The US has shown a marked increase in the number of business applications filed following the pandemic, but that trend has seemed to falter between 2024 and 2025. Numbers were stable after a spike in 2021, but they appear to have fallen into a spiral now. More can be read from the US Census Bureau tool here. The tool shows state and nationwide numbers of applications, as well as several filter types: applications from corporations, applications with planned wages, and high-propensity business applications.

But not every state has seen such a harsh decline in business applications over the past year. Of the three states to see an increase of more than a few percent, the one in the front of the pack is Washington state, with an increase of 88.6% in the past year. While post-pandemic rates across the US have begun to decline, Washington state saw immense growth- from 8,008 applications in February of 2024 to 15,104 in 2025. Possible reasons for growth are various, such as Washington's strong tech sector, local business development efforts, or state policies and assistance.

To learn more about business applications in Chelan and Douglas counties, visit the Chelan-Douglas Trends website here.