OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Bob Ferguson is directing $500,000 in state funds to support a quantum computing expansion in Bothell, a move expected to bring one of the
Gov. Bob Ferguson is directing $500,000 in state funds to support a quantum computing expansion in Bothell, a move expected to bring one of the largest job gains in the history of a key economic development program.
The funding, awarded from the governor’s Economic Development Strategic Reserve Fund, will help IonQ expand its quantum computing manufacturing facility. The company plans to create between 1,200 and 2,000 jobs over the next five years, with about 100 engineering positions expected in the next 18 months alone. Those jobs are projected to carry an average salary of $177,000.
The state investment will go to the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County for building upgrades, workforce costs and other expenses tied to the expansion. It is paired with more than $14 million in private funding.
IonQ, a U.S.-based quantum computing company, opened the nation’s first dedicated quantum computing manufacturing facility in Bothell in 2024. The site has since grown into a 100,000-square-foot hub that includes production, research and development operations, and a second quantum data center. The company’s technology uses individual atoms to process information, offering significantly greater power for certain complex problems than traditional computers.
Ferguson said the investment reinforces Washington’s role in emerging technology and positions the state for long-term economic growth. State commerce officials pointed to the expansion as a sign of confidence in Washington’s ability to support innovation and large-scale job creation. IonQ leadership described the funding as a catalyst that will accelerate production and hiring, helping scale advanced quantum systems while anchoring high-wage jobs in the region. Local economic development leaders said the project builds on Snohomish County’s history of innovation and strengthens its standing in next-generation industries.
The Economic Development Strategic Reserve Fund, known as the SRF, is designed to attract and retain businesses in Washington by supporting projects that generate significant job creation and private investment. The fund is primarily financed through unclaimed lottery prize money and is used for strategic economic opportunities in partnership with local development organizations.
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