In the News Recent articles about the Washington Aerospace Partnership  •  SeattlePI.com - Washington state forms a team to go after tanker  •  HeraldNet.com - Saving Wash. aerospace jobs, manufacturing 'meltdown' and more tanker talk  •  Puget Sound Business Journal - How Washington state competes for aerospace Washington Aerospace Partnership We are writing to ask for your help in an important effort to strengthen Washington state as the leading global center for the aerospace industry. The Washington Aerospace Partnership (www.washington-aerospace.com) has come together to mount a unified effort to keep Washington the leading location for aerospace and, specifically, to help win the 767 Refueling Tanker contract. (See news articles at right.) The Partnership will be building a broad statewide grassroots effort of citizens, non-profits organizations, businesses and unions. The aerospace industry is now a globally competitive and ever-changing business. We need to build on our legacy of manufacturing the best jets in the world – and we need to do that by adapting to this new global market place. With our skilled workforce, strong local and state leaders, and an empowered community, we can make the decisions and investments necessary to remain the leader in aerospace. Given the challenging economy that countries and states are facing, the importance of and the jobs associated with aerospace will be ever more important. We are asking businesses and organizations to join the Partnership. As a member, your name will be listed on our website as a partner. You will receive an e-newsletter and, on occasion, be asked to advocate on initiatives to help our state become more competitive. Please go to the Partnership's website to sign up as a partner (www.washington-aerospace.com/partners.html). The Partnership also welcomes the support of individuals interested in securing our future as the world’s aerospace capital. If you would like to add your individual name in support of this effort, please go to the Partnership website and sign up for the e-news. We will be updating our list of supporters over the next several weeks. The Partnership's key objectives are:   •   Develop an aerospace industry vision/agenda that is supported by government, business, labor and non-profit leaders throughout Washington   •   Raise public awareness of the aerospace industry’s importance to the state’s economy and quality of life   •   Coordinate efforts with other states that have shared objectives (e.g., Kansas with the refueling tanker contract)   •   Broaden the base of individuals and organizations involved with the Partnership   •   Advocate with state and federal decision-makers for policies that support aerospace activities here   •   Communicate with aerospace companies around the world about the benefits of operating in Washington state We all know that this is first about jobs – but equally important, it is about the foundation of our economy and our way of life. Aerospace companies and their suppliers support more than 200,000 jobs in our state and pay $5 billion-plus wages. Some 650 aerospace companies are operating in 28 counties of our state. Aerospace workers and companies are generous contributors of time and resources to charitable, civic and cultural programs throughout the state, shaping the fabric and character of communities and families. We are honored to be the co-chairs of the Partnership. We believe that if we harness our united energies, we can build on our aerospace history to continue and lead the world. We hope you will join us. Rick Bender AFL-CIO Bob Drewel PSRC Tayloe Washburn Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce P.S. The Partnership is working to build a statewide grassroots effort to support the aerospace industry and workers. The Aerospace Futures Alliance (AFA) and the Washington Council on Aerospace (WCA) are separate efforts. The AFA represents aerospace companies in advocating on critical issues for the aerospace industry. The WCA will coordinate and organize the work of Washington state government in workforce training, research and development, business recruitment, retention and expansion.