Snohomish County Business Journal


YOUR COUNTY.	YOUR BUSINESS JOURNAL.

Published July 2003

Regional leaders
speak out on 7E7

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

Politicians, labor leaders, economic development chiefs and aerospace workers are talking about whether Snohomish County will win the 7E7 assembly site decision from Boeing.

When that many people are talking about Boeing, jobs and the future of the county’s economy, it soon becomes a popular topic in barbershops, boardrooms and the news media — and with good reason.

Despite the progress the county has made in diversifying its economic base by courting biotech firms, software companies and King County businesses looking northward for expansion, the loss of thousands of jobs at the Everett 747, 767 and 777 assembly plant over the past couple of years has reminded people just how important the aerospace industry is in the county.

So when Boeing opened the competition for the 7E7 assembly site to every state in the country, Washington — and Snohomish County — decided that winning that race was Job One in the Legislature, in the county executive’s office, at the Snohomish County Economic Development Council and in the minds of CEOs, managers and employees who contributed their time to help respond to the challenge.

Gov. Gary Locke pledged to do “everything in our power to win the Boeing 7E7 final assembly so we can keep and grow Boeing jobs in our state.” He expressed confidence that the state’s highly skilled and experienced aerospace work force, existing Boeing facilities and the progress the state has made on competitiveness issues would win the bid.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray also expressed her support for the 7E7 program, noting that “aircraft manufacturing has been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn” and that Boeing “faces increasing competition from a ruthless foreign rival (Airbus) that enjoys generous subsidies from not just one government but many.”

Likewise, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell stepped up to the challenge of landing the 7E7 work, saying it “is a battle we can and should win. … The reward is more than Boeing jobs alone, it is a stronger business climate that will improve our entire state’s economy.”

She noted that important projects related to advanced materials training and research programs are already in place at the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University and Edmonds Community College to help both research and training in such fields as composite materials, a key part of Boeing’s manufacturing plans for the 7E7 and future aircraft.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen said he believes Snohomish County has the “best trained and most qualified airplane manufacturing workers in the world. … The Boeing Company was born in the Northwest; the next generation of airplanes should be born here, too.”

Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel said, “We can’t afford to lose, and we absolutely intend to win. … I’m very confident that …we’ll not only have a competitive package, we’ll have the best package.”

Everett Mayor Frank Anderson said, “There’s nothing more important to the health of our city right now than having Boeing build its new generation of airplane right here. It has been our aerospace workers who have helped make Boeing what it is today. We are confident that we have what it takes to make sure Boeing chooses Everett. … There’s a reason for that ‘E’ in 7E7.”

Deborah Knutson, Snohomish County Economic Development Council president, said, “Boeing’s decision about whether to assemble the 7E7 at our Everett facility is one of the most critical economic crossroads our region will face in the foreseeable future. As much as 40 percent of the wages earned in this county alone come from manufacturing jobs, predominately in the aerospace sector. Boeing’s presence here, despite recent cutbacks in the size of its Everett work force, remains a dominant economic force.”

Snohomish County Airport Director Dave Waggoner noted that “Paine Field and Boeing have been successful partners for more than 30 years. Every wide-body jet Boeing has ever built has taken its first flight from Paine Field, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to make sure that proud history continues with the 7E7.”

Martha Choe, director of the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, said, “We have a winning team of elected officials, business and labor leaders and community groups working together with one goal — to have the 7E7 built in Washington state.”

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