When Gov. Gary Locke signed the agreement to assemble the Boeing 7E7 in Everett, Boeing Vice President Mike Bair confided that when the aerospace giant started the site selection process, Boeing officials didn’t think Washington had a chance.

So how did the state pull off this amazing turnaround?

SITUATION
Boeing needed to be convinced that the business climate in Washington was changing — and those changes were real, tangible and lasting. It required bold, decisive action, demonstrating dramatic changes, and backed by a broad-based coalition of business, labor, both political parties and government officials from the federal, state, local and tribal levels.

STRATEGY
Working with the state’s Action Washington team, Gallatin helped create a multi-tiered communications strategy. Gallatin worked with state, business and labor leaders to voice support for the state’s incentive package.

Gallatin also worked with the state team on communicating the actual package to Boeing by developing the overview and production of a seven-minute video introduction featuring Gov. Locke and others. Public momentum and excitement was built through a series of high-visibility news conferences and other events. Support was solicited from the state’s leading corporate CEOs, along with a series of Op-Eds and ongoing backgrounding with the news media on key Washington benefits.

OUTCOME
On December 16, 2003, Boeing announced it would assemble the 7E7 “Dreamliner” in Everett, Wash. Everything worked together — clear goal, clear message, clear victory.