www.huntsvillealabamausa.com 

 

Huntsville, Ala. continues to gain national recognition for its growing economic base, quality of life, cost of living and a massive influx of new job opportunities. In 2008 Huntsville was touted as a top city in which to live, work and play by more than eight national publications. With a range of tax incentives, expansion and relocation assistance, a highly educated and highly skilled workforce, and thriving local support systems and programs, it's no wonder Huntsville is recognized by Expansion Solutions Magazine as one of the top five locations in the U.S. for aerospace companies to do business and thrive.

 

 Alabama's core of the aerospace and defense sector is centered in Huntsville, and has been since the advent of the Army's (and later NASA's) rocket and missile programs of the 1950s and 1960s. The early achievements of the German rocket team, led by Dr. Wernher von Braun, created a culture of science and technology development that has been nurtured by generations of Huntsville leaders. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is one of more than 65 major Federal agencies housed on Redstone Arsenal, which will benefit tremendously from the growth of new Army and Department of Defense commands moving there in the next three years.

 

 Eleven of the top 14 aerospace and defense contractors in the country have major operations in Huntsville, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, SAIC, General Dynamics, United Technologies Corp., and homegrown and operated contractors like Aegis Technologies, COLSA Corp., Dynetics, Camber Corp., PPG, and Teledyne Brown Engineering.

 

 Huntsville is also home to the Army's technology development programs, with more than 20 percent of the entire U.S. Army budget managed at Redstone Arsenal. More than half of the Army's weapons procure budget is managed at Redstone, a part of the more than $30 billion in Federal dollars that flow through the community annually.

 

  In all, more than 400 aerospace and defense contractors call Huntsville home, employing more than 60,000 people. Spin off technologies in computers, software, electronics and advanced manufacturing add to the growing economic base. Many of those companies are housed in Cummings Research Park, the nation's second largest research park and fourth-largest in the world. CRP counts more than 285 companies with approximately 25,000 workers.

 

 

 

During the past year, the City of Mesa has experienced strong growth and economic development in the aerospace industry. The number of businesses choosing to locate to Mesa clearly indicates that the city's economic vitality continues to increase. Companies are coming to Mesa because of its ideal location, access to a great labor force and extensive opportunities for growth. Mesa is realizing a boom in new economic activity.

Gains in Mesa's aerospace industry this year were significant. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport acquired coveted tenants Embraer Air, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft and Crownair Aviation. Falcon Field, now the 4th busiest general aviation airport in the country in terms of takeoffs and landings, had 59 new hangars constructed on the airport this year and is home to 1,310 high-quality jobs. The Falcon Field employment center is now open to the entire Southeast Valley due to the completion of the Loop 202 freeway.

Working with partners such as the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway staff, the City was able to show both Embraer Air and Cessna, the long-term benefits of locating to PMG with its unique access to the excellent aviation training schools at Arizona State University Polytechnic and Chandler-Gilbert Community College. In addition, Allegiant Air, the newest tenant at PMG, has lauched passenger service to and from thirteen locations throughout the United States.

Other major aerospace companies already invested in the area include Boeing, MD Helicopters, and Hawker Beechcraft. Their prosperity is due, in part, to the strong partnerships between the public and private sector, a highly educated workforce, and a competitive tax structure.  The aerospace industry in Mesa is strong and thriving. Mesa comprises nearly 20% of aerospace related jobs within the Phoenix-Mesa Metropolitan area. Additionally, Mesa has nationally recognized aerospace programs at the college and community college levels as well as special programs for K-12 students such as the Lowell and Salk Flight Centers. With two award winning airports, and major aerospace firms in place and thriving, Mesa is a major player in Arizona's aerospace industry.

 

 

 

What is Arkansas's single largest export?  Most people are surprised when they hear the answer. Aerospace and related products are Arkansas's No. 1 export, totaling more than $1 billion.  The state ranks 11th nationally among all states in aerospace exports, and more than 10,000 Arkansans are employed in various sectors of the industry.

 

 Metro Little Rock, which encompasses an 11 county region, is the heaviest aerospace player in the state.  The Metro Little Rock region is one of the world's largest jet completion centers.  This business-friendly region is attractive to aerospace companies because of its competitive location, available workforce, infrastructure, growth trends, structural assets, costs of doing business, taxes, incentives and available sites. 

 

Dassault Falcon Jet is the state's top aerospace company and it has found its' home in Metro Little Rock.   Raytheon Aircraft Company, another internationally recognized aircraft completion center, has located to the area along with other companies including Hawker Beechcraft, American Airlines, and Lockheed Martin Missiles.  Encouraged by regional support of entrepreneurial activities, other supply businesses continue to open in order to supply these and similar businesses within the industry cluster.

 

 Metro Little Rock fully supports its aviation employers.  Programs and incentives have been developed to address the continuing needs of the industry, and Metro Little Rock has the sites, airports and labor necessary to support additional investment in the sector.

 

Universities, community colleges and other learning centers are expanding their aviation programs to educate and train skilled workers. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Cyber College is active in cooperating with aviation firms to develop engineers and engineering programs. The University of Central Arkansas provides a pre-engineering program.  Research and development in aircraft manufacturing abounds with a focus on product development. Major funding for underlying aerospace technologies is available from the Department of Defense and NASA.