SENATE RESOLUTION

                            8718

By Senators Deccio, McCaslin, McAuliffe, Sheldon, B., Rasmussen and Kohl-Welles

    WHEREAS, The Yakima Valley recognizes it has an economy in transition and significant change needs to occur; and

    WHEREAS, The citizens of the Yakima Valley have a proud tradition of self-help and grassroots community action to meet challenges and create opportunities; and

    WHEREAS, The Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce's education program has been recognized by both the National School to Work Office and the United States Chamber of Commerce as a Best Practice in the United States; and

    WHEREAS, The Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce has established task forces working to identify and implement strategies for the emerging, current, and transitional workers in the Yakima Valley; and

    WHEREAS, The Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce and government, education, community, and business interests have come together to form a partnership known as the Business Education Partnership Initiative; and

    WHEREAS, The Business Education Partnership Initiative has taken a leading role in preparing and maintaining a qualified work force to meet Yakima Valley employer requirements now and in the future; and

     WHEREAS, The Business Education Partnership Initiative allows even greater networking among government, education, community, and business interests by increasing access to the talents and knowledge of all members and the various programs and organizations involved in the workforce development process;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce and all the government, education, community, and business interests involved for their outstanding efforts in forming the Business Education Partnership Initiative to create a working partnership model for grassroots involvement leading to community solutions; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8718,

adopted by the Senate January 30, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate