We must think of ourselves not as a state, but as a small nation.”
Related News
12/9/2011 - Gov. Gregoire’s statement National Labor Relations Board dismissing case against Boeing
12/9/2011 - Gov. Gregoire announces new initiative to create jobs, restore Puget Sound
12/1/2011 - Gregoire’s reforms cause unemployment tax rate to drop, 2012 workers’ comp. rates to stay flat
11/16/2011 - Gov. Gregoire announces strategy to ensure 737 MAX is built in Washington state
10/26/2011 - Gov. Gregoire’s statement on TransAlta locating national headquarters in Olympia
Economic Recovery
Governor Chris Gregoire is committed to helping working families by creating opportunities for family-wage jobs, speeding up investment in Washington and promoting business growth. Her strategy is based on these steps:
Educate our work force
Education is a lifetime commitment. Providing a good education for all our citizens is the single greatest contribution we can make to the future of our economy. This is the focus of Governor Gregoire’s education reform efforts.
Invest in the right infrastructure
Lay the foundation for private sector success with strategic investments in our infrastructure— roads, water, telecommunications and energy. Gas tax and Recovery Act funds are addressing critical safety and congestion problems in the transportation system, helping to improve the movement of people to work and goods to market.
Put Washington to work
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Our economy is built one job at a time. Governor Gregoire’s innovative strategies bring companies to our state, help local employers expand and keep Washington jobs from moving out of state or overseas. The Governor’s 10-point jobs plan stimulates hiring by granting a B&O tax credit for new hires.
Small businesses are integral parts of our communities and economy. One-quarter of Washington’s 2.8 million workers share their workplace with fewer than 20 other employees, and two-thirds work in organizations with fewer than 250 employees. During her administration, the Governor has encouraged small business growth by creating tax incentives, reducing permit-processing time and insurance costs, and improving training opportunities.
Create a foundation for success
Make it easier to do business in Washington. Doing Business in Washington, a comprehensive, online business service center, meets the Governor’s goal that regulatory agencies make it easier for individuals and companies to conduct business in the state. This portal consolidates business licensing, tax payment and permitting functions into one easily accessible location.
Reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses by moving back the monthly date for excise tax payments. This helps small businesses avoid cash flow problems by giving them time to collect payments from their customers before they pay sales tax. Governor Gregoire also eliminated reporting error penalties for businesses that make every effort to comply with tax laws.
Invest in our future
New growth created by entrepreneurs will help keep Washington’s economy robust. Governor Gregoire’s $1 billion Life Sciences Discovery Fund will attract new companies to Washington and support local entrepreneurs as they grow new businesses. The fund will build on our state’s strong research institutions and our international success in research and development. This industry will offer many Washingtonians family-wage jobs while its researchers work to find cures for some of the world’s most dreaded diseases.
Develop a state biofuels industry to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create a new cash crop for Washington farmers. The Governor’s initiative requires fuel sellers in Washington to gradually increase the percentage of biofuels in diesel fuel and gasoline. It also promotes private investment in the growing industry with Energy Freedom loans and extends tax exemptions for biofuels.
Compete in the global economy
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Convene the Global Competitiveness Council to help state government identify opportunities to help Washington farmers and companies compete internationally. Based on these recommendations, her experiences on trade missions and her discussions with citizens across the state during town hall meetings, Governor Gregoire crafted her Next Washington plan to grow jobs and income in our state.
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Promote Washington products and recruit new companies to locate here. On trade missions to Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Governor promoted Washington crops and products to emerging markets. She welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao and Mexican President Vicente Fox to Washington and took advantage of those unique opportunities to fortify our economic future.
Strengthen our rural economies
Support agriculture by promoting our world-class foods to export partners overseas. Agriculture is the leading employer in our state. More than 160,000 Washingtonians work to provide safe, high-quality food for our dinner tables and for export around the world. Our growers market more than 300 products, including traditional favorites such as apples, potatoes and wheat. The Governor supports programs that help growers and shippers to be competitive.
Support the forest products industry by backing the Forest and Fish Accord because it provides regulatory certainty and environmental protections. The Governor signed legislation that reduced the tax burden on the forest sector. In doing so, she recognized the need for our companies and forest landowners to remain competitive in today’s global timber and wood products marketplaces.
