A Turn For Home?

New U.S. manufacturing plants are now being created for products ranging from high-end electric cars to home furnishings as companies drastically shorten their supply chains to cut soaring fuel costs.

Tesla Motors, Ikea, Craftmaster Furniture and La-Z-Boy are among the companies opening new U.S. production facilities to save on fuel and carbon emissions, according to a story in the August 3, 2008 New York Times that you can find here in the Seattle Industry News Service.

Tesla Motors had planned to build its luxury, all-electric roadster for the U.S. market through a supply chain stretching 5,000 miles from Thailand to Britain with final assembly in California. But, Tesla management opted to base all production work in the US after identifying potential savings on fuel and other shipping costs. "It was kind of a no-brainer decision for us," one manager told the Times.

No one predicts the end of globalization, but some economists told the New York Times that a growing "neighborhood effect" will be felt if fuel costs remain high, causing more manufacturers for some products to pursue as much production as possible "close to home."

The Times reports that: "Globe-spanning supply chains (like) Brazilian iron ore turned into Chinese steel used to make washing machines shipped to Long Beach, California and then trucked to appliance stores in Chicago make less sense today than they did a few years ago."

The Port of Seattle Business After Hours, hosted for the Manufacturing Industrial Council, SODO Business Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, date has changed.

Please join your Port for an evening of fun in the park featuring appetizers and hosted beverages.
Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008
Time: 5:30-7:30 PM
Place: Jack Block Park - 2130 Harbor Ave SW (Just south of Salty's on Alki)
Parking: Plenty of parking in the park
RSVP: By Monday, August 18th to 206-728-3449

520 Bridge Tolling Open Houses At July 23rd's public meeting of the 520 Tolling Implementation Committee, the Committee announced four possible tolling scenarios, and discussed the possible revenue that each scenario could raise to rebuild and maintain the SR 520 bridge. The Committee is launching a series of five public open houses to gather public feedback on these tolling scenarios, which could impact I-90, SR 522, and other major roadways in the area. For more information, including the scenario results presented at the July 23rd meeting, you can visit the Tolling Implementation Committee website at www.build520.org.
See the postcard for dates and times.

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1st Ave S paving project

Crews will begin paving the northbound lanes on 1st Ave S (E Marginal Way S to S Hudson St) the week of August 11th through the 15th. They also are starting work on 1st Ave S from S Spokane St to S Dakota St and will be making major roadway repairs as well as grinding pavement between during the week of August 25th through 29th. The pavement grinding work will be night work; 7pm-7am.

Expect significant traffic delays in these areas because traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction.

Mariner's Game 8/6/08

The Mariner's will be hosting an afternoon game against the Minnesota Twin's at Safeco Field tomorrow at 1:40pm. Expect traffic delays in the area before and after the game (around 4:30-5pm). Afternoon commuters, please plan accordingly

  

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Spring 2008 issue
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Next MIC Meeting
August 26, 2008
3:30-5:30 PM
5509 1st Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108