Rep. Habib named to board of Innovate Washington

Rep. Cyrus Habib

Rep. Cyrus Habib will draw upon his background in working with high-tech entrepreneurs in his new position on the board of directors of Innovate Washington, a public-private partnership that seeks to spur cutting-edge economic development in the state.

Habib, who was appointed to the board Feb. 28 by House Speaker Frank Chopp, said:

This is a great opportunity for me to continue my work making Washington the No. 1 state for job creation and business innovation. My work in the Legislature will be substantially enhanced through the connection with business leaders and others at Innovate Washington.

Innovate Washington was created by the Legislature in 2011 to catalyze job creation and 21^st-century economic development by bringing together business and government leaders to focus expertise and investment on emerging technology businesses. It applies public and private financing to foster growth in the sectors of aerospace, advanced materials and manufacturing, clean energy, information technology, agriculture and life sciences.

Habib, a first-term legislator from Kirkland, is a lawyer at Perkins Coie in Seattle who specializes in providing legal services to high-tech startups. He is the sponsor of House Bill 1693, which seeks to attract entrepeneurs to Washington state by offering a business-tax break to new companies in targeted sectors of the economy.

Read this story in Spanish.

We're No. 3!

And that's not bad at all, when you consider we're talking about a ranking of all 50 states in what the Seattle Times calls "a gold-standard measure of competitiveness:" the 2012 State New Economy Index compiled by The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

Washington "scores high due not only to its strength in software [and] aviation, but also because of the entrepreneurial hotbed of activity that has developed in the Puget Sound region, and heavy use of digital technologies in all its sectors," the report says.

The indicators applied by the institute fall into five categories: knowledge jobs; globalization; economic dynamism; the digital economy; and innovation capacity.

The front-runner once again is Massachusetts, yet it no longer holds the big advantage over the other states that it did just two years ago, in the 2010 Index. Although Washington has slipped from second to third since 2010, the pack -- now led by Delaware -- has closed ground on the leader.
But the broader picture for the nation is not so bright, the report says:

More than three years on from the end of the Great Recession, only six states have regained employment levels enjoyed prior to the recession, and 17 states are still more than 5 percent below their pre-recession employment levels.

The culprit? The report says it's "the decline in the competitiveness of the U.S. economy in the global marketplace." The decline is reflected in a steep drop in manufaturing jobs and investment since 2000.
"For the United States to be competitive," the rerport says, "one key will be to compete more on the basis of innovation and entrepreneurship, and less on cost."

There's plenty in the full report for policymakers to think about as they allocate resources for future economic development.

Read this story in Spanish here.

Matching skilled workers with aerospace employers

This started in 1916 with one small-aircraft business and has now grown to 740 companies, which currently employ 96,900 workers.

"What is the aerospace industry in Washington state?" is correct!

With almost 100 years of experience manufacturing and assembling the best planes on Earth, it is no wonder Washington is the aerospace capital of the United States.

As of 2011, all commercial aircraft over 100 seats built in the United States are assembled and delivered right here. Yes, even with Boeing's new plant in South Carolina, 90 percent of the company's production is in Washington.

But it's not easy being the best and the largest in the field; it takes lots of highly skilled workers to get the job done well and maintain our outstanding reputation. That's where it gets tricky because thousands of aerospace workers will be retiring in the next few years. Meanwhile, production will continue increasing, which means the demand for a qualified workforce will also be higher.

The Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing, a one-stop resource hub for the industry's education and training needs, created this nifty online tool that will make it easier for aerospace companies to find skilled workers.

The website lists graduates from 18 of Washington state's community colleges, in nine aerospace-related fields, so employers can search for graduates with specific skill sets.

There is plenty of work ahead to satisfy the industry's demand, but Washington is on it. In recent years, we have taken important steps to create and expand aerospace and manufacturing training programs. In fact, just a year ago, during the December special session, the Legislature passed three measures to shore up our aerospace industry.

Want to learn more? Back in April, Mary Kaye Bredeson, director of Everett Community College's Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing, wrote this op-ed on how community colleges are helping aerospace soar.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Washington called 'enterprising': Folks in the know say we're gonna go 'Boom!'

