Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 18, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Washington makes economic development honor roll, Locke announces

OLYMPIA - The state's key investments in highway, transit and digital infrastructure, high quality jobs and entrepreneurial spirit have placed it on the economic development honor roll of a prestigious non-profit Washington D.C. enterprise corporation.

The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) announced Washington continues an "A" performance in its 2000 Development Report Card for the States that was released yesterday.

"Washington continues to excel economically, with high quality jobs, large numbers of new companies, and key investments in infrastructure and innovation," the CFED said.

Gov. Gary Locke said he was pleased to see Washington being recognized as a great place to work and live.

He added much of Washington's economic success is due to the collaboration among business, education, government and research institutions in recent years.

"The high technology industry is Washington's largest, fastest growing and highest paying sector," Locke said. He noted it is responsible for 40 percent of the total wage growth in the past five years.

He added that to continue the growth, the state needs to strengthen its research institutions, continue building a 21st century workforce, expand its telecommunications infrastructure and educate its children for the world's Digital Economy.

Locke said the state's long-term economic strength also depends upon the ability to move people and goods efficiently. To that end, he said the state's transportation infrastructure needs a consensus that provides an efficient multi-modal system, including highways, transit, ferries, freight mobility and passenger rail.

The CFED said Washington scored top grades in the categories of performance (including such areas as employment growth, annual pay and pay growth and low levels of infant mortality and heart disease), business vitality and development capacity.

In terms of development capacity, the CFED noted Washington "has made good investments in infrastructure of all kinds, with low levels of highway deficiency, good mass transit usage and the best digital infrastructure in the country."

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