Business & Tech

Patch Will Be At Boeing Friday For President Obama's Visit, Check Back For Coverage

Obama is expected to speak about the importance of domestic manufacturing and American exports at Boeing. He will later visit Bellevue and Medina for fundraisers.

President Obama will tour The Boeing Co. factory in Everett during his visit to the Puget Sound area on Friday.

He's expected to speak about the importance of domestic manufacturing and American exports at Boeing after flying to Paine Field. His speaking engagement in Everett is the first presidential visit to Snohomish County in 19 years, according to The Everett Herald. Bill Clinton was the last president to visit the county in 1993.

In late November, Boeing announced that 737 Max production would take place in Washington state, bringing with it thousands of new jobs. Boeing added 8,361 jobs in Washington last year, according to The Everett Herald.

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Boeing has also committed to increasing its 737 production to 42 planes per month by 2014.

The city of Renton has been a major player in securing the 737 Max production. When asked about Obama’s visit, Renton Mayor Denis Law said he’d ask the president what federal funding he could provide for transportation and infrastructure investment, given the number of jobs and the economic boost that the 737 MAX production in Renton will provide the entire nation.

Law would also like to extend a personal invite to the president.

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“Not only do we have the best aerospace industry in the world, but we also have one of the best Five Guys Burgers,” he said in an email to Patch.

Alex Pietsch, administrator for the City of Renton's Department of Community and Economic Development said Obama's visit gives the state and region a rare opportunity to showcase the importance of the Puget Sound's significance in the aerospace industry around the world and in the global economy.

"Renton and Boeing's 737 production facility is an important part of that and we look forward to the day when the President visits Renton to see the 737MAX under production," he said.

The increased production brings more than just Boeing jobs, it also supports more than 400 local aerospace suppliers, King County Executive Dow Constantine said late last year.

Patch will be at Boeing’s Everett plant on Friday, so be sure to check back for our coverage. Obama’s visit comes just days after GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum held a rally in Tacoma and a day after Republican candidate Ron Paul’s rally in SeaTac.

After his visit to Boeing, Obama will head to Bellevue and Medina for private fundraisers before returning to Washington, D.C., late Friday.

What questions do you have for Obama, or what would you tell him if you had the chance?


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