CWU would benefit under 'Jobs Now' plan

Central Washington University will receive $18 million to expand and renovate a campus building in a $1.2 billion plan Gov. Chris Gregoire unveiled Thursday, pitching it as a partner to President-elect Barack Obama's proposed economic rescue.

No major building construction projects in Yakima County made Gregoire's list, a package of construction projects, unemployment benefits and tax breaks.

Gregoire said her plan, called "Washington Jobs Now," could create thousands of jobs over the next two years by speeding up construction projects, especially at colleges and universities.

The construction package would total more than $800 million. More than half, about $427 million, are new projects already proposed in Gregoire's recent construction budget request.

The other chunk, about $390 million, consists of previously approved transportation projects that aren't scheduled to start for some time.

The projects on the Ellensburg campus include renovation and expansion of Hogue Hall, home to the Department of Industrial &
Engineering Technology. The project will more than double the size of the building and renovate most of the existing structure.

The project will include new classrooms, computer labs, offices, laboratories and multimedia classrooms.

The only Yakima County project specifically mentioned on the governor's list is the rehabilitation of pavement on a section of Interstate 82 between Granger and Grandview.

Another freeway concrete rehabilitiation is proposed for Interstate 90 near Easton.

An asphalt pavement improvement project also is proposed for State Route 243 in the Mattawa area in Grant County.

Gregoire is asking the Democrat-controlled Legislature to move the entire list of "Jobs Now" projects to the front of the line, so construction can begin this year.

Gregoire, who was sworn in for a second term Wednesday, also wants to tap $400 million, or about 10 percent, of the state unemployment program's healthy reserves.

That money would be split evenly between richer jobless benefits and a tax break for employers. Officials said the average benefit increase would be about $45 a week.

Some business interests are nervous about that portion of Gregoire's plans, even though it includes a tax break. If the jobless program's reserves are depleted too much, the state could wind up raising rates, said Troy Nichols of the National Federation of Independent Business.

"I think our folks would love to have a rate holiday," he said. "The devil is in the details."

In addition, Gregoire is calling for a bill that would help struggling homeowners work out troubled mortgages with their banks. She offered few details on that plan.

Republicans in the Legislature say they're optimistic about the stimulus package.

But they say government alone can't turn the state's economic problems around.

Earlier Thursday, congressional Democrats proposed a federal stimulus package that would total about $825 billion.