Clunker deal done
The Cash for Clunkers program will end Monday and some local car dealers won’t be too sad to see it go. They liked the additional sales, but they were frustrated by the paperwork and the fact that the government has been slow in paying the rebates of $3,500 to $4,500 a car. The program, which paid owners of gas guzzlers to buy more efficient vehicles, left many car lots in Snohomish County a little thin on inventory. And the slow turnaround on the government payments made it difficult for dealers to buy new cars and make their payrolls.
Terminal renovation: The Port of Everett is seeking a $43 million grant from federal stimulus funds to upgrade its south terminal. It hopes to shore up the terminal to handle heavier equipment and cargo, such as the oversize containers with Boeing Co. jet parts. It would also allow the port to add a railroad spur to prepare containers for shipment and upgrade its electrical system so that ships can shut down their diesel engines and operate on electricity while in port, reducing pollution.
787 first flight: The Boeing Co. still hasn’t announced its new plans for the 787’s test flight, but the chief executives of two airlines say it’s told them the Dreamliner will fly before the end of the year. Executives at Qantas Airlines and Qatar Airways have both been quoted as saying they expect the flight later this year, perhaps in November. In June, Boeing abruptly cancelled first flight plans to deal with production problems with the 787, now two years behind schedule.
Layoff notices: The Boeing Co. warned about 275 workers that they face layoffs within the next 60 days. Its part of an ongoing effort to cut its work force by 10,000 positions by year’s end. About 4,500 of the cutbacks will be in the commercial airplanes division.
Mike Benbow, Herald writer
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