Northwest Aerospace News April | May Issue No. 2

F or decades, the Inland Northwest has dedicated itself to being respon- sive to aerospace need and demand. In recent years, however, organizations like the Inland Northwest Aerospace Consortium (INWAC) and Idaho Aerospace Alliance (IAA), have joined forces with the Spokane International Airport, Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI), and Coeur d’Alene Economic Development Council (CdAEDC) in a “new era of cooperation and proactive promotion to boost the economic posi- tion of the region,” says Mark Norton, INWAC’s chairman of the board. “It began with an opportu- nity to join forces in creat- ing a regional presence at a national trade show,” said Norton, and that led to more collaboration. After the first few, the separate organizations’ leadership decided to make it official and the I-90 Aerospace Corridor was established. Having a strong collaborative foun- dation built on its proximity to Puget Sound and Boeing’s final assembly, the I-90 Aerospace Corridor focuses on its supply-chain strengths. “Through the Corridor, manufacturers are working together with economic development entities to participate in trade shows, jointly promoting the current capa- bilities and potential for new busi- ness along the corridor,” stated Staci Nelson, INWAC’s executive coordi- nator. “Attendance at events like the NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas in October of 2017, one of the largest trade shows in the country, gave us the opportunity to showcase companies in our region — while touting the benefits of doing business here — to a national aviation industry audience,” Nelson explained. This original formal pre- sentation quickly gained momentum. Now the third annual aerospace conference and expo hosted by INWAC and IDAA will be rebrand- ed under the new name and logo, I-90 Aerospace Corridor Conference & Expo, for the March, 2018 event along with relocating to the Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane. Boasting an integrated network of companies and or- ganizations actively engaged in the aerospace industry, the Corridor is one the country’s most progressive integrated consortiums of aerospace manufacturers providing production, aircraft interiors and aero structures, in ad- dition to MRO service providers such as coating, painting, plating and anodizing companies. What began as far back as 2005 with key players from Spokane and Coeur d’Alene discussing strategies has now grown to an impressive 500-mile stretch along I-90 from Bozeman, Montana to Moses Lake, Washington. APRIL | MAY 2018 ISSUE NO. 2 35

Northwest Aerospace News April | May Issue No. 2 | Page 35