ML search for 7E7 suppliers continues

Relations in Gunpo City may lead to eventual plant

Photo: GCEDC executive director Terry Brewer discusses his hopes for benefits from the assembly of Boeing's 7E7 jet to be felt in Moses Lake.

The first order for Boeing's new 7E7 jet has come in, but it's too soon to tell if Moses Lake will see any benefit from the jet's assembly in Everett.

"It's hard to say at this time; we hope so," said Terry Brewer, executive director of the Grant County Economic Development Council. "Nothing happening here at the moment that I'm aware of."

He said both the EDC and the Port district are doing their best to identify sub-tier suppliers that are providing the parts and components for the airplane to major suppliers. The two groups are in contact with the suppliers to share the opportunities and benefits in the Moses Lake area.

"We'll see where that goes," Brewer said.

Port executive manager David Senne said that two things could come out of sales of the 7E7 for the area. Orders coming in would mean that Boeing would start committing funds and resources to building the planes, which will get the suppliers to start looking at nearby sites to provide those orders.

"The other thing is, when the actual aircraft is built, I have a strong belief that we're going to see that aircraft flying over here quite a bit as it goes through its initial certification testing," Senne said. "It's a very strenuous flight test program, and typically Boeing has come over here to conduct those flight tests. So we could see a lot of flight test activity over here, and the benefits from that. They'd be buying fuel here, they'd be paying landing fees, and we'll see those kinds of things happen."

Senne said that letters have been sent out to everybody on the 'Who's Who list in the United States of aviation suppliers" to let them know of Moses Lake's interest in their business. The Port is also working with the state to get a contact list to starting honing in on the people Boeing has identified as potential suppliers, he said.

The efforts will continue even after Senne has left his position, he said.

"I would think so," he said. "I think the Board (of Commissioners) will see to that."

Brewer also recently returned from Gunpo City, where he was part of a Grant County delegation to the South Korean sister city.

"(There were) lots of discussions with some folks related to agricultural commodities, both hay and potatoes," he said. "And we hope to see continued and increased exporting of those commodities, for one thing. And for another, discussions with a company who's in the process of currently building their first plant in Los Angeles."

Brewer said some people might wonder why the plant isn't being built in Grant County.

"There's a world of difference between the marketplace in Grant County and L.A.," he said. "They built in L.A., because that's a major marketplace in the U.S. But they did say that at some point, things go well, they'll be looking northwest maybe for a potential spot and would like to consider Grant County at that time. No predictions, and something that's a ways away, but the point is we continue to have a relationship and meet more companies and promote what's an opportunity here for them perhaps and we'll see where it goes."