Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 30, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Praises House for Passing Economic Development Legislation

Gov. Gary Locke today praised the state House for passing key economic development legislation that he proposed regarding apprenticeships for public works contracts.

Substitute House Bill 2439 codifies Locke’s Executive Order 00-01 concerning apprentice utilization requirements on public works projects. Consistent with the executive order, this legislation establishes a 15 percent apprentice utilization requirement on state public works projects that cost more than $1 million.

The bill gives agencies the ability to adjust the 15 percent requirement for a variety of reasons, including the lack of available apprentices in a particular geographic area.

“I applaud the House for passing this important legislation,” Locke said. “Apprenticeship is the state’s most effective adult training model. This legislation is designed to strengthen apprenticeship programs and help to ensure that we have an adequate supply of skilled construction workers now and in the future.”

A 2003 survey of employers by the state Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB) shows that, even in a down economy, worker shortages still exist. The survey showed that, in the last 12 months, 65 percent of construction firms looking for qualified workers had difficulty finding them.

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