Business

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, June 25, 2009 Panel begins work to help Washington keeps aerospace jobs By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer 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. Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Fire destroys Silver Lake landmark 2. Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor 3. County tackles bikini barista rules 4. Six people injured in Machias car crash 5. Edmonds councilwoman dies at 59 6. Search for missing hiker called off 7. Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville 8. Extended tax credit should spur home sales 9. Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge on railway purchase 10. Designing a new business 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Gough on track to keep job • Jazz vocalist headlines NPAC • Mountlake Terrace makes football history • Tax revenue sagging, city budgets lagging • ‘Touch of Magic' show opens at Gallery North • Jackson repeats as South champs • Holiday Bazaars Calendar • Meadowdale storms back to grab title • Edmonds moves to Fire District 1 • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million