Photo: Jeff McNeill via Wikimedia Commons 

A recent Seattle Post-Intelligencer article, Washington captures Top 10 ranking, trumpets news that our very own Evergreen State is one of "10 states that will [wait for it!] boom over the next five years."


That's right, folks: No sooner is the ink dry on an admiring certificate celebrating Washington's status as a Job Creator (see this recent HDC Advance blog: Who says Washington is a top state for producing jobs?), then along comes the National Chamber Foundation, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce think tank, with its Enterprising States Report hailing us at No. 6 on a most-laudable list -- indeed, it's a truly estimable cast and compilation of what these erudite think-tankers call "enterprising states." Yes!


No less a periodical than the redoubtable Forbes magazine says Washington's glowing marks owe to our robust aerospace and technology industries and our hearty standing in foreign trade. The widely quoted publication has previously ranked Washington among the five best states in the entire country to do business.


Go ahead, take a minute or two to check the Chamber Foundation's report linked up there a few lines back. You'll see for yourself these sterling qualities that captured the fancy of these observers long enough for them to single us out: productivity, livability, tax structure, trade, infrastructure, and an environment that encourages innovation. Only the most rebarbative of critics would dare question Washington's place among the top rank, the highest order of business-friendly states.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

STEM education is key to growing Washington’s economy

Two new jobs reports show that Washington’s economic recovery is accelerating and that lawmakers are smart to invest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

One new report, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows Seattle had the eighth best job growth among the top 100 metro areas in the nation over the past 12 months – posting a healthy gain of 39,100 jobs.

More good news comes from the Forbes/Praxis Strategy Group study and the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ). They’re reporting that Seattle not only led the nation in high-tech and STEM job growth over the past decade, the Emerald City is still reaping the benefits of strong growth in high-tech and STEM jobs.

The Forbes study reported in the PSBJ shows that Seattle beat out rivals such as Silicon Valley to become the best city in the nation for high-tech jobs over the past decade, with a whopping 43 percent increase in high-tech employment and an 18 percent increase in STEM jobs. The study also showed Seattle’s leadership in high-tech jobs has held firm during the past couple of years. In fact, the study says, “the Seattle metro area has posted 12% tech job growth over the past two years and 7.6% STEM growth, handily beating the performance of Silicon Valley.”

And the good news in high-tech employment continues. The PSBJ points out “Forbes' findings seem to be backed up by recent announcements that Amazon is hiring 1,000 new tech workers in Seattle and that other big tech companies, such as Facebook and Google, are expanding offices in the area.”

These numbers show we’re on the right path, but we can’t let up on the gas pedal just yet. Lawmakers like Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D-Renton) continue to push for additional investments in STEM education. In the December special session, Rep. Maxwell sponsored bills that created competitive STEM grant programs and added STEM knowledge to the Professional Educators Standards Board certification process. Both bills received bi-partisan support before being signed into law.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Completing the supply chain for homegrown aviation biofuels

Rep. Andy Billig

When it comes to supporting cutting-edge aerospace research and technologies, our state is already a leader.  Some of the world's best airplanes are built right here in Washington, and we'll soon add the next-generation 737 to that list.

We're also home to the only U.S. airline actively using aviation biofuel to power its planes.

What we haven't been able to do, however, is refine our own aviation biofuels, which leaves a gap in the supply chain.  Although we grow an abundance of feedstocks here in the Evergreen State, and our research universities have been discovering how to turn them them into aviation biofuels, we've had to rely on out-of-state sources for the refined product. 

But new legislation will foster a regional supply chain for the production and refining of in-state aviation biofuels, keeping us at the forefront of this promising industry.  Rep. Andy Billig, who sponsored the measure, has also just been appointed to the Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Work Group.  Along with a group of stakeholders from the public and private sectors, he'll be helping to further the development of this industry in our state.  And as the industry grows, it will create jobs and ensure large-scale commercial viability of aviation biofuels so more airlines - and the military - will someday use it in to power their planes, too.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Great news for STEM, aerospace, and transportation

Sine Die (take two…) has finally come and gone. The hard work by House Democrats’ these past few months has paid off in big ways. As was discussed in this blog post, funding education was one of our primary goals for the 2012 session. A few highlights include:

• HB 2159, SB 5982, and HB 2156 - these bills will go a long way toward supporting STEM education, as well as enhancing educational programs which support Washington’s competitive aerospace industry.

