S-1233 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL NO. 5549
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State of Washington 51st Legislature 1989 Regular Session
By Senators Lee, Williams and Anderson
Read first time 1/27/89 and referred to Committee on Economic Development & Labor.
AN ACT Relating to an industrial extension grant program; adding a new chapter to Title 18 RCW; and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the industrial and manufacturing base of the Washington economy has undergone tremendous change during the past two decades. The challenge facing Washington firms is to become as productive and efficient as possible to survive in an increasingly competitive world market. Many small and medium-sized firms are in need of engineering and technical assistance to become or remain competitive. Such firms normally lack access to the knowledge base necessary to introduce new products or production processes. Many states, to encourage the innovation necessary to withstand foreign competition, operate technical assistance programs for their firms. It is the intent of the legislature to provide industrial technical assistance which can increase the speed with which Washington firms innovate and adjust to the demands of competition in world markets.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The business assistance center of the department of trade and economic development, in consultation with the Washington state institute for public policy and the northwest policy center shall administer an industrial extension grant program. A minimum of four grants shall be given to operate industrial extension services at a minimum of four cities throughout the state, two of which shall be in western Washington.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The successful grant recipient shall:
(1) Demonstrate the participation of local higher education institutions, trade or industry associations, and local economic development groups.
(2) Provide the services of industrial engineers, efficiency experts, and other technicians familiar with the modernization needs of local industries.
(3) Offer firm-specific assistance for a maximum of five person-days, after which firms may negotiate assistance on a fee basis.
(4) Work primarily with small firms which could not otherwise afford the expertise.
(5) Develop mechanisms to provide information on new manufacturing technologies to existing small and medium-sized firms.
(6) Designate a substate region and coordinate the delivery of technical assistance resources to small and medium-sized firms throughout that region.
(7) Provide whatever information the business assistance center deems necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the services delivered by the grant recipient.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The business assistance center shall report to the economic development and labor committee of the senate and the trade and economic development committee of the house of representatives by December 1, 1990, and each year thereafter on the accomplishments of the technical assistance grant program. Such reports shall include the number and types of firms assisted, the number of jobs created or saved as a result of the assistance, and the results of client satisfaction surveys distributed to those using the services of the program.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The business assistance center shall work with grant recipients to examine mechanisms for the establishment of flexible manufacturing networks or consortia through which small firms cooperatively access modernization, marketing, training and other services.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of four hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the department of trade and economic development for the purposes of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 18 RCW.