Aerospace Industry
At the Center of Washington's Aerospace Industry
Grant County has an aerospace history dating back to the late 1930's - early 1940's when Ephrata Army Air Base (now the Ephrata Municipal Airport) and the Larson Air Force Base (now Grant County International Airport) were established.
These two airfields are only 10 miles apart and cover a combined total of over 9,000 acres with ideal sites for aerospace related industrial development.
Boeing, the world's leading aerospace developer and producer, along with many other flight test companies, utilize the Grant County International Airport for ongoing tests and training. Other aerospace companies that call the area home include Aviation Technical Services, Sonico, and Aerotek.
Grant County boasts two large airfields that enjoy over 340 days of visual flight rules weather. These airports have hundreds of acres of industrial land and thousands of square feet of existing space that is ready for aerospace development.
Aerospace Assets
Port of Moses Lake Grant County International Airport is capable of accepting the largest aircraft in the world. Visit Website
Onsite FAA control tower
ASPI Air Park Located at the Port of Moses Lake Grant County International Airport. View Site Flyer Here
Environment site assessment completed
Port of Ephrata Municipal Airport with adjoining industrial park. Visit website.
Rail access to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe main line
Pilot services are available on site
Logistics
Road
Interstate 90 links Grant County to Seattle on the West and to Chicago and Boston on the east. U.S. Highway 2 is the other major east/west transportation route and State Highway 17 is the main north/south transportation route.
Rail
Both Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and the Columbia Basin Railroad (CBRC) provide rail to Grant County.
Trucking
Grant County is serviced by 5 common carriers. 4 of the carriers have local terminals and 1 carrier offers inter-modal services.
Local Aerospace Companies
- AeroTEC - Flight testing and certification
- Aviation Technical Services - Maintenance repair and operations
- Boeing - Flight testing
- Columbia Pacific - Fixed base operator
- GREENPOINT Technologies - Business Jet Completion Center
- Million Air - Fixed base operator
- Soncio - Flight line maintenance
- United States Military - Flight testing and training
Workforce Training
With a location right on the ramp, Big Bend Community College has been training pilots and mechanics for decades. Degrees are offered in:
- Aviation Maintenance Technology
- FAA Mechanic Certification in Airframe Maintenance
- FAA Mechanic Certification in Power Plant Maintenance
- Big Bend Community College's Aviation Page
- FAA Private Pilot Certificate
- FAA Instrument Pilot Certificate
Aerospace Incentives
These incentives are available to Manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes or component parts of commercial airplanes, non-manufacturers engaged in the business of aerospace product development, certificated FAR repair stations making retail sales, and aerospace tooling manufacturers.
- A 40% reduction in the State Business & Occupation tax (Taxing rate decreases from a rate of $4,840 per $1 million to $2,904 per $1 million)
- An exemption of the 7.9% sales and use tax when purchasing computer hardware
- A State Business and Occupation tax credit equal to the property tax paid on new buildings, the land upon which buildings are located, and the increased value of renovated buildings.
- A State Business & Occupation tax credit equal to 1.5% of qualified pre-production development expenditures used in manufacturing commercial airplanes or component parts of commercial airplanes