WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Boeing 777X a “project of statewide significance?”

The Legislature created the “Project of Statewide Significance” designation in 1997 to give certain high-importance projects an expedited permitting process, but to date it has never been used.

Governor Inslee would like to change that.  He suggested yesterday that giving the boeing“statewide significance” designation to the Everett Boeing plant expansion project would ensure it receives expedited permitting and assistance from the Office of Regulatory Assistance — and help assure that Washington gets the new jobs that will be created as the company builds the wings for its new 777X.

“I can’t imagine a project that has more significance to the entire State of Washington than the facilities necessary to design and fabricate the 777X and its component parts,” the Governor said. “We are doing all we can to ensure that we are ready to accommodate Boeing’s needs as it moves forward with this new airplane program.”

The Washington State Legislature made more than $30 million in investments to support the aerospace industry during the 2013 legislative sessions, including:

  • $200,000 to add resources to the Office of Aerospace to support its efforts to win the 777X and execute the recently released Washington Aerospace Industry Strategy;
  • $200,000 to expand capacity of the Center of Excellence for Aerospace & Advanced Materials Manufacturing and establish it as a central resources for jobseekers looking to navigate their way toward a career in aerospace;
  • $1.15 million to establish four new aerospace skills centers, six new aerospace assembler programs, and 10 new “Project Lead the Way” aerospace engineering programs at high schools across the state;
  • $1.25 million to expand short-term student loans for aerospace students at the Washington Aerospace Training & Research Center and several community colleges;
  • $3 million to sustain the Joint Center for Aerospace Technology Innovation at the University of Washington and Washington State University;
  • $5 million to build a new multi-institutional aerospace training center in Renton; and
  • $17.6 million to expand engineering programs at the University of Washington, Washington State University, and Western Washington University.