Chronic competitiveness issues are coming to a head. The National Academies of Sciences reports that a Category 5 hurricane is rapidly approaching. Check out Rising Above the Gathering Storm Revisited. It is a Sputnik moment. The shape of the economy recovery must be private sector jobs driven, fueled by creativity, investment and export-oriented. Policy should focus on supporting business with the talent they need, innovating in what matters, producing and manufacturing more of what we invent, exporting more and wasting less. The next economy will led not from the top, but from the bottom up. Our state's private sector economy is fortunately very diverse, resilient and a leader in innovation. It will be the states who will be the hubs of creativity and economic revival. They will be source of talent, investment and infrastructure America will need to maintain economic and manufacturing leadership in the world. Washington State is prepared for the challenge and will emerge as the World's Greatest Innovation Park. Executive Director Egils Milbergs previewed the Washington Economic Development Commission
plan for jobs, innovation and competitiveness January 17, 2011 before the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation.
