Alaska State Legislature
News from the Office of Representative Mark Hodgins

145 Main St Loop, Suite 221
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone: (907) 283-7223
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org/pastlegs/Hodgins.htm

Hodgins Delegation Reports First Success in Establishing Alaskan Aerospace Industry

Meetings with Boeing "First Giant Step"

For Immediate Release: October 15, 1998 Contact: Representative Mark Hodgins at (907) 283-7223.

Kenai -- Owners, operators, and employees of seven Alaska businesses have returned from two days of intensive meetings in Seattle with officials of the Boeing Corporation. The meetings were designed to familiarize the 21-member delegation with the requirements, standards, and procedures needed for local companies to do business with the aerospace giant.

"We met with the decision makers, the people with whom we need to meet to begin to establish business relationships with Boeing," said Representative Mark Hodgins (R-Kenai), who led the delegation. "Alaskan businesses have proven again and again that they can produce top quality goods and services at a competitive price. It would be a win-win situation for Boeing and for Alaska if they started sending some of that business our way," Hodgins said.

Suppliers of aircraft and aerospace parts must be ISO 9000 certified, an elaborate reporting system of parts manufacturing procedures. But Hodgins said that while the process is tedious, the overall rewards for Alaska business will make it well worthwhile.

"This meeting with Boeing officials was the first giant step toward establishing a relationship that will, hopefully, produce a new industry in Alaska," Hodgins said. "Since we can do the job, it seems only natural that Boeing would be eager to buy parts from this state which, through our Permanent Fund, has such a significant investment in Boeing," Hodgins said.

Currently, Boeing buys parts, goods, and services from some 62-thousand suppliers around the world, including 27 other states. One 747 aircraft will utilize over three million parts, each made to specific and exacting standards. That equates to over $56-billion in purchases from suppliers.

"Alaska business stands ready and eager to earn its share of that $56-billion market," Hodgins said.

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