The Metropolitan King County Council has given its approval to an ordinance that designates Pacific Raceways as an “industrial project of statewide significance.”

“Our number one job as elected officials is to create an environment encouraging jobs in our region, and this legislation does that,” said Councilman Pete von Reichbauer, a cosponsor of the ordinance. “I am pleased that this legislation, which will bring new and sustained jobs to our region, passed the Council today. I look forward to watching Pacific Raceways create new jobs and develop new green technologies.”

The Washington state Legislature has recognized that certain investments bolster local economies and it created a list of “projects of statewide significance.”

Local governments and state agencies are encouraged to expedite completion of projects on this list.

As a new project of statewide significance, Pacific Raceways will now be in a position to develop its new “Pacific Innovation Center,” a unique facility that will become a hub of innovation for national and international companies specializing in new automotive and green technology development.