|
The city of Monroe’s Economic Development staff received unprecedented recognition for its accomplishments in recruitment and retention efforts surrounding the aerospace industry, by being named one of the Top 5 communities in the United States for aerospace. Expansion Solutions magazine, a professional magazine focused on the industrial news, investment and job creation, announced the award winners in their October/November issue.
“This acknowledgment of our work to strengthen and grow our industrial base, especially those related to aerospace, is extremely gratifying,” said Chris Platé, director of Economic Development and Aviation. “This honor is a testament to the City, its leadership and employees, the citizens, and all our allies. This type of recognition only comes with the utilization of the entire community and the ‘Team’ of professionals we depend on daily.”
The growth in aerospace was not by happenstance, it began when Monroe Economic Development intensified their focus on aerospace in 2002. The industry already had significant roots in Monroe, so the challenge was to capitalize on the competitive advantage the community possessed. With similar types of companies, a productive workforce, available training and low costs of production, Monroe could demonstrate how aerospace firms could flourish.
“Shortly after 9-1-1, I knew the world would not stop flying, so after the fallout the surviving aerospace companies would need strong, competitive places to expand and grow in order to meet the international demand for flying,” Platé said. “That is why we began marketing and taking the story of Monroe to those leaders in aerospace.”
Since this initiative toward aerospace began, the City has nearly doubled its number of aerospace related firms and announced just under one-half billion dollars in new aerospace capital investment. To best put this in perspective, the N.C. Secretary of Commerce at the grand opening for Turbomeca Manufacturing said that Monroe has the highest geographic concentration of aerospace companies in North Carolina.
Moving forward, Monroe continues to focus on the recruit of aerospace. The technology, materials, and skill sets used by these firms will continue to be utilized by other industries as well. Specialty plastics and composites, super alloys, and machining with ultra-high tolerances will be sought out by companies in alternative and “green” energy production, automotive, machine building and medical applications…these will be Monroe’s future.
“While focusing on aerospace and other high-skilled clusters, we are positioning Monroe for another wave of industrial diversification in the next 20 years,” added Platé. “I believe there will always be a place for manufacturing in the United States. I want Monroe to be one of the centers of excellence for technologies and manufacturing that are hard to export or outsource to other countries. To accomplish this, the community must continually evaluate and put measures in place to remain competitive and insulated from drastic market fluctuations.”
Monroe currently is focused on several industrial clusters, including aerospace, automotive components, medical components, plastics, renewable energy production, and metal working.
For more information on Monroe Economic Development, call (704) 282-5780, or log on to www.developmonroe.com.
More information on the Top 5 Award of Excellences can be found at www.expansionsolutionsmagazine.com/2008_aerospace_awards
Back to News
|