• Both WSU and UW will be able to boost their fulltime FTE’s in engineering, following recommendations made by the Washington Aerospace Partnership, as well as Governor Gregoire.

Photo credit: BotMultiChillT

• Research institutions and community colleges statewide will be seeing additions of upgraded equipment in their facilities ensuring Washington’s students are trained in the most cutting edge technology and tools.

• HB 2190, SB 6445, and SB 6444 - respectively, these bills address immediate & future multimodal transportation needs, retain Washington’s eligibility to receive millions of federal dollars ($850M to be exact!) towards the Columbia Bridge Crossing, as well as ensuring users of the SR 99 tunnel will help to foot the bill for the project.

As it turns out, the Association of Washington Businesses was pretty pleased, as well – see for yourself!

Dream award for Dreamliner

What do you call the greatest aeronautic achievement in America in 2011? You call it the “proudly Washington-made 787 Dreamliner,” that’s what!

Photo credit: Dave Sizer

Earlier this week the National Aeronautic Association announced that our very own Boeing 787 Dreamliner was chosen for the 2011 Robert J. Collier Trophy, one of the aerospace industry's most prestigious honors for excellence.

The competition was tough, but the Dreamliner beat its three contenders, the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy, the Gamera human-powered helicopter, and Pipistrel's Taurus G4 electric-powered airplane.

The 787 Dreamliner is the first fuel-efficient, mid-size commercial airplane capable of flying long-range routes. It wrapped up 2011 by setting two world records in its class, one for speed and one for distance.

The Collier Trophy, first awarded in 1911, was designed to encourage innovation in aerospace by emphasizing improved performance, efficiency and safety. Past winners include Orville Wright, the Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11 Moon mission team, and Boeing for several airplanes, including the 747 and the 777.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Boeing employment on the rise

We’ve known for years that no region builds airplanes better than Washington state, and recent employment figures from Boeing seem to reflect that fact.

 The number of Washingtonians on Boeing’s payroll is the highest it has been in over a decade. At the end of February, the company reported employing 82,325 workers across the state and has added nearly 9,000 workers since the end of 2010 alone.

The increased employment is largely due to the growing demand. Boeing plans to increase airline production at both the Renton and Everett plants. In addition to manufacturing jobs, development of new airliners, like the 737 Max, has led the company to hire more folks in the engineering field.

House Democrats have long-championed new investments, funding and reforms to foster growth and create jobs in the aerospace industry. The results of this public-private partnership include:

• Workforce development scholarships and grants worth millions to train aerospace workers
• New educational state facilities providing new resources to manufacturers and workers 
• Aerospace training programs through state community and technical colleges 
• Streamlined permitting processes for Boeing and its aerospace manufacturing partners 
• Reforms at L&I and ESD, which reduced premium rates for workers’ comp and unemployment insurance

To read this post in Spanish, click here.

Boeing/Machinists deal is a big deal for Washington’s credit rating

The good news just keeps pouring in! Over the past few weeks we’ve learned that:

• Small businesses are getting help to export their goods and services.
• Businesses will have reduced costs in 2012 thanks to state reforms.
• Boeing’s 737 MAX will be built in Renton.
• Consumer Reports gave kudos to five Washington businesses.
• Our Ag industry is doing better than expected.

All of these are evidence that our economy—while still struggling, is recovering slowly but surely.

After hearing back in August that Standard & Poor’s had downgraded our nation’s credit rating, we are proud to hear that our state’s credit rating is in good shape, according to Nicole Johnson, Moody's Investor Service Senior Vice President.

