Gov. Gregoire holds Tacoma economic roundtable discussion

For Immediate Release: February 2, 2009

TACOMA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today met with business, labor and education leaders in Tacoma to discuss her Washington Jobs Now initiative, as well as strategies to help Washington pull out of the national recession.

�It is going to take all of us to create reforms that will make Washington stronger and more economically sustainable,� Gregoire said. �I plan to meet with local leaders across the state to gather their ideas and strategies, and will rely on them to provide valuable input and help lead our communities through these tough economic times.�

"Washington's economy needs continued collaboration to strengthen our economic recovery and build an innovative, globally competitive economy,� said Bruce Kendall, President of the Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development board. �I appreciate the governor�s willingness to listen to the ideas of area business leaders to bolster economic development and invest in the South Sound.�

Gregoire held her roundtable discussion at the University of Washington�s Tacoma campus. In her state-sponsored stimulus package, the governor has proposed spending $34 million to renovate the Joy Building at UW-Tacoma. The renovations would provide additional classroom and faculty office space to support expanded and new degree programs, and will serve to transition the campus toward a new four-year curriculum.

�The proposed funding for renovations at UW-Tacoma falls right in line with our strategy to get people back to work,� Gregoire said. �My economic recovery plan puts money toward those projects that we can start constructing by this spring. If the Legislature acts quickly, we can put more than $800 million toward dozens of statewide projects, and support thousands of living-wage jobs.�

Gregoire�s Washington Jobs Now package includes $427 million in construction projects that are ready for groundbreaking in the next few months. Along with construction funding for UW-Tacoma, the governor also proposes spending $3.8 million to make improvements at McNeil Island Corrections Center in Steilacoom, as well as $750,000 to construct a pedestrian/boating dock to improve access to Chambers Creek and $250,000 in grants to area daycares to remove contaminated soil.

Gregoire�s proposal also includes $390 million to accelerate transportation projects statewide that are ready for construction.