GSI SUPPORTS ALL SCHOOL BONDS & LEVIES School Bonds & Levies SUPPORT SCHOOL BONDS & LEVIES Educationgrowseconomies.Com EDUCATION GR WS ECONOMIES

GSI SUPPORTS ALL SCHOOL BONDS & LEVIES School Bonds & Levies SUPPORT SCHOOL BONDS & LEVIES EducationGrowsEconomies.com EDUCATION GR WS ECONOMIES

Vote YES to support How Education Grows Economies

our public school Voting YES on bonds and levies impacts much more than students - It impacts bonds and levies you and the future of our economy. 65% Higher Education is at the heart of a healthy economy and it is one of the most important Education Required assets we have to attract businesses to our region, create new jobs, and ensure we have a strong workforce to fill those jobs.

Greater Spokane Incorporated supports the Spokane region’s public school bonds and levies. 35% Require High School Education or Less Levy Dollars Represent About 20% of the 2020 Job availability based on education School Districts’ Annual Budget • By 2020, 65% of jobs will require These dollars support numerous programs* including some kind of certification or degree Source: Georgetown University Center on Education art, music, drama, technology, textbooks and materials, & Workforce. Recovery: Job Growth and Education STEM, student transportation, and extracurricular Requirement through 2020, June 2013. activities such as sports and after school activities. • A qualified workforce is one of These types of programs are not currently considered the top three items companies part of basic education. * (varies by district) look for when choosing a location to move or start a business.

• There are 25,000 unfilled jobs in WA Education Grows Economies as a result of the job skills gap It’s a fact that our economy is changing. Fifty years ago, you could have a family wage (growing to 50,000 by 2017), 80% job with only a high school degree. Today, we’re seeing new technology driven jobs in of which are in high skill STEM and industries such as aerospace or health sciences that require a post-secondary education. health care roles. Source: Boston Consulting Group and Washington Roundtable Joint Report. Great Jobs within Our Reach – Solving the problem of Washington state’s What are Bonds and Levies? growing jobs skills gap, March 2013 Bonds are needed for infrastructure, technology and building improvements. Levies fund the operation of our schools and include supplies, equipment, materials, and staff. Take Action Now

Inform and encourage your employees, neighbors, relatives and friends to vote in support of their district bonds and levies. GSI can provide you with the tools you need to help raise your voice for education in our community.

EducationGrowsEconomies.com

Why are Bond and Levy Innovating for Success Dollars Essential? Schools across our region are using new Spokane Area School Districts Local taxes fund a significant portion of our strategies to help students succeed and with Bonds on the Ballot: K-12 education system. GSI understands to improve outcomes. From new teacher • Central Valley School District that a well-rounded education today is training programs to more rigorous • Cheney School District critical for our community’s success. curriculum and from STEM academies • Mead School District • Nine Mile Falls School District K-12 education is an essential ingredient to the innovative use of technologies, our • Spokane Public Schools to fueling the growth of our economy - schools are putting our investment in one that will require new types of skills education to work for students today Spokane Area School Districts and knowledge. and for the future. with Levies on the Ballot: • Central Valley School District Working Together to Raise the • Cheney School District Bar for our Community • Deer Park School District It’s up to us all to ensure we support a • East Valley School District strong school system today and in the • Freeman School District future. Local communities are the engine • Liberty School District for our schools and our schools help to • Mead School District fuel our local economy. Local taxes fund • Medical Lake School District a significant portion of our K-12 education • Nine Mile Falls School District system. We raise the bar in our homes • Reardan-Edwall School District • Riverside School District and in our businesses. We’re also asking • Spokane Public Schools our schools to raise the bar. To do this, • West Valley School District we need to work together to support high quality education for a high quality workforce. Spokane is a region that works together to make great things happen. EDUCATION Want to Know More? For more information or details on how you can get involved, contact Alisha GR WS Benson, Vice President of Education & Workforce, GSI and Executive Director, ECONOMIES Spokane STEM at 509-321-3608 or EducationGrowsEconomies.com [email protected].

Greater Spokane Incorporated 801 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 100 Spokane, WA 99201 Connect. Drive. Advocate 509.624.1393 greaterspokane.org Voting Laws

Get Out the Vote!

As an employer you need to be cautious that you don’t cross any lines during voting season. We want to make it easy for you to encourage employees to ‘Get Out the Vote’.

Encourage and Send out emails Distribute voter remind employees (see email template guides on the to vote. Also sample). This is an upcoming issues DO remind them about effective method of and initiatives. upcoming voting encouraging the entire dates so that workplace to vote. deadlines are not missed.

