Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 28, 2003
Contact:  Kirsten Kendrick, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Touts Economic Recovery Plan during ‘Jobs Now’ Tour in Wenatchee

Gov. Gary Locke today got a firsthand look at economic development improvements in Wenatchee, the latest stop on his statewide “Jobs Now” tour. Locke toured the Lovitt Cider Mill, which recently expanded with financial assistance from the state.

The Washington state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development and the Washington state Department of Agriculture funded a feasibility study to prove that Lovitt’s new juice product is indeed a value-added product, and that there is a serious market for it. The agencies funded the Institute for Rural Innovation and Stewardship, a partnership with WSU and Wenatchee Valley College, to complete the work.

While touring the mill, Locke touted his seven-point economic recovery plan to create jobs now, spur the state’s economy and build for the future. He is calling on the Legislature to quickly pass his capital budget to begin creating much-needed jobs in the state.

“It is critical that we start creating new jobs now,” Locke said. “A number of the projects highlighted in the capital budget focus on new and existing construction that would put people to work right away.”

Locke’s capital budget supports new private-sector jobs at an annual average of 13,400 construction and related jobs during the next two fiscal years, and 11,000 jobs in the following two fiscal years.

These jobs would come from the $2.5 billion in spending for new public-works funding, including $223 million in new construction at universities and $312 million at community and technical colleges through bonding against lottery revenue and general obligation bonds.

Locke’s capital budget calls for the nearly $2.5 million replacement of a portable building and a greenhouse at Wenatchee Valley College.

The governor’s seven-point economic recovery plan focuses on:
·Creating thousands of new construction jobs through building new schools, higher education facilities and public works projects;
·Capitalizing on Washington’s competitive advantage in international trade;
·Promoting state businesses and improving the climate for new business;
·Giving communities more effective tools to build Washington businesses;
·Promoting Washington’s emerging technology strengths;
·Improving education to create and fill skilled jobs for today’s competitive marketplace;
·Pushing Congress and the President for an economic stimulus package that helps our state’s workforce.

The governor began his “Jobs Now” tour earlier this month with stops at the University of Washington in Seattle and Olympic College in Bremerton. He will visit Bellingham next week and plans to make stops in Federal Way, Yakima, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Aberdeen, Vancouver and other cities in the coming weeks.

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