Gov. Chris Gregoire announced a series of action items intended to ensure the Boeing 737 MAX, expected to support up to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, is built and manufactured in Washington state. The governor's strategy centers primarily on enhancements to our state's education system to ensure the aerospace sector has the trained workforce necessary to succeed.
- 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.
- 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.
- Creating a new Governor's Aerospace Office to provide focus, direction, oversight and coordination to grow Washington state's aerospace industry.
- Extending 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.
"The 737-MAX is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our state – and we have to go after it with all we've got," Gregoire said. "It's likely the largest manufacturing contract in the world for at least a decade. Generations of Washingtonians – engineers, machinists and managers – have built 737s and all the other world-class Boeing planes. They are the foundation of our middle class and the backbone of our economy."
The action agenda follows the release of recommendations prepared by Washington Aerospace Partnership chaired by Tayloe Washburn and a competitive analysis conducted by Accenture.
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