Watch for a big, vinyl-wrapped bus rolling through your community soon.

The Association of Washington Business (AWB) is hitting the road to celebrate Washington manufacturers — the makers of everything from airplanes and music stands to carbon fiber and fair trade skin care products.

Beginning Sept. 29 and continuing through Oct. 6, community leaders and elected officials from every corner of the state will join staff from AWB in a bus tour highlighting Washington’s vibrant manufacturing economy and raising awareness about the challenges that manufacturers face.

The tour begins Friday, Sept. 29 with stops on the Olympic Peninsula. A kick-off rally Monday, Oct. 2 in Lacey formally launches the tour. Two separate buses will take off from there and spend the week crisscrossing the state, stopping at more than 60 manufacturing companies.

At each stop, employees will be invited to sign the bus to show their support for manufacturing and sign a petition calling on lawmakers to restore the manufacturing tax relief that was approved by lawmakers during the legislative session, but vetoed by the governor.

“Manufacturing in Washington is an international success story,” said AWB President Kris Johnson. “The products made in our state are recognized as innovative and truly world class. At the same time, we know manufacturers are facing some significant challenges, from finding enough skilled workers to staying competitive in a global economy. Spending a week on the road and meeting with the employees and leaders of Washington’s manufacturing companies is a great way to celebrate what they do and find out how we can support them and help them grow.”

Reporters are invited to cover the stops along either bus route. A map with details about each of the stops will be updated here. Highlights of the schedule are listed below:

AGENDA

WHO:             Association of Washington Business

WHAT:          2017 Manufacturing Bus Tour

WHEN:          Friday, Sept. 29; Oct. 2-6

WHERE:        60-plus stops throughout Washington.

• Friday, Sept. 29: Olympic Peninsula, Aberdeen, Hoquiam
• Monday, Oct. 2: Interstate 5 corridor from Olympia to Vancouver (Bus 1); Bellingham, Skagit County (Bus 2)
• Tuesday, Oct. 3: Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities (Bus 1); Wenatchee, Colville (Bus 2)
• Wednesday, Oct. 4: Spokane, Moses Lake, Ellensburg (Bus 1); Pullman, Walla Walla (Bus 2)
• Thursday, Oct. 5: Kent, Redmond, Seattle
• Friday, Oct. 6: Interstate 5 corridor from Seattle to Tumwater.

About the Association of Washington Business

Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes nearly 7,000 members representing 700,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.

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