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LAYTON — While Utah may be best known for its national parks, the "Greatest Snow of Earth" and a thriving tech community, it's also a bustling destination for aerospace and defense companies.
"Utah is hosting some of the most important military modernization and digitalization that is happening anywhere in the world," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said.
Cox on Friday joined aerospace and defense leaders in Layton for an industry event discussing what makes Utah such an attractive option for such companies, as well as what it means for the future of aerospace and defense in Utah.
What makes Utah unique in the aerospace and defense field? Beyond just being welcoming to these companies, the state is "willing to put our money where our mouth is," Cox said.
Considerable amounts of money, too.
"The state invested $21 million of taxpayer funds to build a software facility at Hill Air Force Base in 2018," Cox said, adding that the investment ensured that "critical" software support for the military is happening in the Beehive State.
Cox said his support for the aerospace and defense industry is highly beneficial for the state's economy and there are numbers to substantiate his assertion, as well.
According to the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah's defense sector contributed $19.3 billion to the state's GDP, 10.6% of the total GDP.
It's also a major employer, with the defense sector supporting over 200,000 jobs, or 10.3% of jobs in the state.
"Defense is one of the most important industries in the state and our continued investment into developing the right workforce and creating innovation around this industry are super important to ensure this industry remains an economic engine for generations to come," Cox said.
Being the youngest state in the nation with what Cox described as an "incredible" workforce is also a major draw for aerospace and defense companies looking for a place to call home.
"We know that defense and defense spending and investment is not a short-term thing," the governor said. "You're not looking to invest in a place for the next five years, you're looking to invest in a place for the next 50 years."
Additionally, Utah's investment in an inland port is another important piece to the puzzle, as is Utah's "long and proud" history of defense, notably with Hill Air Force Base and defense companies such as Northrop Grumman.
Speaking to the investment in aerospace and defense infrastructure in the state, Cox had strong praise.
"It's one of the best investments we've made as a state and the return to taxpayers has been significant," he said. "We are committed. I believe that Utah is ripe to become the leader across the nation when it comes to defense and aerospace."