Development of the Boeing 2707 Supersonic Transport, or SST, began in earnest in the early 1960s, just after the Concorde project was announced. Unfortunately, the Boeing SST project was hampered by design and environmental concerns including the issue of sonic booms and the effects on the ozone layer. These issues ultimately forced the US government to cut funding and the project was cancelled in 1971. This led to massive Boeing layoffs, causing many workers to move away from the city to find jobs. In response, a billboard was erected near Sea-Tac airport in 1971 that read, "Will the last person leaving Seattle - turn out the lights." This airplane model is part of a set owned by Richard Albrecht who was a top executive at Boeing from 1976 to his retirement in 1997.