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Home / Press Releases - 2003 / Boeing 7E7 is Emotional Lift for Washington |
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Boeing 7E7 is Emotional Lift for Washington |
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Written On: December 16, 2003 |
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Written By: Richard Davis |
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OLYMPIA—Boeing’s announcement that the 7E7 will be built in Washington at its Paine Field complex is the emotional lift our state’s economy has needed, Association of Washington Business (AWB) President said today.
“In the past years AWB, Governor Locke and the Washington Legislature worked hard to reverse the decline in manufacturing jobs and pump life into our sluggish economy. Boeing’s announcement about the 7E7 is a very positive signal that our state has lots to offer employers already located in Washington and those who are seeking a more positive business climate,” Brunell said.
Brunell believed the major reforms to the state’s high cost unemployment insurance system, the no new tax budget and the incentives that Gov. Locke and the legislature passed with the strong support of AWB and the other business organizations were key to Boeing’s decision to locate the 7E7 in Washington.
“Frankly, we hoped that either Moses Lake or Everett would win,” Brunell said. “We knew the Paine Field complex had an advantage because of the vast infrastructure Boeing already has there.”
The state’s largest business association also credits local government leaders for their cooperation.
“When Boeing built the last major project at Paine Field, local government leaders extracted over $60 million in mitigation fees in exchange for the necessary permits. Thank goodness that attitude turned around because it sent the wrong signal to Boeing and other prospective job-providers.”
Brunell, who was part of Gov. Locke’s Action Team on the 7E7, pointed to U.S. Labor Dept. statistics which show that since the summer of 2001, Washington lost one in five manufacturing jobs—the highest percent in the entire nation. Most of the job loses were in the aerospace and aluminum manufacturing sectors.
“These are good family-wage jobs which provide health insurance, other benefits and retirement programs. They also create thousands of spin-off jobs for suppliers, retailers and services,” Brunell said.
AWB believes the Boeing announcement helps solidify the company’s current operations in Washington.
“If the 7E7 were located somewhere else, it would be easier for the company to locate other assembly facilities out of Washington.
“Our next goal is to try to get as many component parts to the 7E7 built in Washington,” Brunell indicated. “If our suppliers can be cost competitive, we’re convinced that Boeing and other manufacturers will do business with them. Their close proximity to manufacturers is a key advantage.”
Brunell warned that the job of making Washington more competitive is far from done.
“We’ve just started and Gov. Locke was wise to continue his competitiveness council. We have to make sure that we continue to reduce regulatory costs at the state and local government level, provide necessary tax incentives, reform workers compensation, make energy more plentiful and less costly and maintain a positive attitude toward jobs and growth.”
“Finally, this is a good day for Washington. It is a great Christmas present!”
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