Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 30, 2003
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
LACEY – Jan. 30, 2003 – Gov. Gary Locke today helped dedicate The Home Depot’s new Import Distribution Center in Lacey, which is expected to generate at least 175 jobs in Washington state.
“Job creation is one of my top priorities, especially in these tough economic times,” Locke said. “We’re proud that a world-class company like The Home Depot has decided to build such a key facility in our state and provide so many quality jobs for Washington citizens.”
Locke and Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, today joined Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia, Lacey Mayor Graeme Sackrison and Eric Peterson, president of The Home Depot Northwest Division, in cutting a 1x8 wooden board with a power saw to mark the grand opening of the facility – the company’s twist on the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Washington is located at the center of the global economy, with excellent proximity to The Home Depot’s Western markets,” Choe said. “Their tremendous leadership in the home improvement retail sector makes this a great partnership between The Home Depot and the people of our state. We are pleased to welcome them to Washington.”
The Home Depot’s new 756,000-square-foot facility is expected to generate at least 175 new warehouse and trucking jobs in Washington state. The distribution center will redirect 8,500 shipping containers a year through the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, boost the speed of product deliveries to more than 100 stores in nine Northwest states and reduce the number of truck deliveries to those stores.
“This new distribution center will enable our associates to move merchandise to our stores more efficiently and quickly, and help keep our shelves stocked to meet customer product demands,” Peterson said. “An effective product delivery system is just as important to the customer service process as helping a customer in the store. Being in-stock is half the equation.”
The Home Depot is the fifth national retail chain to open or break ground on a regional facility in Washington state in less than a year. In 2002, Target, Wal-Mart, Safeway and Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., chose Washington over other Northwest states to build their regional distribution centers.
Target is now hiring to fill positions in a 1.5-million-square-foot facility in Lacey that opens in March; Wal-Mart is building a 900,000-square-foot distribution center in Grandview; Safeway is constructing a 1.4-million-square-foot distribution center in Auburn; and Ferguson Enterprises is building a 340,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility in Richland.
Approximately 1,400 jobs will be created in Washington state as a result of these five regional facilities.
“Washington has always been a great place to do business, and we’re working hard to make our state even more competitive,” Locke said. “We’ve reduced the B&O tax on businesses, cut red tape and streamlined regulatory processes. Our efforts are paying off in more family-wage jobs for our citizens.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 30, 2003
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Gov. Gary Locke Announces More Jobs for Washington State, Helps Dedicate New Home Depot Facility in Lacey
Fifth National Retail Chain to Choose Washington as Northwest Hub in Past YearLACEY – Jan. 30, 2003 – Gov. Gary Locke today helped dedicate The Home Depot’s new Import Distribution Center in Lacey, which is expected to generate at least 175 jobs in Washington state.
“Job creation is one of my top priorities, especially in these tough economic times,” Locke said. “We’re proud that a world-class company like The Home Depot has decided to build such a key facility in our state and provide so many quality jobs for Washington citizens.”
Locke and Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, today joined Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia, Lacey Mayor Graeme Sackrison and Eric Peterson, president of The Home Depot Northwest Division, in cutting a 1x8 wooden board with a power saw to mark the grand opening of the facility – the company’s twist on the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Washington is located at the center of the global economy, with excellent proximity to The Home Depot’s Western markets,” Choe said. “Their tremendous leadership in the home improvement retail sector makes this a great partnership between The Home Depot and the people of our state. We are pleased to welcome them to Washington.”
The Home Depot’s new 756,000-square-foot facility is expected to generate at least 175 new warehouse and trucking jobs in Washington state. The distribution center will redirect 8,500 shipping containers a year through the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, boost the speed of product deliveries to more than 100 stores in nine Northwest states and reduce the number of truck deliveries to those stores.
“This new distribution center will enable our associates to move merchandise to our stores more efficiently and quickly, and help keep our shelves stocked to meet customer product demands,” Peterson said. “An effective product delivery system is just as important to the customer service process as helping a customer in the store. Being in-stock is half the equation.”
The Home Depot is the fifth national retail chain to open or break ground on a regional facility in Washington state in less than a year. In 2002, Target, Wal-Mart, Safeway and Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., chose Washington over other Northwest states to build their regional distribution centers.
Target is now hiring to fill positions in a 1.5-million-square-foot facility in Lacey that opens in March; Wal-Mart is building a 900,000-square-foot distribution center in Grandview; Safeway is constructing a 1.4-million-square-foot distribution center in Auburn; and Ferguson Enterprises is building a 340,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility in Richland.
Approximately 1,400 jobs will be created in Washington state as a result of these five regional facilities.
“Washington has always been a great place to do business, and we’re working hard to make our state even more competitive,” Locke said. “We’ve reduced the B&O tax on businesses, cut red tape and streamlined regulatory processes. Our efforts are paying off in more family-wage jobs for our citizens.”
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