San Patricio County and the Corpus Christi TX MSA receive AEROready™️ designation.
Foster Edwards of the San Patricio EDC receives the certificate.
Click here to visit the San Patricio Economic Development Corporation website.
MRO Americas is the largest and most essential gathering of aviation professionals.
(April 2018) – Congratulations to Aerospace Alliance of East Kentucky in making a huge splash for AEROready™ regions at the MRO Americas Show in Orlando, Florida! The Aerospace Alliance of East Kentucky (AAEK) is a group of like-minded economic development organizations brought together with the express purpose of attracting 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™. With the opening of the eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, the skilled workforce of this region will continue to grow. 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.
(December 15, 2017) – EnerBlü is coming to East Kentucky and will be investing $412 million in the next several years. At plants in Pikeville and Lexington, the company will employ 975 people, making them one of the largest employers to locate in the region. The advanced battery manufacturer will be constructing the Pikeville plant and plans on being fully operational by 2019.
EnerBlü uses cutting edge technology to create batteries used by the military, aerospace, and transportation sectors. “EnerBlu’s announcement establishes East Kentucky as a prime destination for advanced manufacturing companies. Transportation and Aerospace related facilities can thrive here due to our over 10,000 available skilled workers, low-cost of business and ability to reach the majority of the U.S. manufacturing base within a day’s drive” said Chuck Sexton, President & CEO of One East Kentucky.
As advanced manufacturing companies, like EnerBlu, seek to consolidate overseas operations and expand within the United States, the availability of skilled workers becomes critical to operations. Sexton said, “Our greatest asset in East Kentucky is the 10,000 available skilled workers coming out of the mining industry and looking for good jobs. EnerBlu views this as a massive advantage for their new advanced manufacturing facility. They will not need to compete for workers here, but have a pool of labor from which to immediately select the absolute best for their company.”
The workers coming out of the mining industry have significant experience using technology, working with power, with CNC machining, in hydraulic and electrical systems. Additionally, the region has the largest number of available welders and engineers in the country. This creates an incredible opportunity for companies to locate operations in East Kentucky, hire highly-skilled employees, and be operational quickly. Companies looking to take advantage of market opportunities would do well to locate in the area.
The State of Kentucky supports businesses moving to or expanding in the area, offering various incentives and partnership opportunities to help companies succeed. The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Board approved $30 million in tax breaks for EnerBlu over the next 15 years. Additionally, the University of Pikeville is creating an engineering program with classes specific to the needs of the company. This will create a permanent pipeline of engineers for EnerBlu to hire from. The opportunity to have a university customize curriculum for a private company shows the true willingness of Kentuckians to do what it takes to support local businesses. This level of partnership is unprecedented and one of the many reasons EnerBlu chose to locate in the region.
EnerBlu’s announcement is significant for those currently living and working in Eastern Kentucky. These 975 jobs will be high-paying, with most people earning over $60,000 per year. Now, high-tech power storage batteries that were previously being made in China, will be manufactured in the great state of Kentucky by hard-working people ready to get to work.
“East Kentucky has landed yet another advanced manufacturing facility in EnerBlu, due in large part to our available skilled workforce. Their investment shows great confidence in the region’s ability to deliver labor, low cost of operations, and access to EnerBlu’s supply chain.” We invite you to join them in experiencing why East Kentucky is an ideal destination for advanced manufacturing companies.
To learn more about the region, available sites and incentives, contact Chuck Sexton, President & CEO of One East Kentucky, at 606-886-7333 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Click here to read the original article on LinkedIn.
SHREVEPORT, La. (October 16, 2017) – The City of Shreveport and surrounding communities were certified today as the first AEROready™ region in Louisiana. Mayor Ollie Tyler, City of Shreveport; Director Henry Thompson, Shreveport Airport Authority; President Scott Martinez, North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP); Eric Basinger, Economic Development Manager, Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO); and Tucson Roberts, President, Tucson Atlantic Consulting, highlighted why the Ark-La-Tex is ideally suited for aerospace companies during an announcement at the Shreveport Regional Airport.
