You can’t go past the Everett Boeing plant without sensing the excitement. Today, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is taking shape and revitalizing America’s commercial aerospace industry. The dream is creating prosperity right here in Snohomish County. It’s a long way from where we were just three short years ago.
Back in December 2003, we wondered about the future of building commercial jetliners here in Washington. Boeing had moved its corporate headquarters to Chicago. The aftermath of 9/11 threw the entire airline industry into a tailspin. And Boeing announced it was hunting around the nation for a place to assemble what was then called the 7E7.
We had too much at stake, too deep a legacy, to just wave goodbye to Boeing, good paying jobs and an economic cornerstone of our county and state. As a state senator, I fought alongside others to keep Boeing here. Now, as county executive, I’ve seen the benefits to our community of a thriving Boeing.
Consider what could be ahead. Boeing estimates the commercial airliner market will top $2.6 trillion over the next 20 years. Boeing could capture as much as 60 percent of that market, or $1.8 trillion. Working together, Snohomish County could grab the lion’s share of those dollars.
Drive out by Paine Field and see the benefits of competing – better paying jobs, multi-million dollar investments in our communities, and added money to pay for local services without having to raise tax rates.
Boeing is investing billions in the Dreamliner. Goodrich Aerostructures Integration Services Inc. just opened a $20 million facility that will employ more than 80 people when in full operation in 2008. The new Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour are increasing our international presence even more.
The Dreamliner has renewed Boeing’s commercial aviation leadership. Airlines around the world are briskly ordering Boeing planes. Meanwhile, Boeing’s global competitor, Airbus, is being buffeted by soaring costs, canceled orders and declining market share.
But we can’t rest on today’s success. Huge opportunities are on the horizon, including a second 787 production line, the location where Boeing will assemble the replacement to the venerable 737, and the possible sales of military tankers based on the Everett-built 767.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has been a tireless ambassador for aerospace, trumpeting Boeing around the world. That’s great, but success cannot solely rest on any individual’s shoulders. This must be a team effort on multiple fronts. There are a couple of obvious things we must accomplish if we’re going to continue competing nationally, even internationally:
* Workforce development: We will need a steady stream of skilled people vital to assemble 21st century jetliners. To get there, our education system – especially with outstanding institutions like Everett and Edmonds community colleges – must be adequately funded to produce graduates with the skills and learning capabilities to thrive in this and other emerging sectors. Teens should be encouraged to seek skilled, good-paying laborer jobs, not just computers and biotech.
* Affordability: Employer and employee alike worry about affordability. Employers are looking for a skilled, productive workforce that can help them succeed in an increasingly competitive global marketplace, and this is certainly true in aerospace. Employees need communities where there is affordable housing, great schools, parks and open space for recreation, transportation options to promote mobility for people and goods, and a quality of life that makes it a great place to work and live.
Transportation: We’ve broken the logjam on transportation, as you can clearly see along I-5 in Everett, but we need to invest even more to make sure we can keep people and goods moving in and through Snohomish County. A well-functioning transportation system – including roads and mass transit – helps everyone in our community.
As a board member of the Snohomish Economic Development Council, I appreciate the strength in public/private partnering and risk in complacency. In this upcoming session, I hope my former legislative colleagues will adequately fund skilled trades education and transportation, and make sure Washington remains competitive.
We know the future belongs to those who deliver outstanding products and fight to be competitive. And while the first Dreamliner won’t be delivered until 2008, Boeing’s new jet has already taught us some important lessons. If we pay heed to those, Snohomish County will be a center of aerospace excellence for generations to come.
Aaron Reardon is Snohomish County executive and a member of the board of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council.
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