Gov. Chris Gregoire puts $1.5 million to aerospace training
Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday announced $1.5 million in new, one-time federal funding for
aerospace training.
"We must be as skilled as we can in the latest technologies, techniques and processes," Gregoire said in announcing the funding in Everett Community College's Aviation Maintenance and Technical School at Paine Field. "We are investing in our people, but we're also investing in our future."
Asked whether this was part of her effort to make Washington's business case to Boeing for the second 787 Dreamliner assembly line, Gregoire said she wanted to show a commitment to worker training to Boeing and other aerospace companies.
"The point here is, we are working to make sure that this is the greatest home for the aerospace industry," she said.
Gregoire took the opportunity to poke at South Carolina, Washington's only named rival for the 787 line.
"We're rated as one of the most livable state's in the nation," she said. "South Carolina: No. 49."
Gregoire also touted the state's work to lower tax, workers compensation and unemployment insurance burdens on aerospace businesses, noted that she just proposed pushing back expiration of a tax credit granted to FAA-certified repair stations from 2011 to 2024 and pledged to continue to work with labor and employers on other improvements.
Michael Zubovic, president of the Aerospace Future Alliance of Washington and chairman of Aviation Technical Services, called the new training money "a resounding affirmation" of the state's commitment to provide the state's workers with the skills they need to compete. But he also said the state must do something about workers compensation and unemployment insurance increases that are not sustainable.
Gregoire and other speakers stood in front of a 1960s-era 747 engine that Boeing donated over the summer.
"This is the most-visible of their frequent and generous donations," Everett Community College President David Beyer said.
The aviation school has 70 students at any given time, many straight out of high school, department Chairman Bill Loomis said.
They generally graduate from the program in two years and easily find aviation maintenance technician jobs starting at more than $20 an hour, he said. "That's a good start on a career, and it puts them on a path to get a living-wage job that they can start their life with."
There's a strong demand for aerospace workers, despite the downturn, and that need will intensify as thousands of workers retire in coming years, Loomis and Zubovic said.
The $1.5 million is federal Workforce Investment Act money that Gregoire gets to direct. The biggest chunk, $600,000, will go to help develop aerospace centers in Snohomish County and Spokane for joint industry-college training.
"Conceptually, it's about real-time, on-the-ground training at the direction of industry," said Charlie Earl, executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
As for the rest of the money:
"We must be as skilled as we can in the latest technologies, techniques and processes," Gregoire said in announcing the funding in Everett Community College's Aviation Maintenance and Technical School at Paine Field. "We are investing in our people, but we're also investing in our future."
Asked whether this was part of her effort to make Washington's business case to Boeing for the second 787 Dreamliner assembly line, Gregoire said she wanted to show a commitment to worker training to Boeing and other aerospace companies.
"The point here is, we are working to make sure that this is the greatest home for the aerospace industry," she said.
Gregoire took the opportunity to poke at South Carolina, Washington's only named rival for the 787 line.
"We're rated as one of the most livable state's in the nation," she said. "South Carolina: No. 49."
Gregoire also touted the state's work to lower tax, workers compensation and unemployment insurance burdens on aerospace businesses, noted that she just proposed pushing back expiration of a tax credit granted to FAA-certified repair stations from 2011 to 2024 and pledged to continue to work with labor and employers on other improvements.
Michael Zubovic, president of the Aerospace Future Alliance of Washington and chairman of Aviation Technical Services, called the new training money "a resounding affirmation" of the state's commitment to provide the state's workers with the skills they need to compete. But he also said the state must do something about workers compensation and unemployment insurance increases that are not sustainable.
Gregoire and other speakers stood in front of a 1960s-era 747 engine that Boeing donated over the summer.
"This is the most-visible of their frequent and generous donations," Everett Community College President David Beyer said.
The aviation school has 70 students at any given time, many straight out of high school, department Chairman Bill Loomis said.
They generally graduate from the program in two years and easily find aviation maintenance technician jobs starting at more than $20 an hour, he said. "That's a good start on a career, and it puts them on a path to get a living-wage job that they can start their life with."
There's a strong demand for aerospace workers, despite the downturn, and that need will intensify as thousands of workers retire in coming years, Loomis and Zubovic said.
The $1.5 million is federal Workforce Investment Act money that Gregoire gets to direct. The biggest chunk, $600,000, will go to help develop aerospace centers in Snohomish County and Spokane for joint industry-college training.
"Conceptually, it's about real-time, on-the-ground training at the direction of industry," said Charlie Earl, executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
As for the rest of the money:
- $500,000 will go to ensure students are trained on the latest equipment and with the newest technology;
- $200,000 will go to help develop career paths that help students move easily from high school, through community college and into four-year schools;
- $100,000 will go to help coordinate state training programs;
- $100,000 will go to help link research findings with training curricula.