We cannot wait for national recovery. The state needs a job growth strategy. However, the task of kick-starting job creation is daunting when the state budget faces such huge fiscal constraints. Policymakers must make difficult budget trade-offs in ways that do not undermine the future prosperity we seek. Generating more private sector investment and job creation requires that business have confidence in the state’s long term policies for economic development and innovation.
Offered below and in the attached statement are priorities in the context of advancing four key pillars of the innovation economy: talent, investment, infrastructure and exports. These are the pillars the Washington Development Commission adopted in its plan to make the state the most attractive, creative and fertile environment for innovation in the world. Focusing legislative activity on these longer term priorities and related actions will contribute to business confidence, economic recovery and job creation. Download Job Creation Priorities of the Economic Development Commission
As a matter of priorities the state should focus efforts on the following:
1. Talent. Emphasize investments in career transition rather than in temporary income maintenance and reorient training and education priorities to meet employment demand.
2. Investment and Entrepreneurship. Affirm commitment to policies that create an “innovation ecosystem” that fosters entrepreneurship, business investment and on-shore manufacturing.
3. Infrastructure and Regulations. Design a 21st century infrastructure and regulatory environment that enhances business investment and job creation and aligns with regional job creation objectives.
4. Export. Intensify efforts to grow the national and global presence of Washington’s businesses.
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