Washington Business Summer 2019 | Washington Business | Page 25

federal focus
“Building the Economy” report identifies priorities
for infrastructure spending.
Making necessary investments will generate up to 777,000
new jobs and billions in new economic activity.
Richard S. Davis
A partnership of the Association of Washington Business, Washington State Association of Counties, Washington Public Ports
Association, and Association of Washington Cities has identified $222 billion in infrastructure needs, including transportation,
energy, water, and communications. When federal funding becomes available, Washington is prepared to make the necessary
investments, which will generate up to 777,000 jobs and hundreds of billions of dollars in new economic activity.
“Building the Economy: Infrastructure Needs in Washington,” identifies more than $222 billion
in necessary infrastructure improvements here. Making these essential investments creates jobs,
increases public health and safety, and sustains Washington’s trade-driven economy. Failure to
keep pace with the demand puts that all at risk.
the report breaks requirements into 10 categories
Washington businesses and local and state government are doing their part, from the 2015
Connect Washington transportation package and numerous public-private partnerships to
the many voter-approved tax increases allowing local governments to make the investments
required to serve a growing population.
But a key partner needs to step up, according to the report: “Over the past few decades,
government investment in infrastructure as a percent of GDP has steadily declined. In 2016,
direct federal spending on nondefense infrastructure was less than 0.1 percent of GDP, while
state and local governments invested 14 times that amount on infrastructure.”
The federal investment, anticipated since the 2016 elections, is long overdue. The importance
of infrastructure funding appears to be one of the few areas of bipartisan agreement in the
At A Glance
Washington business and
governmental leaders have identified
$222 billion in infrastructure needs.
Every dollar invested in essential
infrastructure generates $1.50 in
economic output.
Over the past few decades, government
investment in infrastructure as a
percent of GDP has steadily declined.
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