“This is another great opportunity for us to attract new industry to our city and continue to grow our economy, “said Mayor Ollie Tyler, City of Shreveport.
A statistical data analysis of the Ark-La-Tex, a region within a 100-mile radius around Shreveport, identified both the labor force density as well as the skills and workforce necessary to support the aerospace industry. Additionally, the presence of three-FAA certified airframe and power plant mechanic training facilities at Southern University in Shreveport; LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas; and Southern Arkansas University Tech in Texarkana, Arkansas serve as major draws for aerospace-related assembly and test operations. Louisiana Tech University's Department of Professional Aviation also addresses the workforce needs of the aviation industry. Louisiana Tech conducts both ground and flight training year-round.
"It's unusual to find as many aviation assets located in and around a city the size of Shreveport,” said Tucson Roberts, President, Tucson Atlantic Consulting. “This should ensure that Shreveport can successfully compete for aerospace projects. The Ark-La-Tex region surrounding Shreveport offers excellent training, airports, support business and pro-business leadership to support aerospace. We are therefore pleased to certify the community as AEROready!"
A consulting team of Common Sense Economic Development and Tucson Atlantic Consulting surveyed and examined the Shreveport area, and its potential to target, recruit and support aerospace-related business and industry. Ten essential qualities in aerospace site location searches were evaluated, and many secondary aviation-support criteria were assessed to determine the potential for aerospace corporations to operate successfully in the region. The study further outlines a high-level recruitment strategy to attract aerospace companies to the region.
“The AEROready™ Certification is a great accomplishment and validates what we already know about our region,” said Henry Thompson, Director of Airports for the Shreveport Airport Authority. “Now, companies that are looking to locate in our area will know that we are ready for them. We have strong support for aviation and a good foundation for growing this industry in our area. But having all of the elements in place are not enough. We must now work with our regional partners with a clear and determined vision and the necessary plans to present our great region to prospective businesses, and to help them see all that we have to offer. By doing this, over time, we will attract even more of these good paying jobs to our community.”
One of the biggest assets that will help attract aerospace companies and jobs to the area is Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier. Military personnel exiting active military service annually supplement the workforce with valuable aviation skills and provide a ready-pool of trained personnel.
“This AEROready™ analysis demonstrates that the Shreveport-Bossier City region has the ingredients to compete with any area in the world for new aerospace investments," said Eric Basinger, Economic Development Manager, SWEPCO. "In particular, the region sets itself apart from others with its workforce. According to the analysis, Shreveport-Bossier City offers a strong level of aviation workforce training programs and value for those skills.”
Other competitive advantages also allow aviation and aerospace companies locating in Shreveport to compete successfully on a global scale: the nation’s lowest cost of doing business; a pro-business environment; a strategic position near Dallas-Fort Worth, a major aerospace cluster; ready sites and buildings at the Airport and nearby Port of Caddo-Bossier; and superior transportation logistics.
“Aerospace companies like Metro Aviation know firsthand why operating from Shreveport makes sense,” said NLEP President Scott Martinez, CEcD. “The rankings repeatedly validate that Shreveport is a great place to do business. We have all the necessary training programs and assets. The next step is to market our community to aerospace and aviation companies, that will create high-paying jobs.”
Click here to view the original press release on the North Louisiana Economic Development (NLEP) website.
About North Louisiana Economic Partnership
North Louisiana Economic Partnership, an Accredited Economic Development Organization, provides professional economic development services to the 14 parish region of North Louisiana, including lead generation and prospect management. The organization also represents the interests of North Louisiana with a unified voice and as a single point of contact. It acts as a catalyst, a convener, and a connector in the region to ensure that North Louisiana’s economic development potential is realized. Its vision is for North Louisiana to be a thriving region-a destination for high quality talent, innovative companies, and global investment.