Washington Technology Center Funding Proposals Due April 24

Washington businesses working on cutting-edge new technologies can apply for a grant from Washington Technology Center to move their Research and Development forward. Around $1 million is awarded annually to projects that partner Washington companies with academic and non-profit research teams.

Proposal materials and free information session dates can be found online at http://www.watechcenter.org/re/rtd.

3rd annual GUIDING LIGHTS WEEKEND—
Experiential Conference On the Art of Mentoring

Everyone is a teacher and a learner—at home, at work and at play. The Guiding Lights Weekend illuminates the art of mentoring with fun, creative experiences. Join Eric Liu, and more than 50 national and local luminaries, for this one-of-a-kind event—an experiential conference, in the heart of Seattle, where you’ll learn concrete ways to mentor, motivate, coach and inspire. January 25-27, 2008 at Seattle Center.

Register today at www.guidinglightsnetwork.com or or call 206-615-1803.

15th Annual Globe Awards

The World Trade Center Tacoma's annual dinner and auction program honors businesses that grow trade by advancing their work internationally. Scott Carson, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes will provide the keynote address.

For more information, visit http://www.wtcta.org

Click here to see more of our Partner’s Events

If your organization is not currently a Partner and would like to become one, please contact Eric Schinfeld, 206-971-3053, eschinfeld@psrc.org.

Prosperity Partnership E-Newsletter
January 8, 2008

  • Governor's Aerospace Summit Identifies Key Issues for Future Action
  • New Clean Technology Initiative Launching in early February
  • Check out ProsperityPartnership.org!
  • King County Roundtable Field Meeting Highlights South County Successes

    Governor's Aerospace Summit Identifies Key Issues for Future Action

    The first ever Governor's Aerospace Summit was held on Thursday, November 29, 2007. Governor Chris Gregoire kicked off the summit by declaring the State of Washington's continued commitment to the aerospace industry, and reminded all in attendance of the economic and historical legacy associated with aerospace in Washington. The Governor also announced the formation of a state-wide aerospace council to advise Washington on keeping its competitive edge in the global industry. The Aerospace Future's Alliance of Washington joined the Governor in producing the event.

    Education and workforce development were the most prominent topics during the town hall session, with many attendees contemplating the challenges to the aerospace industry of an aging workforce and the declining interest in aerospace jobs among the region's students.

    Ten students from Aviation High School, an experimental school in the Highline School District that focuses on building skills in math and science, shared their plans for the future, reassuring all in attendance that innovative solutions to our challenges with workforce education are attainable. U.S. Representatives Adam Smith and Dave Reichert also shared observations on the aerospace industry from a national legislative standpoint.

    The event was only part of the beginning stages for building a stronger and more united aerospace industry in Washington. The AFA will continue to discuss industry challenges and work closely with aerospace leaders to create and execute strategies to overcome them.

    back to top

    New Clean Technology Initiative Launching in early February

    By-Product Synergy NW is a new regional initiative that will help companies turn waste into profit while reducing environmental impacts, and support economic development and innovation in the Puget Sound region. Through a process developed by the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development, Northwest companies will work together to identify and implement "synergies" that allow one company's waste to become another company's resource. The network is seeking new members throughout January, with the Synergy group launch meeting on tap to occur in early winter.

    More information can be found online at http://pprc.org/synergy/ or by contacting Chris Wiley at 206-352-2050.

    back to top

    Check out ProsperityPartnership.org!

    The Prosperity Partnership has expanded its website to better feature its top initiatives for 2008. Each industry cluster page now identifies the actions that will be undertaken throughout the year to further Aerospace, Clean Technology, Information Technology, Life Sciences and Logistics and International Trade. In addition, the website now features information and materials on the Partnership's many foundation initiatives, including the Cultural Taskforce, the Higher Education Working Group, the Regional Housing Strategy Working Group and the Minority Economic Development Working Group. The site also features videos from the November Luncheon.

    For more information on the Prosperity Partnership's 2008 Action Items, see www.prosperitypartnership.org.

    back to top

    King County Roundtable Field Meeting Highlights South County Successes

    The final Prosperity Partnership Roundtable field meeting of 2007 featured visits to the Boeing Auburn plant, Junior Achievement's Boeing Center for Free Enterprise, a trip to The Landing project in Renton, and a number of exciting speakers underscoring successful King County economic development initiatives at a luncheon with the Kent Chamber.

    The Boeing Auburn visit engaged attendees in the innovative ways that Boeing is utilizing its machinists, and talked about its creative solutions to addressing its workforce issues. The Boeing Center for Free Enterprise showcased an inspiring Junior Achievement project for developing youth entrepreneurship skills, and the facility provided an excellent backdrop for Mayor Pete Lewis, Mayor Pro Tem Sue Singer, and Economic Development Manager Dave Baron to provide insight into Auburn's economic development successes.

    Lunch with the Kent Chamber was held at the Alaska Distributors Training Center and featured speakers on topics ranging from minority entrepreneurship to the role of the nonprofit community in economic development. The day came to a close in Renton, with a tour of The Landing, the City of Renton's new signature redevelopment project to create a lakefront retail residential destination, and the Aero-Plastics facility, a key Boeing supplier.

    Staff is beginning to plan the Roundtable Field Meetings for 2008, which will focus on specific industry clusters.

    back to top