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8th District legislative
team to be honored by economic development association for leadership
Their successful efforts
to expand WSU Tri-Cities into a full-fledged four-year university for
southeastern Washington have earned Sen. Jerome Delvin, Rep. Shirley
Hankins and
Rep.
Larry Haler special honors from the Washington Economic
Development Association. The three will be among five lawmakers
presented with WEDA’s LEADER awards at a May 18 ceremony in Tacoma.
“Typically WEDA selects individual legislators for its LEADER awards,
but it has chosen to recognize the three of us as a team, and I think
that’s appropriate,” said Haler, R-Richland. “Not only did we work as a
team in Olympia to win legislative support for expanding WSU Tri-Cities,
but we also had the benefit of a solid team that backed us at every turn
during the legislative session.
“Increasing access to
higher education is important in its own right, but as these honors from
WEDA remind us, access to higher education is vital from an economic
development standpoint. While the Tri-Cities area has had plenty of
success in attracting employers, we also stand to lose lots of jobs as
Hanford’s environmental restoration projects evolve.
A better-educated workforce is attractive to prospective employers, and
a full-fledged four-year university is a cornerstone of our communities’
efforts to ensure a prosperous future for our children and
grandchildren,” said Haler, a member of the House Economic Development,
Agriculture and Trade Committee.
WEDA members represent
cities, counties, colleges, state agencies and other public employers,
labor, and private employers, including the financial and energy
sectors, from around the state. This is the third year for its LEADER
award, given to selected legislators for their “Leadership in Economic
Advancement, Economic Development and Effective Revitalization.”
“Knowing WEDA’s commitment
to improving the economic development climate in our state, I very much
appreciate its recognition of what our 8th District team is working to
accomplish in Olympia,” said Hankins, R-Richland, a member of the House
Capital Budget Committee, which appropriates money for higher education
construction projects.
“The WSU Tri-Cities expansion legislation was the icing on what was
already proving to be a particularly positive session for our part of
the state. The advances we made on behalf of agriculture, on
transportation issues and in the areas of K-12 and early learning also
will have economic benefits over the long term,” said Hankins.
“Even a couple of years ago it seemed like we might never get the green
light to expand WSU Tri-Cities, but a lot of work on the parts of many
people paid off. The awards we’ll receive May 18 really belong to them,”
said Delvin, R-Richland, who serves on the Senate committees that work
on higher education and economic development issues and policy.
“It's gratifying to work on and pass legislation that signifies a
turning point for the district you represent, and this was one of those
bills,” Delvin added. “I appreciate that WEDA sees the importance of it
as well.”
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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