Photo:  Machinists News Blog

In her report dated December 12, Johnson stated that the deal between Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union, which secures thousands of jobs and provides union members a bonus that could boost sales tax collections, is credit positive for Washington state.

Moody’s rating for Washington is Aa1, which is defined here as “Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category.”

The newly ratified contract will enhance economic stability throughout the entire state. Johnson’s report highlights that the manufacturing sector in Washington accounts for 9.3% of all private sector jobs, and that, of those, the ones that include Boeing machinists are a substantially bigger part of the state’s economy: the durable goods manufacturing component that includes aerospace is 71.4% of all Washington manufacturing jobs compared to 61.3% nationwide.

Also worth noting is that Washington has regained the 5,000 Boeing aerospace jobs that were lost during the recession and the sector is expected to grow as the company increases production (to fill these orders and  these, and these) over the next several years.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Aerospace jobs are well-paying, with an average hourly wage of $37.57 compared to $23.32 for all manufacturing workers. In Washington, Johnson states in her comment, spending from those high wages have a multiplier effect that contributes to the overall strength of our state’s economy.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

The jobs are coming; now we need the workers

Thousands of Boeing jobs will stay in Washington thanks to a deal struck by Boeing and union leaders last week, then ratified by workers on Wednesday.  It’s an exciting development for the state, as the 737 MAX orders have piled up to 700 airplanes already.  Some big orders and more reasons to celebrate might also be in the works.

With all those good jobs staying and coming into the state, House Democrats want to ensure they are filled by Washington workers.  So we are moving quickly to help train workers for aerospace jobs now and in the future.  Within the next week, we will hear these bills:

• Provide $1M for the Aerospace Training Student Loan Program The loan program was created to break down financial barriers for workers to receive training for aerospace jobs.  With this investment, loans will train workers for jobs ready now, then be paid back into the fund to keep connecting workers with jobs.
• Establish Aerospace Training Pathways in Middle and High School Building on the last year’s Launch Year legislation, this will encourage school districts to adopt Project Lead the Way, an innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum, that can combine with aerospace technical courses. 
• Strengthen Teacher Math and Science Standards More rigorous math and science standards for students entering teacher preparation programs will be set by the Professional Educator Standards Board.
• Give Higher Education Credit Equivalencies Just as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses in high school become college credit, Project Lead the Way courses would have credit equivalencies at our community, technical and four-year universities. 

Here is a press release with more information.

To read this blog in Spanish, click here.

House Democrats applaud news of Renton landing the 737 MAX, contract deal

No one knows airplanes better, and no region of the world builds them better, than Washington State. That’s the message House Democrats in Olympia conveyed as news broke of a tentative deal between Boeing and its machinists’ union, leading to the announcement that Renton will be the home of the new 737 MAX.

Democratic caucus leader on the Pegasus Project, Larry Springer points to the decade of work between the HDC and the aerospace community to land the 737 Dreamliner and the tanker as the reason why the MAX will be built here. “We’ve championed new investments, funding, and reforms in recent years, fostering growth and jobs in the industry.” They include:

• Workforce development scholarships and grants worth millions to train aerospace workers 
• New educational state facilities providing new resources to manufacturers and workers 
• Aerospace training programs through state community and technical colleges 
• Streamlined permitting processes for Boeing and its aerospace manufacturing partners 
• Reforms at L&I and ESD, which reduced premium rates for workers’ comp and unemployment insurance 

Co-leader on the Pegasus Project, Marcie Maxwell, recounted some personal memories. “I’ve watched the maiden voyage of every 737 for many years from my Renton home. Many of my neighbors are proud of their work designing and building generations of Boeing planes. This is great news for Boeing, for Renton, and for the hundreds of suppliers across 29 counties in our state.

“The bottom line is, we’re building more airplanes faster and better than ever before,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair Eric Pettigrew. “And winning the new 737 MAX in Renton is a sign that we’ll be doing so for a long, long time.”

Read the full press release here.


Check out this link highlighting some recent posts that contributed to today's good news.

To read this blog post in Spanish, click here.

