Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 16, 2003
Contact:  Roger Nyhus or Kirsten Kendrick, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke: State to Do Everything in Its Power to Win 7E7 Final Assembly

Gov. Gary Locke today issued the following statement on the release of Boeing’s criteria for final assembly of the 7E7:

“We will do everything in our power to win the Boeing 7E7 final assembly so we can keep and grow Boeing jobs in our state,” Locke said. “With our experienced and highly-skilled workforce, existing facilities and the progress the state has made on competitiveness issues, we’re confident we can successfully compete for and win the final assembly of the 7E7.

“The criteria that Boeing released today include many of the issues that Washington is already working on or has already completed,” Locke said. “There were no surprises in the list.”

“This legislative session, we have passed a transportation-improvement package and signed legislation to support Boeing’s rail-barge facility in Everett. We also have streamlined our permitting processes and are committed to addressing the issues of unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation in special session when business and labor have reached agreement.

“My office will lead the coordinated effort to win the 7E7 final assembly, working closely with county, city, private sector, labor and legislative leaders as well as the state departments of Community, Trade and Economic Development, and Ecology.

“My administration has been working with Boeing officials on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis for more than a year on specific needs for the company’s future airplanes, such as the 7E7 project.

“Washington is simply the best place in the world to successfully assemble the 7E7.”

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