“Governor Gary Locke has called a statewide conference on Thursday, June 8 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue to help policymakers better understand the role emerging growth companies have in Washington’s economy. Up to 400 fast-growth company executives and venture capitalists are expected to attend the first-ever event, chaired by Martha Choe, director of Washington State Community, Trade and Economic Development. The goal of the one-day conference is to develop a strategy to nurture the development of emerging growth companies that have helped make Washington a center for the new economy. Locke has indicated he hopes the conference will also focus on what areas outside the central Puget Sound region can do to make themselves more attractive to start-up companies or existing fast-growth firms facing expansion decisions. Locke said the Puget Sound region has become a center not only for software development, but also for the telecommunications industry, and e-commerce. For information on the conference call Sari Weiss, the conference organizer, at 1-888-463-8004.”