Gov. Gregoire holds community roundtable on economic recovery plan in Vancouver

For Immediate Release: January 27, 2009

VANCOUVER � Gov. Chris Gregoire spent this afternoon in Vancouver discussing her Washington Jobs Now initiative � the state-sponsored economic recovery plan � and attending the agreement signing between the Port of Vancouver and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) establishing a new rail access in the Vancouver area.

�These economic recovery efforts will help get Washingtonians back to work in southwest Washington and across the state,� Gregoire said. �We will continue to work to create a legacy of roads, schools and green-collar jobs to thrust our state firmly into the 21st century.�

Gregoire met with local business, education and government leaders during a roundtable discussion to explain her Washington Jobs Now proposal, which includes $427 million in construction projects that are ready for groundbreaking in the next few months. The governor�s proposed economic recovery package includes construction funding for the Washington State University Vancouver engineering and teaching facility that will bolster employment in southwest Washington.

Gregoire�s proposal also includes $390 million to accelerate transportation projects statewide that are ready for construction, including improvements to Interstate 5 between Kelso and Castle Rock.

While in Vancouver, the governor attended the agreement signing between the Port of Vancouver and BNSF that will allow the Port to move forward with their rail access project. Based on this agreement, the Port will purchase nearly 17 acres of railroad right-of-way from BNSF for $3.1 million, and the railroad will donate more than $6 million of accompanying rail infrastructure to the port.

Gregoire added, �This is an important partnership that will ensure commerce and people can efficiently move through southwest Washington.�

At the conclusion of the governor�s visit, Gregoire volunteered her time at Share, a local volunteer organization that provides meals to the hungry, services to the homeless and promotes long term housing options for veterans and those in poverty. Gregoire helped fill backpacks with food which will eventually be distributed to children living in poverty.