Navigating the air frontier

By BRIAN WALKER

Hagadone News Network

COEUR d'ALENE — When it comes to finding North Idaho industries to restore what was lost with the mining and timber industries, things are looking up, Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little said.

Up — as in the aerospace industry.

"What are we doing about (the decline of the backbone industries)?" Little asked attendees of Wednesday's I-90 Corridor Aerospace Expo Spring Conference at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

"Well, you're what we're doing about it."

Little said groups and businesses from three states networking at the conference is an indication of an industry that has taken off and is encouraging.

"It's about creating a critical mass for the aerospace industry," he said. "We do have a pathway going forward. I like where we are."

Gynii Gilliam, president of the Coeur d'Alene economic development agency Jobs Plus, called aerospace one of the Northwest's "emergent industries."

She said some suppliers are interested in moving to North Idaho, but much of the activity in the industry is with the expansion of existing businesses.

"There's a lot opportunities for growth," she said.

Gilliam said collaboration at the conference between education and industry is key to job creation.

"If schools are providing the workforce, then companies can bid on projects and that translates into more jobs," she said.

Little said when he toured Sandpoint aerospace supplier Cygnus several years ago he learned the company was in need of operators and programmers on its CNC (computer numerical control) machines.

Tools that can be controlled with the CNC process include lathes, routers, grinders and mills.

Little didn't even know what a CNC machine was at the time, but he saw a skilled workforce need that was arising.

"We know there's a need for professional-technical education," he said.

While Idaho has been lauded for recent job creation, there's still work to be done, Little said.

"You can't rest on your laurels," he said.

He said Idaho has a lot going for it in the aerospace industry, including proximity to Seattle, which is a huge market. Quality of life for employees and aerospace programs in high schools and colleges are other advantages.

A component that has been needed with K-12 education — and is now on the way — is that the Legislature allocated $5 million to improve career counseling. The funding was approved to help school districts implement advising models that best fit their needs. Such advising, proponents say, is key to increasing the number of Idaho high school graduates who pursue a postsecondary education.

Little said that and other recent K-12 education funding increases were necessary on the business side.

"You can't have a quality workforce you need if kids are not reading at grade level," he said.

Tim Komberec, president and CEO of Empire Airlines in Coeur d'Alene, asked Little what assurances he could give that the school counseling funds would continue in future years.

"I can't guarantee anything other than the first $5 million going into it," Little told Komberec. "But, if you get the right results and build successful programs, they tend to be self-perpetuated. If local businesses get people out of high school with skills, I think a constituency will be built. It's the right thing for us to jumpstart it."

Little said Idaho also needs a statewide manufacturers association similar to what the wood products and agriculture industries have.

"Collectively we need to agree on what the basic needs are in the workforce, then advocate for them," he said.

Little said Idaho doesn't have the advantage of some markets being near international airports and highway maintenance remains a major hurdle. Therefore, it must make up ground in other areas.

"We have to overcome all of that by being a place where people want to do business, seamless from the cities to the counties to the state," he said.