AWB ANNUAL REPORT 11
DRIVING SOLUTIONS FORWARD
Advocacy is the bedrock of AWB’ s service to members. In 2016, the Government Affairs team once again navigated a state legislative session that failed to produce many of the tax proposals that would have harmed employers, particularly those in rural parts of the state that are still struggling to recover from the Great Recession nearly a decade after it began. At the same time, AWB supported continued investment in K-12 education— now totaling $ 4.5 billion since 2013— as lawmakers grappled with the state Supreme Court’ s McCleary decision.
PROSPERITY
As the state’ s manufacturing association, we celebrated Washington manufacturers in unprecedented fashion by joining in the national Manufacturing Day. Manufacturers from across the state opened their doors to show off the diversity of Washington’ s manufacturing economy. From Spokane to Bellingham, Seattle to Vancouver, Manufacturing Day 2016 was a time to demonstrate the strength and innovation of everything“ Made in Washington” and sold around the world.