Gov. Gregoire announces investments in work force, economic development initiatives

For Immediate Release: January 19, 2009

OLYMPIA -- Highlighting the value of public-private partnerships in building a healthy economy, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced funding for six projects that will help local industries and increase jobs.

The state Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board awarded nearly $700,000 in federal funds to six partnerships in Washington ranging from maritime transportation to interactive media.

�We create more lasting family-wage jobs when we ensure that our work force is trained and ready to respond to economic needs,� Gregoire said. �These projects promise better training for workers, and assist us in our long-term recovery efforts as we move forward developing a 21st century economy.�

These partnerships of workforce development councils, economic development councils and associate development organizations are focused on nurturing industry clusters, which are concentrations of inter-related businesses and industries that drive local economies.

At their most successful, clusters have the power to define a region, whether it�s aerospace in King and Snohomish counties or wine in Walla Walla. By focusing on clusters, the state aims to help local areas play to � and build upon � their strengths.

Action grant recipients are:


Manufacturing Skills Initiative

Eastern Washington

$194,800

Work force development activities will be boosted in a nine-county region in Eastern Washington and include on-the-job training for entry-level workers, financial support for formal vocational training, work experience, and career and technical training for K-12 students. The nine counties are Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla and Whitman.

Contact: Tom O�Brien, Eastern Washington Partnership Workforce Development Council, 509- 685-6129



Washington Intracoastal Marine and Manufacturing Industry Alliance

Northwest Washington

$200,000

This project aims to increase the size and quality of the work force in marine and advanced manufacturing industries in the 12-county area of Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, San Juan, Skagit, Thurston and Whatcom counties. The project focuses on English-as-a-Second Language workers, low-skilled adults and at-risk youth.

Contact: Gay Dubigk, Northwest Workforce Development Council, 360-676-3206


Planning grants recipients are:


Maritime Transportation Cluster

Seattle-King County

$75,000

An industry-led team will assess employers� middle-skill jobs and the training needed to fill them,. Other parts of the project include creating a maritime transportation career pathways map, designing outreach strategies to connect with disadvantaged and other youth, and setting up a maritime careers program in K-12 schools.

Contact: Kris Stadelman, Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council,

206-448-0474



Interactive Media

Seattle-King County

$75,000

Grant partners will convene an industry-led panel to focus on interactive media skill needs, such as video game development, animation, and video, in Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland. The project will survey employers to determine their work force needs, identify educational strategies to meet those needs and assess career ladders to determine how to attract more workers to this emerging field.

Contact: Kris Stadelman, Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council,

206-448-0474



Central Washington Renewable Energy Planning Initiative

South Central Washington

$75,000

This project will establish a regional partnership of business and industry representatives, education providers, local elected officials and work force and economic development professionals to identify industry niches for renewable and alternative energy. The project will identify regional training needs and opportunities for renewable industry development. Contact: David Gonzales, South Central Workforce Development Council, 509-574-1950

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board is a partnership of labor, business and government, dedicated to helping Washington residents obtain and succeed in family-wage jobs, while meeting employers' needs for skilled workers. As a state agency, the Workforce Board oversees a workforce development system of 18 education and training programs that receive state and federal funds.