Governor rolls out action agenda for aerospace industry

With a strong emphasis on enhancing our state's education system and workforce development, Governor Gregoire announced her strategy proposals today to ensure Washington remains the preeminent hub of aerospace design and manufacturing and keeps growing good-paying jobs.

The strategy developed by a partnership of business, labor and government leaders, was rolled out at Renton Technical College this morning.

“There is no question that Washington state is the best place in the world to build the Boeing 737-MAX jetliner,” Gregoire said. “And I believe that when all is said and done – Boeing will make the best decision and build this game-changing aircraft in this state. But I never take anything for granted – especially in a global market where business can go anywhere at a speed unknown even a decade ago.”

Gregoire’s proposal includes:

• Investing $450,000 to expand the governor’s Launch Year program and provide 12 high schools with aerospace curriculum support to prepare high school students to enter the workforce. The investment would also provide two Skills Centers with aerospace manufacturing support to help train additional high school students;
• Spending $250,000 to add “Project Lead the Way” courses at 10 high schools – courses where students learn to problem-solve using their science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills;
• Putting $7.6 million toward expanding capacity at the University of Washington and Washington State University to enroll 775 more engineering students; and
•  Investing $1.5 million, with additional support from companies, foundations and donors, to create a Center for Aerospace Technology Innovation at UW and WSU to support university research that will grow the aerospace sector and lead to new jobs in our state.

Gregoire also proposed creating a new Governor’s Aerospace Office to provide focus, direction, oversight and coordination to grow Washington state’s aerospace industry. The office will also gather industry intelligence to advise the governor in advancing Washington’s competitiveness nationally and globally.

Gregoire's plan also includes asking the Legislature to extend an existing aerospace tax incentive for pre-production expenses from 2024 to 2034 to realign the lifespan of the incentive to match the anticipated production duration of the 737-MAX.

Click here to read Gregoire's news release.  

For handouts and presentations, click here.

Looking for a career that soars?

This week we saw the first Dreamliner taking off Paine Field on its way to Japan and there are many other 787s in the works. So far there are 50 airlines that want a combined total of 821 Dreamliners.  Boeing, its partners and providers will need a strong, talented and highly skilled workforce to build all these planes.

With these Washington aerospace facts, there will be jobs-a-plenty for many years to come: 

+      Greater Seattle boasts one of the highest concentrations of aerospace firms in the world.

+    Washington's aerospace cluster is represented throughout the production value chain from machine shops to tier I suppliers and one of the two largest commercial aerospace manufacturers in the world.

+    Washington state is home to more than 6,000 aerospace engineers.

+    Washington state is home to final assembly operations for Boeing Commercials' 737, 747, 767, 777 and the new 787.

+    Washington's aerospace industry has the largest concentration of aerospace workers in the U.S. - more than 1/6 of all U.S. aerospace workers are employed in Washington state.

House Democrats feel all those jobs should go to Washingtonians, so this year Rep. Deb Eddy sponsored a bill that created the Aerospace Loan Program (ALP) and they’re accepting applications now.

The program offers education loans for residents seeking training through the Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center at Paine Field in Everett.

Students can receive up to $4,800 for 12 weeks of training to enhance their existing job skills or earn certificates in various aerospace production fields. After completion of the program, ALP recipients have up to three years to repay their loans.

For more information:

Read the Everett Herald’s story, Aerospace Loans Available Soon to Students

Go to the program’s website

To read this blog post in Spanish, please go here.

House members meet with aerospace employers in Everett

On the day following the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner, members of the House Labor & Workforce Development Committee held a work session just outside the main gates of the Boeing facility in Everett to address the stagnant labor market and discuss strategies for providing manufacturing jobs, and the skilled workers, needed to climb out of economic doldrums.

The committee met at the Everett Community College Corporate & Continuing Education Center, where an overview of the employment landscape was provided by the state Employment Security Department. Next, the committee heard from aerospace employers who emphasized the importance of motivating the next generation of aerospace workers, and shared ways they actively promote their industry amongst students still in high school. Replenishing the engineering workforce is a must, as the average age of their current workforce is 58 years old and nearing retirement.

