News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 7, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke advocates economic stimulus proposal during visits to Moses Lake and Odessa

MOSES LAKE — Gov. Gary Locke today visited Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake and an industrial park in Odessa to promote his proposal to put Washingtonians to work by restarting the state’s $880 million capital improvement program.

Locke announced his proposal at a press conference Thursday in Olympia.

During his tour of Big Bend Community College the governor inspected projects that would be completed as a result of his proposal.

“This freed capital budget will upgrade the condition of many World War II-vintage buildings here at Big Bend Community College as well as fund the construction of a new library,” Locke said. “This budget also allows major renovation and expansion of the Flight Control Center, which supports the largest commercial pilot program in the Pacific Northwest.”

“Today is a great day for this community,” the governor stated. “It’s a great day for higher education, for jobs, and for the future economic development of Eastern Washington.”

One week after the terrorist attacks, the governor’s budget office “paused” funding for capital projects because of uncertainty about declining state revenue. The amount of general obligation bonds the state can finance for construction projects is limited by the amount of revenue the state expects to collect.

Locke’s proposal will increase the state’s bonding capacity through an innovative refinancing approach that relies on a special provision of Initiative 728. Passed in November 2000, the initiative provides a reliable source of funds -- $25 million in state lottery revenue -- that can be used for debt service rather than being spent as cash in the Education Construction Fund.

“This proposal will save a total of 2,800 new jobs our state was counting on,” the Locke noted. “And create about 1,400 jobs beyond that. New construction, new jobs, new stimulation for the economy.”

“I am confident that the Legislature will support our plan and the jobs it creates,” the governor remarked.

“We can now go ahead and build $200 million in capital projects that were threatened by declining state revenue,” Locke continued. “We also figured out how to create another $100 million for renovations and repairs of state buildings and facilities across Washington.”

Following his speech in Moses Lake, the governor traveled to the Odessa Industrial Park for a tour, ribbon-cutting ceremony and community luncheon. The governor opened a new facility at the industrial park that will house a grass-seed company. The company will employ 20 full-time workers within three years.

The state Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) provided $1 million to help build the site. Since 1982, CERB has awarded $80 million in grants and loans for publicly-owned economic development projects to encourage new industrial development and expansion in economically distressed areas across the state.

“Lawmakers have a responsibility to invest in the economic future of rural Washington and this project in Odessa is an example of all that we must do to preserve and create family-wage jobs in rural Washington,” Locke said.

“Economic growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum -- the ingredients for success call for partnerships,” the governor continued. “It calls for partnerships that require the government and the private sector to work together in common cause and for a common purpose.”

Locke was joined at the celebration by Sen. Bob Morton, Odessa Mayor Carl Ryan, and Odessa Public Development Authority President Jim Walter.
Related Links:
- Big Bend Community College
- Washington State Legislature
- Sen. Bob Morton
- Moses Lake
- Odessa
- Community Economic Revitalization Board
- Governor unveils public works plan to put people to work
- Building for the Future, Creating New Jobs Now


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