Washington Business Fall 2019 | Washington Business | Page 36

washington business
industry
direct
employment
(est.)
Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless
Communications Equipment Manufacturing (305)
Space X
securing washington’s space future
800
Propulsion Units and Parts for Space Vehicles
and Guided Missiles (361)
Blue Origin 1,100
Boeing Defense, Space & Security 500
Aerojet Rocketdyne 330
Stratolaunch Systems Corporation
25
Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (408)
Spaceflight Industries
150
Satellite Telecommunications (429)
RBC Signals, Inc.
Overall direct employment, core
activities in the space economy
government involvement and collaboration. The public-
private partnerships that put an astronaut on the moon in
1969 demonstrate what’s possible.
10
2,915
Sources: Hoovers, 2018; Washington State Space Consortium, 2018; BERK, 2018
Washington business and government leaders recently began
work to secure and grow the space sector. The Commerce
Department convened the Washington State Space Coalition
in 2014. WSSC merged with the Aerospace Futures Alliance
in 2018. The AFA and Commerce Department plan to release
a space strategy for Washington this year.
Washington’s tech and aerospace clusters have created
opportunities unique to the region. But, Brown says, “I think
that that intersection is necessary but not sufficient for us to
move forward here. We’ve still got to be intentional about it.”
Out of the BERK analysis, two key priorities have emerged:
Providing tax credits to support spacecraft and satellite
manufacturing, and improving the talent pipeline. Brown says
it’s not clear whether tax incentives will be on the short-term
agenda, but workforce issues will be.
“I believe … any workforce recommendations here will
align with things that are already part of the aerospace
strategy,” she says. “Talent and workforce is the number one
thing we’re hearing from the companies we meet with. I am
anticipating workforce recommendations making it into this
legislative session.”
“We are becoming a space-faring civilization.
That is the future.”
—Kelly Maloney, former CEO, Aerospace Futures Alliance
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