Aerospace training providers from state colleges, apprenticeship programs and private facilities around the state explained their capacity problem - forced to turn away interested students due to lacking state support and partnerships to expand their programs.        

It's an uphill battle in many ways, and one that lacks an Apollo Program or some similar landmark that fueled the dreams and aspirations of the retiring workforce.

"Collaborations between Washington's employers and our state government will be key in providing these career pathways and skilled workers," said Rep. Chris Reykdal. "The grants, facilities, and curricula the state is providing -and hopefully expand further in the future - will make sure our good-paying jobs are filled by our state's students."

The work session ended with a tour of the Everett assembly lines by the attending Boeing staff; a sight that shows in dramatic fashion the sheer magnitude of our state's resources, challenges, and opportunities.

To read this blog post in Spanish, please go here.

Off we go into the wild school yonder

The Seattle Times reports on the groundbreaking of Washington's innovative, aeronautical-centered high school, the $43.5 million Raisbeck Aviation High School.

The curriculum of the aviation high school has been in place for several years, but there's never been a brick-and-mortar school of their own. But in 2013, they'll pop the hatches on a facility all their own, located on the site of the Air & Space Museum at Boeing Field.

The aviation high school is the state's pinnacle in cutting-edge education. A public-private partnership with input from Boeing and other aeronautical companies offering support and technical assistance.

The school both inspires and supplies the next generation of aeronautical engineers for our local industry, which must replace the baby-boomer generation of engineers retiring at a rapid rate. For them, the Space Race was their muse. The Apollo and shuttle programs stoked their minds and imaginations.

These days, it's more difficult to catch and hold the attention of students contemplating their own future careers. It's hoped the new aviation high school will fill that void by exposing high-schoolers to applied science and technology and broaden their horizons, just as Washington's homegrown industry has broadened the planet's for a century.

Read the full story here.

From wood waste to jet fuel - Stanford bill gets gubernatorial approval

A bill “to emphasize important new policy both for the environment and for the aerospace industry” is now the law of the state. Prime sponsored by state Rep. Derek Stanford, House Bill 1422 was recently signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The measure sets up a biomass pilot project to create jet fuel from wood waste. Stanford’s idea builds on last year’s Forest Biomass Initiative. Says the Washington State of Department Natural Resources: “The goal of the biomass initiative is to fill a void in assembling people to forge public-private partnerships among forest biomass suppliers, biomass purchasers, energy producers, communities and state agencies to utilize biomass materials for renewable energy generation.”

What we’re talking about here, folks, is nothing less than the making of jet fuel out of wood waste. No, it’s not some wild storybook alchemy. It’s not someone’s fantastical pipe dream. It’s a cutting-edge new idea that simply makes plain-old common sense – whether you look at it from an economic-development perspective or from another decisive viewpoint that goes by the three-word name of green-energy expansion.

“A biomass-to-fuel emphasis will spur investment in new technology for renewable energy. And this is exactly what we need to generate new green jobs and to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” Stanford emphasized. “This work is critical for our energy security and for the environment – a great win-win for Washington people with no cost to their state budget.”

Stanford also pointed out that “this legislation is good for the environment and the aerospace industry – two areas of immense importance to every Washingtonian.”

Finally, Stanford stated that manufacturing jet fuel more economically and environmentally correct is the right thing to do in view of the fact that its consumption has grown so much over the past quarter-century:

• Every year 2.2 billion people fly, with passenger traffic actually growing the last 10 years by 45 percent.
• Every year airplanes transport 35 percent of all international trade in goods.
• The aviation industry is responsible for two percent of global anthropogenic GHG emissions.
• Bio-derived fuels offer the prospect of significantly lower CO2 emissions, when one looks at this equation from a lifecycle perspective compared to a fossil-based jet-fuel perspective.

(Photo: from DNR blog)

Want a job at Boeing? The state can help.

Hear that roar of a jet engine overhead? That's the sound of more and more aerospace jobs coming to Washington.

