State to get $3 million for aerospace training

Governor Chris Gregoire is directing that $3 million in federal Workforce Investment Act funds go to aerospace training programs in Washington.

She made the announcement Tuesday while speaking from a balcony overlooking the 737 line at Boeing's Renton factory.

Her office says $1.6 million will go to specific training and placement in aerospace jobs; $1 million will pay for equipment and materials for students; $300,000 will buy equipment for the Aerospace Training and Research Center in Renton and the Inland Northwest Aerospace Technology Center in Spokane; and $100,000 will go to the Washington Scholars Program to encourage high school students to study engineering in college.

The governor's office says training could help some of the 228,000 jobless people in Washington find jobs at the 650 aerospace companies in the state.