Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature
OLYMPIA… Although employment in Washington’s manufacturing sector is already forecast to increase over the next several years, Sen. Matt Boehnke thinks big growth is possible if lawmakers and government regulators would understand and focus on the needs of manufacturers.
“Manufacturing is how Washington builds the middle class,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick, who recently took part in one of the Association of Washington Business (AWB) events comprising its ninth annual Manufacturing Week observance.
“From aerospace to food processing to advanced composites, more than 270,000 Washingtonians make world-class products that move through our ports to customers around the globe. We need policies that help them hire, build, and grow, not hurdles that slow them down.”
At the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 46, Boehnke joined manufacturers, port officials, and fellow lawmakers on October 1 for AWB’s State of Manufacturing address and to highlight the industry’s vital role in trade, logistics, and family-wage jobs.
He praised the annual statewide bus tour that is the centerpiece of Manufacturing Week for “putting shop floors, ports, and classrooms on the same map” and emphasizing how permitting, supply chains, workforce training, and export markets all connect to Washington’s economic health.
Boehnke’s priorities for maintaining Washington’s competitiveness include streamlining permitting and coordinating agencies, stabilizing taxes and fees, protecting and expanding trade, rebuilding the talent pipeline, and fulfilling the promise to manufacturers, with the goal of doubling these efforts by 2031.
“Time is money. We need predictable timelines and one-stop coordination, so a plant expansion doesn’t get stuck in an eight-month queue,” Boehnke said. “Small and mid-sized employers face death by a thousand cuts. Predictability builds confidence, and confidence drives investment.”
“Washington is one of America’s most trade-dependent states. We need modern ports, efficient freight corridors, and consistent trade policies to keep our products moving. Expanding apprenticeships, CTE, and Core Plus-style programs ensures students graduate work-ready for college, careers, or both,” Boehnke said. “We set a bipartisan goal to double manufacturing by 2031. That only happens if Olympia aligns permitting, energy, workforce, and infrastructure policies behind builders.”
Boehnke stated that Washington’s manufacturing revival relies on trust and action, not on creating new bureaucracy.
“Manufacturers aren’t asking for handouts, just a fair shot. Give them certainty, and they’ll do what they’ve always done: innovate, invest, and create jobs,” Boehnke said. “Permitting reform is job creation. When reviews stretch into years, markets and financing move on. Let’s deliver predictable, concurrent reviews and measurable timelines.”
“Trade acts as a jobs engine from the Tri-Cities to Puget Sound. Our ports connect Washington to the world, and our policies should reflect that reality,” Boehnke added. “Career-ready education in high school and community college, combined with apprenticeships, opens doors for every kid in every ZIP code.”
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Sen. Matt Boehnke represents Washington’s 8th Legislative District. He is a former small-business owner, a military veteran, and strong supporter of family-wage jobs, safe communities, and a competitive economy. He serves as the Ranking Member on the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee and is a member of the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.
The Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, hosts Manufacturing Week to highlight Washington’s manufacturing sector, connecting students, families, and policymakers with modern industries, skills, and supply chains that drive the state’s economy.