what ’ s working
On the other hand , she said the council will also address the state ’ s challenges . Those include , she said , difficulty getting Generation Z to engage with manufacturing opportunities , women and people of color lacking support , community colleges seeing declining enrollment , and challenges for manufacturers in the siting and permitting processes .
“ We ’ re going to be honest and frank about those challenges so hopefully we can come up with some recommendations , achieve some common ground and really move some things forward ,” Brown said . “ There is no doubt in my mind as an economist that manufacturing jobs are tied to rebuilding the middle class .”
AWB Government Affairs Director Tommy Gantz said workforce development is a top need for manufacturers . Child care support is necessary for families and employers . The state could immediately help the manufacturing sector by reducing the B & O rate for manufacturing . And it ’ s crucial to reduce the burden around permitting and the regulatory environment . Organized labor made the same point . “ When I talk to my employer and other employers , there is a real perception that doing business in Washington is hard and I think we need to deal with that ,” said Ted Cummings of United Steelworkers Local 338 .
“ The need for permitting reform is extremely high on my list ,” said Todd Mitchell of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 7 . “ We hear on a regular basis that not only is it hard to start a new business but to even expand current businesses that are out there . It ’ s a permitting issue we need to tackle and solve here in Washington state .”
Employers spoke up about their specific industries and the larger needs facing manufacturing . Amit Arora , President of Jubilant HollisterStier in Spokane , said his biotech firm is focused on hiring and retention . As they try to bring more than 400 tech workers onto the payroll , they ’ re finding it essential to try to get Gen Z engaged in manufacturing .
Workforce training is a major need for employers , and thus a big opportunity for the state to support expanding the manufacturing workforce . Opportunities include more systematic work to bring high school students into contact with manufacturing , as well as apprenticeships and continued work to bring employers into contact with community and technical colleges to orient workforce needs with training . Boeing is looking to hire 5,000 people in Washington this year . “ We ’ re struggling because there aren ’ t enough qualified applicants ,” said Susan Champlain of Boeing . members of the washington state manufacturing council
• Amit Arora , Jubilant Hollister Stier
• Allison Budvarson , Out of the Box Manufacturing LLC
• Susan Champlain , The Boeing Co .
• Ted Cummings , United Steelworkers Local 338
• Maud Daudon , Career Connect Washington
• Jon Holden , International Association of Machinists 751
• Kris Johnson , Association of Washington Business
• Junus Khan , Carbitex
• Jessica Koski , Blue / Green Alliance
• Todd Mitchell , Heat and Frost Insulators Local 7
• Greg Pallesen , Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers
• Shana Peschek , Machinists Institute
• Gaylan Prescott , United Steel Workers , District 12
• Jennifer Stiefel , Heritage Distilling Company
• Phil Stephenson , PACCAR
• Russ Vaagen , Vaagen Timbers
• Dave Whitehead , Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
• Brenda Wiest , Teamsters Local 117
• Deloit Wolfe , Impact Washington
• Jan Yoshiwara , State Board of Community and Technical Colleges
* bold indicates AWB member
“ Thank you for what you ’ re doing . Please keep building .”
— Gov . Jay Inslee fall 2022 23