SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane was designated a Tech Hub for aeronautical manufacturing in Oct. 2023. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo will visit the Lilac City to emphasize the Department of Commerce’s goals for tech development in eastern Washington.
The Department of Commerce says that Spokane’s proximity to Fairchild Air Force Base makes the federal government’s investment in aeronautical technology a matter of military preparedness.
“While there, [Castillo] and Tech Hubs Program Director Eric Smith will work with the Hub to strengthen their strategy to meet the immediate and future demands of defense and commercial aerospace markets, ultimately enabling more – and more sustainable – air travel while advancing a technology sector critical to U.S. national security,” a department statement said.
Gonzaga University President Thayne McCulloh anticipated the visit by looking forward to more potential funding for aviation education funding.
“Gonzaga University joins with our consortium partners in affirming our continued commitment to accelerating this important initiative to strengthen our region’s economy and advance our national security,” a university statement said.
The Tech Hubs Program was part of the CHIPS Act that President Biden signed into law in 2022. It earmarked $10 billion for tech hub programming over the next five years.
