Public universities have a long history of collaboration, investment and economic impact in the Inland Northwest. Now our public institutions of higher learning are poised to usher in a new era of innovation andprosperity.

Youve heard about the initiative to create a new medical school at Washington State University Spokane. You know that we have a new College of Health Science and Public Health at Eastern Washington University Spokane. These are just two of the many creative initiatives that will continue invigorating thisregion.

While our institutions continue to bring tremendous value to the state, debate continues in

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Public universities have a long history of collaboration, investment and economic impact in the Inland Northwest. Now our public institutions of higher learning are poised to usher in a new era of innovation andprosperity.

Youve heard about the initiative to create a new medical school at Washington State University Spokane. You know that we have a new College of Health Science and Public Health at Eastern Washington University Spokane. These are just two of the many creative initiatives that will continue invigorating thisregion.

While our institutions continue to bring tremendous value to the state, debate continues in Olympia about how the state should be funding education. Those discussions will intensify in the coming weeks as the House and Senate debate how to adequately fund higher education while keeping tuition affordable for Washington families. What cant be lost in the dialogue is the fact that higher education is critical to the future of ourregion.

Investments in education are investments in our young people, in our families and in ourworkforce.

Public universities are key to ensuring that Washingtonians have good jobs and good wages, that our state remains competitive. In todays knowledge economy, possessing a college degree significantly increases a persons chances of getting a job. On average, workers with bachelors degrees earn 84 percent more than those with only high schooldiplomas.

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Lisa Brown and Mary Cullinan: Higher ed funds critical to region - Sat, 11 Apr 2015 PST