Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 4, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke signs convention center bill in Vancouver

VANCOUVER — Gov. Gary Locke today signed a bill in Vancouver that enables five Washington cities — Vancouver, Tacoma, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Yakima — to build or expand convention center-type facilities.

"This bill will give these local communities the tools they need to create family-wage jobs," Locke said. "My goal is to continue to expand economic opportunities across our state and thus to move ahead, as one Washington, into the next century."

The governor signed rural economic development legislation in Toppenish yesterday that will help rural economies participate in the economic abundance of the Puget Sound region. The bill Locke signed today, Second Substitute Senate Bill 5452 (2SSB 5452), will "fill in another piece of the 'economic vitality' puzzle" by establishing the first-ever statewide policy on providing state financial support for regional convention centers. Such regional centers are vital because conventions play a significant role in the state's $9.6 billion tourism industry.

"I'm hearing, but more importantly, I'm listening," Locke said. "When I ran for governor, I said I wanted to be a governor for all of Washington — a governor of one Washington. For me, a large part of that means making sure that all areas of our state have the opportunity to grow and prosper."

Combined, the five projects could generate a quarter of a billion dollars in new construction and more than 2,000 family-wage jobs throughout Washington.

The following are estimated construction costs: a $70 million new construction project in Vancouver; a $75 million expansion in Spokane; a $45 million expansion in Tacoma; a $10 million expansion in Yakima; and a $35 million renovation and new construction project in the Tri-Cities.

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