Washington Business Summer 2019 | Washington Business | Page 17

washington business From Charities to Suppliers, Boeing Invested $14 Billion in Washington Last Year Boeing’s overall investments in Washington jobs, suppliers, education and more totaled more than $14 billion in 2018, a new report shows. The company spent more than $8.5 billion on payroll and bonuses, and the average wage was more than $124,000. That’s more than $60,000 higher than the average wage for Washingtonians. The company also spent more than $5 billion on about 1,500 suppliers and vendors throughout the state. Notably, Boeing employees and retirees also donated more than $50 million to community organizations in Washington. “Additionally, Boeing matches not just cash donations employees make to nonprofits, but also matches the hours employees spend volunteering at local nonprofits,” the company reports. “In 2018, employees volunteered 250,000 hours at Washington nonprofits, which resulted in more than $2.5 million in cash contributions to those organizations.” The company also spent $600 million in capital investments like facilities and equipment, and invested $31 million in education benefits for employees. Congress Approves Bipartisan Federal Lands Package Washington leaders celebrated the passage of a new, bipartisan federal lands bill that includes significant federal funding for a variety of projects around the state, from repairing the Wapato Irrigation Project to better volcano monitoring and more funds to fight forest fires. The measure was co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-WA, and designates more than 1.3 mil- lion acres of new wilderness, 367 miles of new Wild and Scenic Rivers and 2,600 miles of new National Trails throughout the United States. In Washington state, the law protects the Methow Headwaters in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, supports new technology for wildland fire- fighters, and designates the Nordic Museum in Seattle as the National Nordic Museum, among other projects. “Public lands and access to lands are a juggernaut part of our economy,” Cantwell said. “This legislation gives the tools and resources to local communities to manage this, to give more access to the American people, to do the things that will help us grow jobs and help us recreate for the future and preserve against a very challenging and threatening climate.” Supporters hailed the bill as a bipartisan accomplishment. The Tri-City Herald said the bill’s passage and bipartisan sign- ing ceremony in the Oval Office was “something remarkable,” adding that both Cantwell and U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-4, attended the presidential signing ceremony. Contact Amy Anderson, AWB government affairs director for federal issues, to learn more at [email protected] or 360.943.1600. summer 2019 17