WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to the Aerospace States Association (ASA), U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) urged the group to consider Ohio as host for an international event to bring more investment and jobs to the U.S. Brown pointed to Ohio’s strong aerospace and aviation legacy, and the presence of critical industry organizations, supplier companies and research institutions – all of which would make Ohio an ideal host. 

“Ohio isn’t just the birthplace of aviation, it’s the industry’s home,” Brown said. “Our state is a leader in research and development, manufacturing, and innovation – and companies from around the world have facilities located here. Ohio’s research institutions and public-private partnerships have helped foster the growth of the aerospace industry and make our state the natural choice to host this exposition.”  

ASA is partnering with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to host a foreign direct investment (FDI) exposition in the U.S. The goal of this event is to expand aviation and aerospace manufacturing to create good, high-paying jobs concentrated in a specific state or region. Working with American embassies around the world, DOC would target foreign industry, investors, and banks to attend the event while ASA is charged with identifying a state to host the exposition and facilitate in-state recruitment of companies and other institutions.

Brown’s letter pointed to Ohio’s unique legacy and the expertise the state offers. Ohio businesses – like GE Aviation, Boeing, Parker Hannifin, NetJets, United Technologies, Meggitt Aircraft and Braking, Eaton, Alcoa, and PCC Airfoils – employ more than 100,000 workers in aerospace and aviation, and Ohio is the number one supplier state to both Boeing and Airbus.

Additionally, more than $9 million in aerospace research, development, and testing is invested each year at Ohio’s universities and institutions like NASA Glenn Research Center and Wright Patterson Air Force Base.  Ohio is also home to a diverse group of industry organizations, including Ohio Aerospace Institute, the Edison Welding Institute, the National Composite Center, and six Edison Technology Centers that help businesses improve their R&D, commercialization, training, and procurement efforts throughout the world.    

Beginning in 2009, Brown’s office has hosted four procurement conferences – in Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton – with Airbus Americas to connect more than 800 Ohio businesses and participants with opportunities to break into the Airbus supply chain.

Full text of the letter – sent last week – is below.

                                                            October 15, 2014

Charles Huettner

Executive Director

The Aerospace States Association

107 S. West Street Suite 510

Alexandria, VA 22314

Dear Mr. Huettner: 

Thank you for speaking with my office about the upcoming Foreign Direct Investment initiative (FDI), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce.  I appreciate your willingness to help coordinate an event.  As my staff mentioned, Ohio is a natural host for this event, and I ask that you work closely with the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) in their efforts to arrange the exposition in our state.

Ohio, the “birthplace of aviation,” is a global leader in aerospace and aviation.  The state employs more than 100,000 workers in aerospace and aviation, and is the number one supplier state to both Boeing and Airbus.  With critical industry resources like Ohio’s world class universities, NASA Glenn Research Center, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base, our state is home to some of the most cutting-edge technology, testing, and R&D.  More than $9 billion is invested in Ohio for aerospace R&D and testing each year.  

Additionally, Ohio is home to critical industry organizations like the Ohio Aerospace Institute, the Edison Welding Institute, the National Composite Center, and six Edison Technology Centers.  These highly reputable organizations help businesses improve their R&D, commercialization, training, and procurement efforts throughout the world.  It is no wonder that companies like GE Aviation, Boeing, Parker Hannifin, NetJets, United Technologies, Meggitt Aircraft and Braking, Eaton, Alcoa, and PCC Airfoils are proud to have a significant presence in Ohio.     

Over the years, I have been proud to host four separate procurement conferences with Airbus Americas.  As a result of these efforts in Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton, hundreds of Ohio businesses were connected with new opportunities to increase sales and create jobs.  I am confident that an FDI exposition in Ohio would build on these initiatives and create new opportunities to expand our nation’s aerospace sector.      

If the Aerospace States Association chooses Ohio, it will not be disappointed.  Our state has a variety of assets that could help make the unprecedented effort a tremendous success.  Please give serious consideration to the proposal submitted by OAI.  Thank you for your attention to this request. 

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown

United States Senator