Ariz. must unify aerospace tactics
The aerospace and defense industry is a critical economic engine for Arizona. The state must unite efforts to cultivate it.
rizona’s aerospace and defense industry is the economic juggernaut we say we want: It generates $15 billion for the state each year and employs 150,000 skilled workers in jobs that pay roughly twice the state average.
Yet Arizona in recent decades has let its low taxes, open spaces and clear flying weather make the case for aerospace companies and the military to do business here. That’s no longer enough. Technology is changing how we fly and defend ourselves. Sequestration is wreaking havoc on defense contractors, and other states are aggressively competing for the industry’s major play-
EDITORIALS BY JOANNA ALLHANDS ers. What worked for Arizona in the past won’t necessarily work for the future. At least we recognize as much. State lawmakers have equipped manufacturers with a slew of incentives to help them train workers and buy expensive equipment, because they know we need the financial breaks to compete with other states.
Companies are working more closely with universities to conduct research and test new products, because they know innovation is key to their survival.
And multiple organizations are
| THE REPUBLIC working to mentor young workers and get kids excited about science-based careers, because they know that a skilled workforce is as important to companies as low taxes and good flying weather.
But, for all the work that Arizona has done, much of it has been piecemeal and duplicative. There are lots of similar partnerships, studies and pilot programs in the works, but nothing large or established enough to move the needle statewide. That needs to change. The Arizona Commerce Au- thority has secured a trio of federal grants to study new markets for growth, shore up smaller suppliers battered by sequestration and create a strategic plan to guide these efforts. It also has a program to help businesses increase exports and is leading the charge to win one of six federal unmanned-aircraft testing sites.
These are promising efforts, but they won’t do much without statewide buy-in. Companies, local business groups, universities and elected leaders can no longer afford to collaborate with the state’s economic-development agency on the surface and