Set up a voter Hang posters with registration table important voting > or pass around dates, reminding voter registration staff to vote. information at a staff meeting.

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Don’t TELL Don’t give out DON’T employees how to incentives to vote a vote. You can inform certain way. staff on issues, but you cannot tell them how to vote on an issue.*

*No employer may discriminate against an employee in the terms or conditions of employment for failure to support or oppose a ballot proposition

Greater Spokane Incorporated 801 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 100 Spokane, WA 99201 509.624.1393 greaterspokane.org > Create Something Greater For more information visit www.EducationGrowsEconomies.com Get Out The Vote!

A Dozen Easy Ways to Get Out the Vote!

With limited time and resources, here are some ways you can quickly and easily Get Out the Vote without spending a dime.

p Talk to people you work with about the importance of voting and how it impacts your organization and the community you serve.

p Encourage citizens to vote in an article on your website or in any business newsletter that is distributed before the voting deadline.

p Send emails to your staff, members, clients, board members and volunteers encouraging them to vote.

p Create ‘Vote Today’ signage and place it in your main lobby and other common areas with information about ballot drop box locations, and phone numbers or website voting resources. > p Include reminders in payroll envelopes that get distributed before the voting deadline. p Do an “office knock” on the day before the voting deadline - make the rounds in your business offices and remind your colleagues to VOTE.

p Include a VOTE FEBRUARY 10 card in group meetings or programs that your business holds in the month leading up to the voting deadline.

p Make a VOTE FEBRUARY 10 message to place in your company’s window.

p Add a VOTE FEBRUARY 10 message in your email signature.

p Put up reminders to vote on your business reader boards.

p Set up a voter registration table at your office.

p Carpool or walk with co-workers to a drop box location to send in ballots. Make it fun and social!

Get Out the Vote!

Consider the difference you can make as an employer to remind people through email to vote.

SUBJECT LINE: REGISTER TO VOTE Today is the LAST day for mail or online NEW registrations and updates to vote for the February 10, 2015 ballot. Don’t miss out on a chance to VOTE.

WHAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT? This special ballot will have a number of local school districts seeking bond and levy support from the community.

WHAT ARE BONDS AND LEVIES? Bonds are needed for infrastructure. Levy dollars are used by school districts to fund programs such as art, music, drama, athletics, school bus transportation and much more. > Jan 12 For more information visit www.EducationGrowsEconomies.com. Register to vote online at www.sos.wa.gov/elections/myvote

SUBJECT LINE: BALLOTS MAILED TODAY Keep an eye on your mailbox-the February 10, 2015 ballots were mailed today.

WHAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT? This special ballot will have a number of local school districts seeking bond and levy support from the community. > WHAT ARE BONDS AND LEVIES? Bonds are needed for infrastructure. Levy dollars are used by school districts to fund programs such as art, music, drama, athletics, school bus transportation Jan 23 and much more.

Visit www.EducationGrowsEconomies.com and find out if your local school district has a bond and/or levy. Register to vote in-person BEFORE Feb. 2.

SUBJECT LINE: LESS THAN ONE WEEK AWAY February 10 is fast approaching. Make sure you take the time to vote and make this community what you want it to be. SUBJECT LINE: VOTE TODAY Today is the deadline to mail your WHAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT? This special ballot will have a number ballots or to drop them off at a of local school districts seeking bond and levy support from the drop-box location. community. Find a drop-off location near you. Feb 10 WHAT ARE BONDS AND LEVIES? Bonds are needed for infrastructure. > www.spokanecounty.org/elections Levy dollars are used by school districts to fund programs such as art, music, drama, athletics, school bus transportation and much more.

For more information visit www.EducationGrowsEconomies.com. There Feb 3 is only one week left to fill out your ballots! >

Get Out the Vote!

Remember February 10 is the last day to vote.

This special ballot will have a number of local school districts seeking bond and levy support from the community. Bonds are needed for infrastructure. Levy dollars are used by school districts to fund programs such as art, music, drama, athletics, school bus transportation and much more. Create Something Greater > www.EducationGrowsEconomies.com

Remember to Vote!

Get Out the Vote!

Remember February 10 is the last day to vote.

Remember to Vote!

Get Out the Vote!

Remember February 10 is the last day to vote.

VOTE BEFORE FEBRUARY 10 Get Registered. Visit http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/spokane

> Greater Spokane Incorporated 801 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 100 Spokane, WA 99201 > Create Something Greater 509.624.1393 greaterspokane.org