Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 21, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Sharon Wallace, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 360-725-4019

Gov. Gary Locke, Government, Business and Labor Leaders Use ‘One Voice’ to Outline Unified, Statewide Effort to Land Boeing 7E7

Unique Alliance Said to be Largest in Recent State History

OLYMPIA – May 21, 2003 – Surrounded by dozens of government, business and labor leaders, Gov. Gary Locke today outlined the unified, statewide effort to land final assembly of the Boeing 7E7 next generation aircraft.

The coordinated, bipartisan effort to win the 7E7 is said to be the largest such alliance in recent state history. The partnership comprises state and local government leaders; business and labor; tribal leaders; and community groups.

“Today I am surrounded by just a fraction of Boeing supporters here in Washington,” Locke said. “We stand united in one voice and determined to do our best to continue the honor of claiming: We are Washington state – home of Boeing commercial airplanes. We want to win Boeing 7E7 final assembly for our state. We intend to keep Boeing jobs right here in Washington where they belong.”

Locke also announced today he has formed an advisory group to focus on how the state can best meet the site requirements for Boeing’s 7E7. The group will report directly to the governor and include representatives from the Legislature, local governments, business and labor across the state.

Boeing unveiled its criteria for 7E7 final assembly last Friday and delivered its request for proposal to the state on Monday. The state must present its proposal to Boeing by June 20. The company plans to decide on the site for final assembly of the 7E7 by the end of the year. Boeing’s top criteria include:
· Transportation
· Facilities
· Total cost of doing business
· Workforce
· Environmental considerations
· Community support
· Additional infrastructure issues

Among those joining Locke at a news conference today were Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED); Doug MacDonald, secretary of the state Department of Transportation; Sue Mauermann, special assistant to the director for regulatory improvement at the state Department of Ecology; House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, and Sen. Luke Esser, R-Bellevue, representing the Legislature’s “Five-Corners Alliance,” composed of legislators from each of the four caucuses who are part of the coordinated effort to win the 7E7 final assembly; King County Executive Ron Sims; Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel; Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg; Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels; Everett Mayor Frank Anderson; Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma; Charles Bofferding, executive director of SPEEA; Steve Williamson, executive director of the King County Central Labor Council; and Judy Runstad, chair of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from several Washington congressional offices also attended the event, including John Engber, state director for U.S. Senator Patty Murray, and Tom Luce, district director for Congressman Norm Dicks. Officials from Puget Sound area ports and economic development councils were also in attendance.

“We will win this bid,” Choe said. “We have a winning team of elected officials, business and labor leaders and community groups working as one, with one goal – to have the 7E7 built in Washington state.”

Chopp said, “It is encouraging and energizing to be part of such a diverse group of people, united in our determination to work with Boeing – and our state’s other employers, too – to make Washington a great place to do business.”

“We are in a competition and we intend to win,” Esser said. Our competitors will exploit our weaknesses if we don’t demonstrate progress on important issues like workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance reforms. If we don’t meet Boeing’s needs, other states will. I am confident we can meet those needs.”

Drewel said the strong partnership should send a clear message to Boeing. “We want Boeing to know that we are working together to demonstrate that it is a sound business decision for the company to build the 7E7 here,” he said.

Anderson said, “We have the highly skilled and educated workforce already in place. Our city pledges to work with the region to make sure the 7E7 is built here.”

Sims said, “We intend to show Boeing that there has been a sea change in the region and in the state. They are forcing us to become even more competitive and that will only make us better and stronger.”

“The City of Seattle is honored to be part of this dream team committed to keeping Boeing here at home,” Nickels said. “We know great businesses create great jobs. We want Seattle to continue to be known as Jet City with the final assembly of the 7E7, and we pledge to work with this team to make that happen.”

“We are thinking regionally, but acting locally,” Ladenburg said. “We are doing things as a county to help Boeing, and we pledge our assistance to the partnership to make sure the final assembly of the 7E7 happens in Washington.”

Baarsma said, “I am proud of this partnership. It demonstrates that Washington is ready and able to be the place for Boeing to build the 7E7. Tacoma is committed to doing everything we can to help, especially with all of the Boeing employees who live in our city.”

Bofferding of SPEEA is optimistic. “The state of Washington has a lot going for it in this competition, and I am confident that we can win.”

“We are committed to Boeing’s success and this partnership demonstrates that,” said Williamson of the King County Central Labor Council. “We accept Boeing’s challenge and are willing to work together to get the job done.”

Runstad, chair of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, said, “We have an enormous opportunity to create a situation that keeps Boeing here and, in turn, creates an even stronger regional partnership. The business community is united and stands ready to help.”

The governor today also reiterated that the state has already taken action on much of its strategy to keep and grow Boeing jobs in Washington, including:
· Streamlining regulatory and permitting processes; and
· Transforming the state Department of Ecology into a more business-friendly agency without compromising environmental priorities.

Also part of the state’s strategy to win final assembly of the Boeing 7E7 are several pieces of economic development legislation, supported by Boeing, that the governor has signed into law this session, including:
· A statewide transportation-improvement package;
· Legislation that clarifies regulatory requirements for shorelines, which supports a proposed rail-barge facility that would help Boeing expand its Everett facility;
· Tuition flexibility legislation, which gives state colleges and universities greater flexibility in tuition-setting authority to ensure that they can continue to produce new engineers that will become future knowledge workers for Boeing and other technology industries;
· Legislation that allows the third runway project at SeaTac Airport to move forward;
· Legislation requested by the governor that establishes a permanent funding source for the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), which helps fund infrastructure for economic development in rural areas; and
· Use tax correction legislation, which clarifies use tax exemptions that complement existing sales tax exemptions for repairs on industrial equipment.

In addition, the governor is asking the Legislature for $16 million in funding this session for the proposed rail-barge facility in Everett. He also stressed the state is committed to addressing the issues of unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation in special session, once business and labor have reached agreement.

Locke said the state will do whatever it takes to convince Boeing that Washington is the best place in the world for final assembly of the 7E7. “We are highly motivated and determined,” he said. “We want to continue being home to the world’s best commercial airplanes. We want those jobs. We want to win. We expect to win. And we are confident that we offer the best choice to Boeing as it makes its business decision.”

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