Economic development leaders see a recent $7.45 million state grant as a major boost in positioning the Central Coast as a development hub for drone and advanced aerospace technologies.
The grant from the California Jobs First Council to the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, on behalf of the Monterey Bay Tech Hub, will go toward adding infrastructure and other facilities at airports in Marina, Salinas, Hollister and Watsonville. While these airports are already a hotspot for testing of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) and drones, they lack infrastructure that connects them together, according to MBEP. This grant aims to create the state’s first Federal Aviation Administration-compliant flight corridor network to increase testing opportunities and entice more companies to set up shop here.
“It’s an exciting time,” says Tahra Goraya, CEO and president of Monterey Bay Economic Partnership. “There’s a lot of movement globally and nationally around advanced air mobility.”
Companies operating in this realm in Monterey County include Joby Aviation, which has a major eVTOL manufacturing presence at the Marina Municipal Airport, and Archer Aviation, which tests its eVTOLs at the Salinas Municipal Airport.
Advanced air mobility is expected to be an $80 billion industry globally by 2034. Goraya says growing and utilizing this technology here is critical for the region’s long-term success, not only providing new ways to deliver goods to rural areas and respond to natural disasters, but also create good-paying jobs.
The $7.45 million grant was part of $80 million distributed to 11 projects throughout California from the Jobs First Council. Grant funds go toward industries that are expected to grow in the near future.
The grant to MBEP was one of two awarded under the Aerospace & Defense category.
(1) comment
Thanks for the coverage on the flyways for small aircraft which will enable linkages for this type of transportation. This will help the industry for sure, but when I read it, I could not help but wonder if those who are creating this are thinking of and have studied what effects their flyway may have on the flyway of our bird populations. Is this an issue that should be considered? These aircraft will fly much lower than major airplanes, so I am concerned about it and hope it is being addressed.
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