Inland Northwest ‘ready’ for tech hub

COEUR d’ALENE — The U.S. has reportedly fallen behind Europe and Asia in a race to manufacture thermoplastic composites that will be needed for next-generation aircraft, but a proposed manufacturing center could propel the Inland Northwest to the forefront of aerospace manufacturing.

“Here in the Inland Northwest, we already play a critical role in the aerospace supply chain,” David Weeks, president of Spokane-based Lakeside Companies, told a crowd of about 200 on Thursday. “But we definitely need to improve our domestic capabilities and meet global demand. The idea of this hub is it will help accelerate capabilities while keeping manufacturing jobs here in this region.”

Weeks spoke as part of a panel discussion during the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corp.’s annual meeting Thursday at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Panelists described the potential impact of the proposed American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center, one of 31 tech hubs across the country that were announced last year by the Department of Commerce. The tech hub designation is “a strong endorsement of a region’s plan to supercharge a critical technology ecosystem and become a global leader over the next decade,” according to the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

“While the tech hub will be physically located in Spokane, it’ll have a regional impact,” said Gary Ballew, vice president of Economic Development for Greater Spokane Incorporated.

The center would combine applied education research, workforce training and advanced production, principally located in a 386,000-square-foot repurposed manufacturing facility near Spokane International Airport.

A partnership of organizations in Idaho and Washington put together the proposal for the hub. North Idaho member agencies include the cities of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, North Idaho College, the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber, the Coeur d’Alene Economic Development Corp. and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

John Sklut, senior adviser to Gonzaga University’s president and GU’s liaison for external and government relations, said the tech hub designation recognizes the existing infrastructure in the Inland Northwest.

“It allows us to continue to expand the capabilities that we already have,” he said.

Roughly 2% of existing commercial aircraft use thermoplastic composites, Weeks said. Within the next decade, 50% of aircraft will require such materials.

“There’s no choice but to embrace advanced composites,” Weeks said.

Aerospace companies estimate they will deliver more than 40,000 airplanes over the next 20 years, which has created “intense pressure” to deliver the needed materials.

“Right now, there’s a risk that manufacturing aerospace parts will either move to Europe and Asia or stay in Europe and Asia,” Weeks said.

Backers say the manufacturing center will provide opportunities to “upskill” the region’s workforce and create jobs for people who have college degrees, as well as those who don’t.

Now the consortium waits to learn if the Spokane-based center will receive up to $70 million in grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. But even if the center doesn’t receive grant funding, Weeks said, other options are available to support the project.

Just being named one of 31 tech hubs in the nation is a “badge of honor,” Weeks said, one that highlights the region’s strengths.

“We won a designation and that’s significant, because it’s not going away,” he said. “This region is ready for it.”

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Bill Buley contributed to this report.