Governor Gregoire Unveils The Next Washington Business Plan (As Written)

January 17, 2007

Throughout the past several weeks, I have outlined several changes and investments to move Washington forward.

As you have heard me say, Washington is more like a small nation than a state and I truly believe that we have to take advantage of our growing position in the world with regard to trade, tourism and new industries.

In my trade missions, I have seen our competition � and our consumers � firsthand. Just look at the facts:

155,000 new jobs created in the past two years;
40% increase in exports; $45 billion per year
The only trade surplus with China; and
International container volumes at the Port of Tacoma grew by 20% in 2005.

As I toured Hollister Stier in Spokane last week, it was clear what they were doing � taking unprecedented success and re-investing in their business. Hollister Stier develops and produces vaccines � including one you may have heard of, Anthrax.

Washington has a reputation as a world leader � Boeing has been a leader in airplane development and manufacturing; Microsoft change the way the world uses computers and technology; Starbuck�s changed the way people around the world start their days. And we are paving the way for future industries like global health and alternative fuels.

Hollister Stier is on the cutting edge of a relatively new global health industry in our state. The promise of the laboratories in these companies is real: they have potential to discover cures to the world�s most dreaded diseases.

We can not only care for and protect our citizens, but serve as a hub to treat people around the world.

But when Hollister Stier started seeing success in their laboratories and with their products, its leadership did what any prudent business owner would do: they re-invested. They built a new lab and established a business plan for the future.

They looked toward what they would need to reach that vision � the qualifications of its employees; the infrastructure to develop new products; and the pathways to market those products across the country and around the world. Let me be clear: they invested.

That is exactly my vision for our state: to build on our success and to recognize the opportunity we have before us. It will take leadership and determination and I believe that our citizens deserve nothing less.

The Next Washington is my 10-year business plan for our state. We know that we cannot grow our economy without skills for the changing economy; we must build a foundation for success by investing in infrastructure across the state; and we need an �Open for Business� approach to make Washington an affordable and efficient place to do business.

The looming question as I look at our growing economy is this: How can we stay ahead of the global transformation of the economy so we all benefit from its potential?

The Next Washington vision for the future is a vision of targeted investments in areas where the state can lead the world.

Investments in global health through the Life Sciences Discovery Fund and the new University of Washington Department of Global Health. Cures, vaccines, treatments discovered in Washington and delivered everywhere.

Investments in alternative energy sources to promote energy independence and grow the future of Washington agriculture in new directions � like the work at WSU.

Investments like increased marketing of the state as a tourist destination. Bringing people from all over the world to enjoy our diverse cultures and natural beauty.

Investments in our ports � our window to the world - to send Washington products all over the world. In 2004 Washington had almost $60 billion of imports and $40 billion in exports flow through our ports. JOBS

The Next Washington is a strategy that challenges our citizens and our state to invest in changes our families can count on.

The budget I proposed is our investment in our future economy � Next Washington is my business plan.

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