On the 100th anniversary of powered flight, a new era in commercial aviation is taking off in Snohomish County.
With it, a successful approach for keeping our region competitive in a changing world has been validated. It’s a strategy based on partnerships and long-term thinking, on reasonable investments and compromises likely to lead to economic growth.
Tuesday’s confirmation that the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner will be assembled in Everett was a dream come true for a region overdue for some good economic news. It also provided Snohomish County, where job cuts at Boeing and in other sectors have taken a painful toll, a much-needed psychological boost.
It happened because political, business and labor leaders weren’t daydreaming when it became clear that Boeing was going to exercise due diligence and explore other sites to build the new, high-tech jet. No one deserves more credit for the kind of old-fashioned salesmanship and behind-the-scenes arm-twisting it took to land the 7E7 than Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel. It wasn’t a one-person effort, to be sure, but Drewel’s early and ongoing efforts to forge consensus where none appeared likely kindled the momentum that peaked with Tuesday’s announcement. The trust and respect he has engendered within the Boeing Co. during his 12 years in office surely helped Everett’s bid.
Gov. Gary Locke put forward an unprecedented combination of tax incentives and other perks, the Legislature adopted them and, with the gutsy and wise backing of key union leaders, passed unemployment insurance and workers compensation reforms that will help all of the state’s employers become more competitive. State lawmakers also approved an initial down payment to upgrade the state’s overburdened transportation systems.
Locally, Drewel and his aides were supported by important efforts by the City of Everett and the Port of Everett, efforts that will result in a new pier to help Boeing get parts from overseas to the factory. The city and the state Department of Ecology cut through much red tape to move the pier toward reality, and the Tulalip Tribes offered their cooperation despite environmental concerns.
The state’s congressional delegation stayed in Boeing’s corner, especially when the 767 tanker bid stalled amid ethical lapses. Sen. Maria Cantwell was vocal in her support for programs at the University of Washington and Edmonds Community College that will help train workers in the use of the high-tech composite materials that will be used in the 7E7.
When Orville Wright took his historic flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903, he and brother Wilbur couldn’t imagine the huge commercial enterprise they were spawning. William Boeing didn’t either when he started his company in Seattle 13 years later. Now our region’s economy is tied to the cyclical fortunes of the airline industry, as we have been reminded the past three years. It’s appropriate that we do what’s reasonable and necessary to support it.
Now the efforts that helped land the 7E7 must be replicated on other economic-development projects. Drewel has helped Snohomish County forge partnerships, public and private, that can be of continuing benefit. It’s encouraging to hear incoming Executive Aaron Reardon say that he wants to build upon this foundation.
At the state level, the effort to keep Washington’s competitive edge is an ongoing one. Continuing to make improvements in transportation and education, as well as seizing opportunities to draw and keep high-paying jobs, must be at the top of policy makers’ agendas.
We’ve been shown that it can make our economic dreams come true
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