Why Aerospace?

aerospace


aerospace

Certified AEROready Region!AeroReady Region Letter

The eleven counties of the Aerospace Alliance of East Kentucky have been designated as an AEROready Region by two national consulting firms. Tucson Atlantic Consulting along with Common Sense Economic Development conducted an in-depth analysis of fourteen essential qualities in aerospace site location searches as well as many secondary aviation support criteria.  They determined our region can successfully support Aerospace/Aviation OEM and MRO industries.

KEY REASONS: 

  • 74 Skill Sets are required in the Aerospace Sector.  In the One East Kentucky Regional Labor Pool, 7,700 individuals possess one or more of those skill sets.
  • Morehead State University's aerospace programs and R&D were critical to receiving the certification. The university also holds contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense.
  • An FAA certified A&P training facility located at Somerset Community & Technical College.
  • Three regional airports with additional acreage for industry development and leadership highly interested in attracting OEM/MRO operations with two airports being adjacent to an existing industrial park.

 

Kentucky’s Top Export is Aerospace

The state of Kentucky is home to a booming Aerospace Cluster.

  • Kentucky has seen a 183% increase in aerospace products and parts manufacturing industry exports since 2012
  • Kentucky has 52 Aerospace related facilities that employ nearly 15,000 people
  • Multiple technical and degree programs exist throughout the state related to Aerospace skills

Aerospace Facilities in Kentucky

aerospace map

Aerospace Industry Near the East Kentucky Region

Aerospace Cluster

Why East Kentucky Makes Sense

The Aerospace Alliance of East Kentucky region is home to an impressive number of skilled workers whose education, experience and technical background would easily transition into the Aerospace Sector.

  • 6 times US average in Plant and Systems Operators
  • 4 times US average in Maintenance Workers, Machinery
  • 2 times US average in Welding, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers
  • 2 times US average in Metal Motor and Generator Manufacturing
  • 2 times US average in Crushing, Grinding and Polishing Machine Operators

Transportation Access

North – South:  U.S. Highway 23 provides 4-Lane access North and South throughout Eastern Kentucky.

East -West: The Mountain Parkway, Hal Rogers Parkway and U.S. Highway 119 provide 4-Lane access East and West throughout Eastern Kentucky.

Regional Roadmap

Rail Access

We have access to 2 Class I Railroads: CSX and Norfolk Southern.

rail access

csx rail map

Port Access

The Port of Huntington Tri-State is the largest inland port in the United States and is part of our region.  The port averages an annual cargo tonnage of over 60 million tons per year and is the 15th largest port of any kind, inland or deep water, in the U.S.A.

Port of Huntington Map

 

About the Aerospace Alliance 

The Aerospace Alliance of East Kentucky (AAEK) is a partnership of two like-minded economic development organizations, One East Kentucky and the Ashland Alliance, as well as the regional utility provider, Kentucky Power. The goal of this partnership is to recruit aerospace industry to East Kentucky. The region served by AAEK includes eleven counties and five industrial parks with more than 10,000 available, skilled workers due to a decline in the coal industry. The work of AAEK has led to this region being certified as AeroReady™. The goal of this organization is to recruit and locate prospective companies to this region while connecting them with low-cost labor, educational institutions, and meaningful incentives.

group