Here's some good news as shared with us by the state Employment Security Department, which runs the Worksource program.:

More aerospace jobs are concentrated in Snohomish County than anywhere in the world, and the number is growing. But getting the attention of Boeing and other aerospace companies can be daunting for some jobseekers.

As recruiting ramps up, WorkSource is expanding its unique partnership with Boeing to teach applicants the résumé and interview skills needed to get noticed. WorkSource centers in Everett and Auburn are increasing the number of free workshops to once a week or more. Boeing-trained job coaches will be on hand to help applicants navigate the hiring process.

The program is already working. Some 250 who applied at Boeing but never heard back were all offered jobs after seeking help from Everett WorkSource.

The next aerospace workshop orientation session for jobseekers will be:
April 15
1 to 4 p.m.
Everett WorkSource
3201 Smith Ave., Suite 413

Similar workshops continue every other week at the WorkSource centers in Mount Vernon and Tacoma.

Rep. Jeff Morris on Boeing's 787 announcement

Rep. Jeff Morris serves on the Legislature's Aerospace Task Force. Read here for his take on Boeing's announcement to locate the second 787 assembly line in South Carolina.

His statement includes a review of what the Legislature has done to support our aerospace industry during the past six years.

The continuing saga of Washington's aerospace industry

Recent news about Boeing's purchase of a 787 supplier in South Carolina and rumors that the company is considering a second assembly line there for the 787 Dreamliner has sparked worried whispers about the future of the aerospace industry in Washington.
Stop the hand-wringing, say Reps. Jeff Morris and Phyllis Gutierrez in a recent Seattle Times op-ed.
They point out that we've worked hard to make Washington an international hub of the aerospace industry and state leaders are anything but complacent when it comes to ensuring we keep our strong standing.
This year, at the bill signing creating the new Aerospace Council to help bolster our industry, Gov. Gregoire stated:
"Washington is the best place in the world to build airplanes, primarily due to the robust aerospace infrastructure we have in place and our highly skilled, productive work force. Our advantages also include a competitive aerospace tax environment, strong aerospace research and development capacity, and this state's unparalleled quality of life… But in today's challenging times and with our faltering economy, we need to do more to stay ahead. The aerospace council is designed to ensure we are doing all we can in a sustained way to be even more competitive."
Gov. Gregoire also created a subcabinet position in her administration that will help guide us towards a long partnership with our state’s aerospace industry.
On our end at the Legislature, our state has collaborated with aerospace businesses, both big and small, to foster a new generation of highly skilled workers, invest in a state infrastructure that keeps our commerce moving, reduce the tax burden on their products, and streamline the permitting process. House Democrats have pushed for and supported policies that help ensure Washington's aerospace industry remains strong and competitive.

The hard work has paid off. Despite some naysayers and critics, several business publications, academic studies, and public policy organizations have ranked Washington as a one of the best states to open and operate a business for several years now consistently.
Washington state has a proud history of building the world's best airplanes, whether it was the bombers that won World War II, the jetfighters defending America today, or the airplanes moving millions of people from every corner of the planet. Our aerospace workers are the best in the business, without a doubt. But they, and the businesses that depend on these highly skilled workers, rely on our state’s support to remain the best.
And while Boeing is certainly the flagship airplane manufacturer that’s shaped our region, it's not alone. There are myriad other aerospace businesses in Washington that have been attracted to our region, making our state the hub when it comes to parts suppliers, crafts persons, importers, exporters – all of the businesses it takes to keep the industry flying high, as they say.
But anyone in the business will tell you, it’s a tough one. Despite what one might think, studies show that the commercial airline industry is not a big moneymaker. On the contrary, over the history of commercial flight, it’s just barely in the black. That adds a lot of volatility to the market for airplanes, which is a reality our state has had to live with through Boeing’s boom times and busts.
In addition, Boeing and other local manufacturers are facing stiffer competition from foreign manufacturers than ever before, most notably Airbus headquartered in France.
We must remember that fortunes can shift quickly and that sometimes the grass can seem greener elsewhere. That is why we remain steadfastly devoted to ensuring our aerospace industry’s legacy as the world’s best.

(Photo from markjhandel)