Senate task force would look to expand aerospace business, create new jobs

OLYMPIA – Legislation passed today by the state Senate would launch a statewide study of the manufacturing and industrial capacity of Washington airports with an eye to creating new jobs and encouraging aerospace manufacturing.

Senate Bill 8418 would assign a legislative task force to identify financial and technical resources needed to create jobs, consider changes to regulations to encourage aerospace manufacturing and associated jobs, and review businesses currently located at airports in Washington.

“I have long felt we may be underutilizing valuable resources such as Paine Field,” said Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, chair of the Senate International Trade & Economic Development Committee and the bill’s sponsor. “This will tell us whether we have untapped opportunities and map out a course for making the most of those situations.”

Among other things, SB 8418 would assign a task force comprised of members of the Senate and House of Representatives to review factors affecting recruitment, retention and expansion in the aerospace industry. The task force would review a number of factors, including airports of regional significance, inventory of underused capacity, and types of aerospace businesses that could be located at such airports. It would also assess statutory and regulatory changes to expand aerospace businesses at such airports.

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