Governor Gregoire Addresses the Washington Industry Construction Council (As Written)

March 8, 2007

Thank you, Bill (Garrity, President of WCIC). And my thanks to all of you for the work you do to move our state forward.

Construction has been one of the driving forces of our state�s economy. Each of the businesses represented here plays an important role in keeping our economy strong.

I know that so many of you are out there taking risks every day. This industry employs hundreds of thousands of workers in our state, providing good, family-wage jobs with benefits � I want you to know that I appreciate the work you are doing.

Today I�d like to talk about one of my initiatives to continue to move our state forward �my 10-year business plan for the state, what I call The Next Washington.

On my trade missions, I�ve seen up close the global competition that exists for jobs and businesses � and it is fierce.

Fortunately, Washington is well-situated to prosper in today�s global economy. We�ve:


  • Created 165,000 new jobs in the past two years, including 30,000 new construction jobs;
  • Seen a 40% increase in exports up to $45 billion per year;
  • Secured the only trade surplus with China; and
  • Boosted international container volumes at our ports dramatically.


But if we are to continue to create jobs, keep businesses in our state and attract new businesses here we must recognize three things:


  • We cannot grow our economy without giving our workers the skills they need to compete;
  • We must build a foundation for success by investing in infrastructure across the state; and
  • We need an �Open for Business� approach to keep Washington an attractive place to do business.


Washington already has a reputation as a world leader. In The Next Washington, we�ll continue to be a world leader if we make targeted investments in areas where the state is well-positioned to grow, including:


  • Increased marketing of the state as a tourist destination.
  • Global health research through the Life Sciences Discovery Fund and the new University of Washington Department of Global Health.
  • Research universities as engines of economic transformation and innovation.
  • Biofuels to promote energy independence and grow the future of Washington agriculture in new directions.
  • Investing in our ports to send Washington products all over the world and provide good family-wage jobs at the same time.


Underlying any long-term economic success we might achieve will require us to dramatically improve our education system.

Investing in education pays big dividends: higher-paying jobs, reduced costs of crime and incarceration, stronger communities, and a healthier population.

Students are struggling with math and science, and employers can�t find enough qualified people to fill their jobs.

That�s why I established Washington Learns. The steering committee studied our education system and our state�s needs and came away with a clear goal � we need to educate more people to higher levels.

This year�s budget is a down payment toward a world-class education system.

In math and science:


  • Reduce class sizes, recruit 750 new math and science teachers, increase training and coaching for teachers.


In early learning:


  • Five-star rating system for child care,
  • Expand pre-kindergarten to 2,000 more children,
  • Provide better pay to child care workers, and
  • Offer all-day kindergarten in schools with the highest poverty levels.


Professional Development and Compensation:


  • Increase pay for teachers who work in challenged schools, and provide an additional raise for national board certification in math and science.
  • Fully fund Initiatives 732 and 728.


Higher Education


  • 8,300 new enrollments, 3,300 in high-demand fields like engineering, construction, and nursing.
  • Freezing tuition at community and technical colleges and capping increases at our four-year schools.


On transportation, we are also making important progress despite the fact that a certain issue continues to hang over us, well, hang over downtown Seattle, at least.

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is on track for completion this summer � what a tremendous accomplishment!

And we�re moving forward with plans to tackle some of the other major projects facing our state including SR 520, the Columbia River Crossing and the North Spokane Corridor.

Rising construction costs will continue to present a challenge, but I�m working with the Legislature to determine an approach to funding transportation projects that provides WSDOT some flexibility to adapt to increasing costs.

Thanks for inviting me to join you today. I�ll take your questions now.

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