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Tuesday, June 3, 2003Governor Locke Promotes JOBS NOW Plan in Klickitat County |
Office of the Governor Contact: Kirsten Kendrick, Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136; kirsten.kendrick@gov.wa.gov <mailto:kirsten.kendrick@gov.wa.gov> ; www.governor.wa.gov <http://www.governor.wa.gov> KLICKITAT COUNTY - June 3, 2003 - Gov. Gary Locke today visited Klickitat County as part of a statewide "Jobs Now" tour, promoting his capital budget and economic recovery plan to create jobs now, spur the state's economy and build for the future. Locke participated in a groundbreaking ceremony at the Port of Klickitat to kickoff construction of the third building at the port to receive funding from the state Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). CERB helps fund infrastructure for economic development in rural areas. In 2002, CERB approved the investment of a $650,000 loan to help construct the 25,000-square foot Building 1D for lease to The Insitu Group, Inc. The money was also used to make needed water, sewer, road and utilities improvements and to create a storm water retention system. The governor toured Insitu's manufacturing plant at the port today. Locke also promoted his capital budget and economic recovery plan during his visit to the port. His capital budget supports new private-sector jobs at an annual average of 13,400 construction and related jobs during the next two fiscal years, and 11,000 jobs in the following two fiscal years. These jobs would come from the $2.5 billion in spending for new public-works funding, including $223 million in new construction at universities and $312 million at community and technical colleges through bonding against lottery revenue and general obligation bonds. Locke's seven-point economic recovery plan focuses on: * Creating thousands of new construction jobs through building new schools, higher education facilities and public works projects; * Capitalizing on Washington's competitive advantage in international trade; * Promoting state businesses and improving the climate for new business; * Giving communities more effective tools to build Washington businesses; * Promoting Washington's emerging technology strengths; * Improving education to create and fill skilled jobs for today's competitive marketplace; and * Pushing Congress and the President for an economic stimulus package that helps our state's workforce. The governor began his "Jobs Now" tour in February. He has made stops in Bremerton, Wenatchee, Bellingham, Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Mount Vernon, Seattle, Ilwaco, Everett and Grays Harbor. He plans to visit several other cities around the state in the coming weeks. Also today, the governor visited Lyle High School, where he answered questions from students and promoted the 2003 Governor's Summer Reading Challenge. Locke started the Governor's Summer Reading Challenge last year as a way to encourage Washington students to keep reading during the summer. He is challenging students ages 18 and younger to read at least 15 hours by Labor Day (Sept. 1) as part of any summer reading program or just on their own. Students who meet the governor's challenge and let him know via e-mail or letter will receive a signed certificate from the governor and become eligible for a grand prize trip for four to Disneyland, courtesy of Disneyland and Alaska Airlines. |