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Gov. Gregoire enhances Council on Aerospace

For Immediate Release: June 10, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed an amended executive order, enhancing the Washington Council on Aerospace.

�I have made it very clear � I intend to do all I can to ensure our aerospace industry succeeds and expands,� Gregoire said. �As the state�s largest manufacturing industry, our economic recovery is dependent on that. I listened to the suggestions of our aerospace leaders, and have made the necessary changes to ensure the Council on Aerospace continues to make Washington state the global leader in aerospace.�

The amended executive order adds three at-large aerospace employers from inside the state to the council, as well as the executive director of the Workforce Training Board who has been charged with compiling and maintaining a thorough review of the aerospace education and training opportunities in our state.

�I�ve also asked the Workforce Training Board to take a close look at the annual output of our state�s training programs,� Gregoire said. �Given our state�s highly trained workforce is a competitive edge over other regions around the nation and world, we need to know what specific programs employers need to meet their needs, what�s working for them and build on those�

Gregoire also included in the amended executive order a greater emphasis on growing our aerospace sector, directing the Director of the Department of Commerce to promote the exports of Washington aerospace companies and attracting in-bound investment into the state�s aerospace industry.