SPOKANE, Wash. – A significant economic development is on the horizon for Spokane, as U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray announced a $48 million grant for the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center (AAMMC).
The funding comes from the Tech Hubs Program, established by Senator Cantwell in 2022. The grant aims to position the Inland Northwest as a hub for composite materials used in next-generation aircraft.
Senator Cantwell emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, “If we do this right, and we pull this off, it will be a very important milestone in aviation history.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded the grant to establish an advanced aerospace manufacturing tech hub. The vision is to enhance manufacturing efficiency and meet the growing demand for aircraft.
“There was a lot to do in the next generation of the making manufacturing more effective at a higher rate of production,” Cantwell said. She highlighted the need for 40,000 aircraft, which current facilities cannot meet.
Cantwell also pointed out the potential for job growth, stating, “We want manufacturing to grow in the USA.” She added, “There are a lot of people who can go in from working class and leave a manufacturing job middle class.”
Mayor Lisa Brown expressed optimism about the investment’s impact on workforce development and business expansion. “I think for our regional economy this is one of the biggest things that has happened in the last decade,” she said.
Brown also addressed potential population growth, saying, “We want growth and new jobs but we don’t want to be a boom town, making sure we are expanding housing is an equation for success.”
The initiative will not only impact Washington but also extend benefits east of the state line. Gynii Gilliam, President and CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, expressed readiness for global recognition, stating, “I think that we are ready to be on the world stage.”
Gilliam added, “Our whole objective with the tech hub has always been to propel the US to be in the forefront of aerospace manufacturing.”
Senator Cantwell acknowledged the project’s complexity but expressed confidence in the region’s capabilities. “You’re betting on Spokane, they are going to deliver,” she said.
