Washington Business Winter 2015 | Page 12

washington business Inside AWB It doesn’t matter whether you’re a small-business owner hiring your first full-time employee, or the manager of a corporate division of thousands. For more than 100 years, AWB has been your voice in Washington state. What’s Going On at AWB New Editions of Redbook and Greenbook Now Available in Print and Online AWB Members and Leaders Tour ‘Bertha’ Tunnel-Boring Machine in Seattle Washington is a state of highs and lows. This state has the nation’s least expensive electricity and a workers’ compensation system with the costliest payouts. Competitiveness matters, so understanding the numbers is crucial to making wise business and policy decisions. Seattle’s deep-bore tunneling project has made headlines for years, and in September AWB was able to tour the site in person. To help legislators and business leaders have a solid basis of fact, AWB — in cooperation with WashACE — has published new editions of the Competitiveness Redbook (detailing the state’s business climate) and Greenbook (comparing environmental protections and status). The world’s largest tunneling machine, nicknamed “Bertha,” is about onetenth of the way through a planned expedition underneath downtown Seattle. It has been stopped for more than a year after encountering mechanical problems, apparently from dirt and other materials breaking through its seals and causing the main drilling mechanism to heat up. In a new offering this year, both databooks are now available online in versions optimized for mobile devices. It’s the best way to always have accurate, targeted data available to see how Washington compares with the rest of the nation. Visit awb.org/store-page or contact AWB at 800.521.9325 to learn more and to order your copy of the Redbook and Greenbook in print and for your mobile device. Manufacturing Summit Highlights the Str [