Aerospace collaboration here put in front of line again for funding

A Cincinnati-Dayton region aerospace collaboration has received a two-year federal redesignation that puts it in front of the line for more than $1.3 billion in federal money available for economic development.

The Southwestern Ohio Aerospace Region, which includes manufacturers from Northern Kentucky to Springfield, was one of 12 groups redesignated by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership is a federal program started in 2014 designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in communities like Dayton, Cincinnati and Springfield. The program supports the development of long-term economic development strategies that help communities attract and expand private investment in the manufacturing sector and increase international trade and exports.

To earn the initial designation, the Southwest Ohio group had to demonstrate the strength of the aerospace manufacturing industry in the region and develop strategies to make investments in six areas: workforce and training; research and innovation; infrastructure and site development; supply chain support; trade and international investment; and operational improvement and capital access.

“These IMCP-designated communities are doing their part to develop comprehensive strategies to strengthen the local manufacturing sector and to attract business investment that makes our nation more globally competitive,” said Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.

With the new two-year designation, organizations in the 27-county area including Northern Kentucky and Springfield get preferential treatment when applying for government funding to support the aerospace manufacturing industry.

The Southwestern Ohio Aerospace Region includes more than 64 aerospace companies that employ almost 12,000 workers in the region. SOAR is in the top-third nationally across 23 of the 25 industries that make up aerospace supply chains, and across these aerospace supply chains, employs 116,000 manufacturing workers, according to the organization.

Millions of dollars are at stake for the local economy in aerospace manufacturing.

“By having this and getting more federal resources, we’re hoping to increase the number of trained workers in the region, which will hopefully lead to more jobs in the area,” John Owen, research director for Dayton Development Coalition, said when the region was first designated.