Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 12, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Promotes ‘Jobs Now’ Plan and Summer Reading Challenge in Port Angeles

Gov. Gary Locke today visited Port Angeles as part of a statewide “Jobs Now” tour, promoting his economic recovery plan to create jobs now, spur the state’s economy and build for the future.

The governor began his visit at the Port Angeles School District North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center, which is set to receive $2 million in bonds from the state’s capital budget for improvements at its facility. The skills center has already received $3 million in state bonded monies in the 2002 supplemental capital budget.

Locke also toured the Elwha Fish Company and the Westport Boats Shipyard, and received a briefing on the state Department of Transportation Graving Dock site. He also paid a visit to the city pier to receive a briefing on the Olympic Discovery Trail and the Rayonier site.

During his tour of the waterfront, the governor was briefed on the success of the rescue tug stationed at Neah Bay and reviewed future funding for the tug, which was approved by the Legislature this year. The governor was also briefed on the Clean Sound Cooperative, a not-for-profit company established by the oil industry to prepare for and coordinate spill response. Since 1971, the cooperative has contributed $100 million for spill preparedness. Currently, the cooperative has 37 staff and crew, operating $20 million in spill response equipment.

Locke then toured new development at Peninsula College, which is set to receive nearly $3 million from the 2003-2005 state capital budget for renovations and improvements on campus.
While at the college, the governor led a Clallam County economic development roundtable that included city, county, port, tribal and business leaders. The group discussed much of the development currently occurring along the waterfront.

Also during his visit to the college, the governor was briefed on a cluster development strategy for “Clallam netWorks.” With $75,000 in financial and technical assistance from the state Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, the community has identified a regional growth strategy for the following industries:
·Marine trades
·Agriculture
·Tourism
·Forest products
·Technology

Throughout his visit to Port Angeles, the governor praised the Legislature’s passage of a $2.57 billion capital budget, which is very similar to the capital budget that he proposed. The budget is expected to create 13,400 construction and related jobs in the next 24 months and 11,000 such jobs in the following two years.

“I’m pleased that we are able to direct significant new funding to put thousands of people to work,” Locke said. “These jobs will support families and contribute to our state’s economic recovery.”

The package contains $580 million to build higher education facilities at state universities and community and technical colleges. The measure also offers $399 million in state matching funds for public school construction, including $32.9 million for enhanced matching funds.

The construction budget also provides $15.5 million in funding to design and build a proposed large dock facility in Everett to support the Boeing plant in Everett.

“This is an important piece of the many steps we are taking to persuade Boeing that Washington state is the best home for final assembly of the 7E7,” Locke said. “We are unified in our effort and confident we will win.”

Locke today also promoted his seven-point economic recovery plan, which 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; and
·Pushing Congress and the President for an economic stimulus package that helps our state’s workforce.

The governor began his “Jobs Now” tour in February. He has made stops in Bremerton, Wenatchee, Bellingham, Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Mount Vernon, Seattle, Ilwaco, Everett, Grays Harbor and Klickitat County. He plans to visit several other cities around the state in the coming weeks.

Locke wrapped up his visit to Port Angeles at the North Olympic Library, where he promoted the 2003 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. Locke started the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge last year as a way to encourage Washington students to keep reading during the summer. He is challenging students ages 18 and younger to read at least 15 hours by Labor Day (Sept. 1) as part of any summer reading program or just on their own. Students who meet the governor’s challenge and let him know via e-mail or letter will receive a signed certificate from the governor and become eligible for a grand prize trip for four to Disneyland, courtesy of Disneyland and Alaska Airlines.

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