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Health & Fitness

Open for Business

Jobs.  Jobs.  Jobs.  They are essential to providing economic growth in a region that has been hit hard by the recession and a tough job market.  With hundreds of thousands of unemployed people across the Northwest--the solution is on the table.  These projects would not only provide these jobs, but would also provide a much needed boost to our local communities.

The solution to our economic stagnation lies within the three proposed bulk commodity export terminals in Washington and Oregon, which are under review by regulatory agencies on local, state, and now federal levels.  The proposed scope of the regulatory review process for these Northwest export facility projects is overly burdensome and unprecedented, which could bring industrial job growth in our region to a halt.  The Northwest cannot afford to lose valuable well paid middle class jobs and the economic benefits these projects would bring to the region.

More importantly, the Northwest cannot have a reputation as a region that is not open to business development.  When skilled workers and families have nowhere to earn a paycheck, they move elsewhere.  This hurts our economy and communities.  How can we say no?

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These terminals are more than just jobs at a port; they would also help create thousands of new family-wage jobs in surrounding communities and supply millions of dollars in local and state tax revenues. Once operational, these projects will be among the highest property tax payers in the region.  This would provide tax dollars to help pay for key community services like schools, libraries, public safety and other vital services.

Trade and exports have played a central role in the Washington and Oregon economies for decades. One in four jobs in our region are tied to the trade industry, which annually produces hundreds of millions in tax revenues.  Our heritage and opportunity is in foreign trade – we must continue to excel as leaders to avoid seeing American products sold overseas moving through ports and routes in other states, and countries such as Canada and Mexico.

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Recent opinion polls show that the majority of voters in our region strongly support these projects –  for good reason,  these projects represent the future of the Northwest and will be benefit  local communities throughout the area.  National, state and local leaders have also voiced their support for the projects, citing job creation and the much needed boost they would provide to our local economies.

The solution is in reach.  Let’s keep the Northwest open for business.

Herb Krohn is the United Transportation Union Washington State Legislative Board Director.

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