Governor Gregoire Unveils "Next Washington" Economic Plan

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire today -- during the 2006 Governor's Economic and Workforce Development Conference in Vancouver -- outlined her vision for The Next Washington: Growing Jobs and Income in a Global Economy, her plan for maintaining and improving the state's ability to compete in the global economy.

The plan is based on three components:

• Education and Skills
• The foundation for economic success is not only a strategy for traditional infrastructure investment, but also more deliberate investments in energy, telecommunications, water and transportation.
• Open for Business: Washington is a business friendly state and it can be even friendlier by making it easier and less expensive to operate a business here.
  
  Gergoire's plan outlines electronic access, telecommuting, e-business
  strategies, and the extending of broadband access into new areas, saying "expanded broadband access could be at the heart of economic strategy."