SEATTLE -- An advisory panel to Gov. Chris Gregoire began work Wednesday to ensure Washington's position at the center of the nation's aerospace industry.
A dozen people from government, higher education, labor and aerospace began work on a strategy to improve worker training, expand aviation research and increase the success of aerospace companies.
A key purpose of the new Washington Council on Aerospace -- though not mentioned Wednesday -- is coming up with actions that will help convince the Boeing Co. to choose Washington over another state such as South Carolina, where it already has a 787 production center, for a second final assembly line for its 787 Dreamliner.
"I'm glad they stayed focused on the industry as a whole," said state Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, one of four legislators on the panel.
"We all know what's in the news," he said. "We need to find solutions on how do we keep aerospace here and healthy. I leave this meeting feeling there will be options and ideas."
A second production line is on the minds of political leaders -- especially Gregoire -- who declared in May: "We have no intention of losing the second line."
In 2003, Washington won the battle with other states for the 787 when the Legislature and Gov. Gary Locke enacted a tax-break package worth up to $3.2 billion for Boeing and its suppliers over 20 years. Combined with reforms in unemployment insurance, it slashed the cost of doing business for the airplane maker.
Those issues have come up again.
At Wednesday's inaugural meeting, the panel discussed existing training programs at the state's 34 community colleges. Aerospace research and efforts to recruit and retain aerospace firms will be examined at an Aug. 21 meeting.
