In the News

We are fortunate that Washington state's economy has a diverse array of strengths as we work to continue our recovery from the Great Recession.

We build the world's best airplanes. We design software that's changed the way we work and socialize. We grow some of the country's best fruits and vegetables, producing, in fact, 92 percent of the nation's red raspberries. But to keep our economy growing, we need to recognize all of our strengths and leverage them to our advantage.

One critical asset we have is our lands and natural resources. They provide us with spectacular outdoor recreational opportunities. From Mount Baker to Mount Rainer or Olympic National Park -- our rivers, lakes, mountains and forests are some of the most pristine and breathtaking areas of the entire country. Too often, they are talked about as just an amenity for our residents. When in fact, our proximity to these places gives us an incredible economic opportunity that is uniquely Northwest. These lands represent an economic engine for our state, employing 227,000 people and generating $22.5 billion in consumer spending every year, according to a 2012 report by the Outdoor Industry Foundation.

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