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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Launches Action Agenda to Grow Manufacturing, Maritime Jobs
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
4/28/2004 10:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karin Zaugg, Office of Economic Development, 206-733-9810 / 465-8387 (cell) email: karin.zaugg@seattle.gov
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Mayor Launches Action Agenda to Grow Manufacturing, Maritime Jobs
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today announced an action agenda to help retain and grow the city's manufacturing, maritime and related businesses, which employ 121,700 people in Seattle.
"Manufacturing and maritime industries are a strong part of Seattle's history and economy, and I want to make sure they are also a strong part of our future," said Nickels. "These industries provide good-paying jobs - we must keep these jobs and grow them."
Nickels used results from a comprehensive study of the industries to develop his action agenda. The study by the city's Office of Economic Development found that manufacturing and maritime industries contribute an estimated $28.5 billion in revenues to the local economy and more than $100 million in tax revenues to the city. It also found the industries need support in several major areas, which Nickels' agenda addresses in four broad goals:
- Protect the industrial land base
- Provide user-friendly permitting
- Improve transportation to keep freight moving
- Help businesses not only to stay here but grow here
Nickels' agenda includes several actions to address the goals. He has already hired an industrial permit liaison, Roque Deherrera, to work with the industries. Nickels also plans to introduce legislation to provide long-term street end use permits for existing industrial businesses. He is also launching the Seattle First program in partnership with the Manufacturing Industrial Council to help retain and grow these businesses.
"I've talked with these industries and we've studied their issues. These steps are specifically geared to address their concerns and needs," said Nickels.
Other action steps in Nickels' agenda include:
- Developing an industrial shoreline plan to identify centralized areas for restoration efforts and allow businesses to expand more easily
- Fighting for funding to replace the Viaduct
- Protecting industrial land
- Hosting an industrial forum with businesses to talk more about ways to help the city's industrial sector
The study of the industries highlights that:
- Manufacturing, maritime and related businesses supported 121,700 jobs in 2001
- Of those 121,700 jobs, 68,800 jobs are in Seattle's Duwamish and Ballard/Interbay/North industrial areas
- Maritime sector alone supported more than 22,000 jobs in 2002
- Average wages of industrial jobs in Seattle is $50,900, 21% higher than the city's average wage of $41,900.
- Average wages of maritime sector jobs is nearly $70,000
- Industrial sector accounted for an estimated $28.5 billion in revenue in 2001
- Maritime sector accounted for an estimated $4.1 billion in revenue in 2002
To learn more about the Action Agenda or see a colorful brochure on the Mayor's plan, please visit the Mayor's website at seattle.gov/mayor.
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Office of the Mayor
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