Governor Jay Inslee has put forward a bold plan for revitalizing the Washington economy and creating jobs. The key principles of the plan are strongly aligned with the economic development strategy developed by the Washington Economic Development Commission. Governor Inslee said that innovation, human intellectual capital and better alignment with the industries of the future are the foundations for his five focus areas: 1) education; 2) business climate and workforce; 3) aerospace; 4) clean energy, climate action and water; and 5) health care. Representatives Jeff Morris (chair) and Norma Smith (ranking member) of the House Technology and Economic Development Committee and ex-officio members of the Economic Development Commission participated in today's roll-out press conference. Governor Inslee "Washington Jobs" Press Conference
"We applaud the commitment Governor Inslee gives to innovation, STEM education, efficient regulations, freight mobility, start-up businesses, energy efficiency and alternatives, and investing in a workforce better matched to the demands of our increasingly knowledge intense industries," stated Egils Milbergs, executive director of the independent 24-member Commission. "These are significant proposals for guiding policy and budget priorities to give rise to more jobs and our future competitive advantages."
The Commission's long term economic development strategy is aimed at "making Washington state the most attractive, fertile and creative investment climate for innovation in the world." The Commission also invests in bio-fuels, energy efficiency, energy storage and smart grid research teams at the University of Washington and Washington State University through the STARs program. The WEDC sets designation criteria and performance metrics for a network of regionally led Innovation Partnership Zones targeted to strengthen the innovation capacity of industry clusters. Read more about the Washington Economic Development Commission at www.WEDC.wa.gov, Washington State STARS program at www.WASTARS.org and the Innovation Partnership Program at www.ChooseWashington.com.
