Military Cluster

The Military cluster is the source of significant economic activity in the region. A 2003 economic impact study showed a total of about 132,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region related to military bases. Sales by Puget Sound companies to local bases total $350 million per year.

In addition, businesses in the region contract with bases in other states and countries, as well as directly with the Pentagon. The military is increasingly outsourcing goods and services to domestic firms, so growth potential exists for regional businesses to meet the military’s growing needs.

Furthermore, many military personnel choose to stay in the region once they retire, making long-term economic sustainability of military communities an important consideration for our future economic health.

Finally, future Base Realignment & Closure activity will bring both challenges and opportunities for growing our region’s military-related jobs.

2010 Action Items

Action Initiative	Action Initiative Area	Organization
Amend state Commercial Driver's License requirements to include acceptance of Military Driver's Training.	Military	Governor Gregoire / Washington State Legislature / Washington Defense Partnership
Secure the Air Force tanker contract.	Aerospace / Military	U.S. Tanker 2010 / Washington Aerospace Partnership
Update the Military Impact Study for Washington state	Military	State Department of Commerce / Washington Defense Partnership / Prosperity Partnership

What's New: Congressman Norm Dicks (WA-06) Attends June Washington Defense Partnership Meeting
The Washington Defense Partnership held its spring 2010 meeting on June 1 at Madigan Army Medical Center. The morning started with a briefing from Jay Ebbeson and Col Jerome Penner on the mission and current work being done at Madigan.

The Partnership dedicated a significant portion of its meeting to the update of the Statewide Military Impact Study, last completed in 2004. The Washington Economic Development Commission and consultants from Berk & Associates shared preliminary findings and gathered feedback on military base and defense contracting related economic activity. The final study should be released later this summer.

Congressman Norm Dicks joined the group during the impact study discussion and stayed to hear Dan Penrose from the City of Lakewood present the Joint Base Lewis McChord Growth Coordination Plan. The merger of Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base into Lewis-McChord created the third largest base in the nation and Lakewood is leading the regional discussion on how to handle resulting growth.

In the coming months the Washington Defense Partnership will begin the discussion on how the partnership should grow in the future.

Successful Implementation of Prosperity Partnership’s 2009 Military Action Items
The Prosperity Partnership’s 2009 Military Action Items call for the implementation of two initiatives: supporting passage of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and the formation of a permanent statewide military working group to ensure increased coordination, communication and action that supports the military Washington state. As of June 1, both have been achieved.

On May 7, SSB 5248 enacted the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Washington joins with 24 states in enacting this legislation to help military families achieve better educational continuity when transferring between school districts and states.

On May 27, the Washington Defense Partnership held its first meeting. The Partnership will meet twice a year and serve as a central coordinating body for facilitating solutions to support the military presence and mission in Washington.

Cluster Strategy Development Background
In 2008, to target its work in supporting the military cluster, the Prosperity Partnership formed a Military Cluster Strategy Development Working Group tasked with identifying specific action initiatives to be implemented. A special thanks goes to the co-chairs of that working group:

Carol Evanoff, Resident Director
Lockheed Martin, Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific for the Fleet Ballistic Missile Program
www.lockheedmartin.com

Rear Admiral James Symonds, Commander
Navy Region Northwest
www.navy.mil

Read the Military Industry Cluster Strategy.


Contact
For more information, contact Olivia Robinson, orobinson@psrc.org, 206-464-7890