CLEVELAND — “We are really good at making things here in Ohio,” says Team NEO’s Business Development Director, Keri Zipay. And that's the reason why, according to Team NEO, the aviation and aerospace industry has a bright future in our state.
A recent report by the economic development organization highlights the growth happening here.
“Anything from coatings and adhesives all the way up to the GE aerospace engines that are made down in the southern part of the state,” Zipay said. “We really encompass the majority of the components.”
Ohio is a top supplier globally to aviation giants Airbus and Boeing. Our region can supply up to 74% of the parts and services the industry requires.
“Commercial flights, aviation, you know, any sort of plane that you're thinking about flying around,” said Matt Saneda, a Research Associate for Team NEO. “We're talking about outside of the atmosphere in terms of spaceflight.”
That also includes NASA. For example, 57 Ohio companies contributed to the Artemis program, set to return humans to the moon.
“It's the attitude that Northeast Ohio has that innovative kind of grind it out attitude that you need for tough engineering problems,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free.
$7 billion of NASA’s budget is spent with small businesses, which provide solutions the agency needs, according to Jim Free.
“We need those small businesses,” Free said. “And frankly, much like our country, small businesses are the backbone of our country. They're also the backbone of our space program.”
That also includes private space companies.
“The commercial space industry is growing so rapidly. We’re a prime area to be able to support those initiatives,” Zipay said.
By 2030, Team NEO projects the aerospace and aviation industry will be a $3.8 billion contributor to Ohio's economy.
“Most of that is going to be through aerospace products and parts manufacturing, as well as navigational and other control equipment,” said Seneda.
“Really, not a week goes by that I don't encounter a company that's sold something to SpaceX or Blue Origin, and it all happens all around us here in Northeast Ohio,” Zipay added .
The report mentioned Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University for preparing students for the future workforce. Aerospace and Aviation manufacturing jobs command a higher salary on average than other industries.