Northwest Aerospace News October | November Issue No. 5 | Page 36

Background on clusters
Clusters are a well-known interna-
tional approach to getting industry
groups together to talk about issues
and how to grow and partner with
each other. These can be a basis for
economic and workforce development,
membership-based organizations, and
academic institutions, to name a few.
In some cases, industry producers (aka
manufacturing companies) may also
be involved.
There is a federal organization called
Cluster Mapping (http://www.cluster-
mapping.us) that is in support of clus-
ters by industry for the U.S. economy.
Economic developers, policy makers,
researchers and industry can use data
regarding clusters by region to deter-
mine how to build a cluster.
Jordan, along with several membership
organizations, has identified that if
they work more closely together in-
stead of competing, there may be more
commercial and defense opportunity
for all.
Cheryl Adams of Idaho Aerospace
Alliance (IDAA), who attended the
meeting, said that by meeting they are,
“Changing the mindsets of
members; instead of being
competitive, we are
collaborative.”
Cheryl Adams
Idaho Aerospace Alliance (IDAA)
Partnering ensures long-term benefit in Washington’s aerospace industry
The meeting took place during Nation-
al Aerospace Week, on September 11,
which was significant for attendees. John Powers with Kitsap Economic Development Alliance KADA, who reflected
on the difference between convening as a cluster as opposed to separate industry
meetings.
The tone in the room was welcoming
for the group of close to 40 partici-
pants. One of the projects shared by Aerospace Futures Alliance (AFA-WA) Kelly
Maloney, was that they are taking collaboration even further by partnering with
Aerospace South Carolina — another way to look at the clusters on a national
level. “Joining our voices together to make the industry better — sometimes you
have to do that on a national level,” she said.
“Convening is a different thing,” said
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