Aerospace Cluster

The major components of the aerospace cluster includes aircraft manufacturing, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing, and a few related components of instruments. This cluster vastly exceeds the average U.S. employment concentration ratio and the cluster is represented in a number of highly concentrated areas in the region.

2010 Action Items

Action Initiative	Action Initiative Area	Organization
Extend aerospace tax incentives to repair stations and unmanned aerial vehicles.	Aerospace	Governor Gregoire / Washington State Legislature
Secure the Air Force tanker contract.	Aerospace & Military	U.S. Tanker 2010 / Washington Aerospace Partnership

What’s New: What’s New: U.S. Tanker 2010 Coalition
On February 22, Governor Christine Gregoire led a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC announcing the creation of the US Tanker 2010 Coalition, a national bi-partisan effort lead by 12 governors who support awarding the US Air Force Refueling Tanker to Boeing. Securing the tanker for Boeing is a once in a generation opportunity to create jobs for our region, and greater security for our country. To learn more about the coalition, visit their website or read the white paper.

Aerospace Futures Alliance of Washington
An important outgrowth of the Prosperity Partnership’s work in the aerospace cluster has been the creation of the first-ever state wide aerospace association, the Aerospace Futures Alliance of Washington. This organization provides networking and advocacy for the hundreds of aerospace companies and suppliers in our state, and helps to support the sustainable growth and development of this vital cluster in our region. For more information, visit www.afa-wa.com.

Cluster Strategy Development Background
In 2005, to target its work in supporting the aerospace cluster, the Prosperity Partnership formed an Aerospace Cluster Strategy Development Working Group tasked with identifying specific action initiatives to be implemented by 2010. A special thanks goes to the co-chairs of that working group:

   Rosemary Brester, President
   Hobart Machined Products
   www.hobartmachined.com

   John Quinlivan, VP and General Manager of 747, 767, 777 and 787
   Boeing (retired Mar 2005)
   www.boeing.com

The full Aerospace industry cluster strategy can be found starting on page 33 of the Prosperity Partnership's Regional Economic Strategy.

Contact
For more information, contact Sherry Ambrose, 206-971-3051.