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Gov. Gregoire�s signs bill to promote aerospace industries

For Immediate Release: March 20, 2008

SPOKANE � Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed a bill that will strengthen the aerospace industry in Washington and encourage expansion of aerospace-related industries that have not received previously granted tax incentives.

�I am pleased to sign legislation that promotes the industries that build and keep the world�s best aircraft aloft,� Gregoire said. �I�m especially pleased that this bill will benefit Eastern Washington workers as well as those in Western Washington.�

"The aerospace industry offers huge economic development opportunities in nearly half the counties in our state, including several counties in Eastern Washington and a strong presence in Spokane," said Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane and the bill's sponsor. "Extending incentives to smaller businesses in the aerospace industry will help them become more globally competitive and allow them to use savings to reinvest in more employees, more training and more equipment to expand their enterprises."

Aerospace and related manufacturing and service industries provide high-wage jobs that support thousands of Washington families. These jobs are located in 15 of Washington�s 39 counties. Five of those counties are in Eastern Washington.

The bill extends legislation passed in 2003. Under the new law, more companies associated with Washington�s aerospace industry will benefit from the incentives. Maintenance, repair and service firms are a growing sector of the aerospace industry. Their expansion, especially in the Spokane area, would be encouraged by this legislation.

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