Washington state agencies.. 

Authorized by the Washington state Legislature in 2023, the program provides dedicated funding, $4.5 million for the 2023-2025 biennium, to support innovative technology solutions and rapid modernization efforts to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.  

To date, the program has awarded grants to twenty-nine diverse projects representing twenty-three state agencies from education, health and human services, natural resources, museums and arts, transportation, agriculture, veterans, and more.  

Grant amounts range from $38,500 to $540,000 dollars and represent a diverse set of business needs and services with the goal to provide high value and quick results.  The program’s governance ensures equal access to the funding, helping all agencies, regardless of size, advance technology solutions that improve outcomes for those we serve.  

The IM Program demonstrates the potential to build an innovation culture in the state of Washington, improving state IT systems and services, benefitting all Washington residents by making government operations more efficient and effective.