A public-private study group, convened to help the aerospace and defense business, has outlined new steps to help grow a key industry sector struggling in the Top of Utah.
The Utah Cluster Acceleration Partnership Strategy, released today, culminates more than six months of meetings by Utah's academic, economic development and military providers. It was convened by Weber State University.
"The aerospace industry has been under fire lately with announcements about budget cuts at NASA and other major players in this industry," wrote WSU President Ann Millner, in releasing the strategy.
"These cuts directly affect Utah-based companies like ATK and these cluster initiatives are our response to these cuts," she said.
The partnership said it will help all of higher education consider the retooling of classes and degrees to better meet the needs of the industry. Another step is encouraging high-level research that funnels into Utah business development.
"The issue is, how do we think differently, how do we become leaders in a community and play a key role in economic development the community," said William Sederburg, Utah commissioner of higher education.
Another part of the strategy is to continue gathering representatives of the industry to better coordinate ways they can jointly grow the business in the state.
The group estimates Utah's aerospace and defense industry accounts for more than $5.4 billion annually to the state's economy and employs more than 42,000 Utah residents.
The partnership includes the Utah System of Higher Education, the Department of Workforce Services, the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Grow Utah Ventures.
An additional effort would include highlighting and promoting core competencies in Utah -- the parts of the industry growing and ripe for development, said Gary Harter, of GOED.
For example, Hill Air Force Base, the state's largest single-site employer, is expected to increasingly be a home to servicing complex aircraft systems.
"We are emerging as the major location with the critical work force skills to maintain, repair and test these vital aircraft systems." wrote Mark Johnson, Ogden Air Logistics Center executive director.
Three state-sponsored pilot acceleration strategies currently under way are Aerospace and Defense, Energy and Digital Media.
Comments