In a ceremony overlooking where the world’s most-popular jetliner is built, Gov. Chris Gregoire Thursday morning signed an executive order creating the Washington Council on Aerospace.
The purpose of the council, made up of aerospace, government, education and union leaders, is to ensure the aerospace industry – Renton’s biggest employer – remains the leading force in designing and building jetliners in the world.
The ceremony took place in the Renton Chamber of Commerce conference room, overlooking Renton Municipal Airport, from which every single-aisle 737 ever built has flown its maiden voyage.
Before she signed the legislation, Gregoire talked of the decades-long history of the aerospace industry and Renton’s place in the success of the industry.
“Renton has been an integral part of making that history possible,” she said.
But Washington state’s place as the leader where planes are built in the U.S. is being challenged by other states, some of which have incentives to attract new businesses not allowed under the state’s Constitution.
There are labor issues, including strikes, and the cost of unemployment benefits that some argue make it hard for Boeing to do business in the state as well.
Washington’s advantages include that history of building airplanes and its highly trained workforce. The Legislature also figured out in 2003 how to honor constitutional restrictions and adopt tax incentives that ensured Boeing would build the new 787 Dreamliner in Everett.
Despite those advantages, Gregoire said the state needs to do more, thus the creation of the Washington Aerospace Council. The council will coordinate worker-training programs and ensure that aerospace research done at Washington State University and the University of Washington is coordinated with those training programs and the industry.
The legislation also includes creation of a sub-cabinet that will address competitiveness issues.
“Aerospace has deep roots in Washington, especially in Renton’s history,” said Renton Mayor Denis Law, who introduced Gregoire.
Law said in an interview that the City of Renton has a long history of partnering with the Boeing Co. That partnership typically revolves around issues under the city’s control, such as land use. The city and Boeing worked together for years on the redevelopment of Boeing’s property in north Renton that has led to The Landing.
Boeing remains the city’s largest employer, but the numbers have dropped, from about 60 percent of the workforce to about 30 percent.
That change has come as the city’s industrial and commercial base has diversified. While Boeing’s corporate headquarters are in Chicago, Renton remains home to the Commercial Division.
Members of the Council on Aerospace are:
• Rogers Weed, director of the Department of Commerce (chair)
• Ann Daley, executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Board
• Charlie Earl, executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
• Dr. Mark Emmert, president of the University of Washington
• Dr. Elson Floyd, president of Washington State University
• Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla
• Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens
• Rep. Phyllis Kenney, D-Seattle
• Stan Sorscher, legislative director for SPEEA (Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace)
• David Schumacher, government affairs director of The Boeing Company
• Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake,
• One member representing a labor organization of aerospace Machinists
• One member representing aerospace employers in Eastern Washington
• One member representing aerospace employers in Western Washington
