Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority: 2012 DC Fly-In

2012 DC Fly-In
A public-private delegation from the Aerospace Center flew to Washington D.C. on February 29 to brief Ohio's Congressional delegation on initiatives at the Central Ohio Aerospace & Technology Center and our future plans.

Background Info
  2012 Facebook Photo Album
  Economic Impact Fact Sheet
  News Release
  2011 D.C. Fly-In
  News: WNKO Radio

February 29, 2012

A delegation representing the public-private partnership that epitomizes the Central Ohio Aerospace & Technology Center flew, for the day, to Washington D.C. to meet with key members and staff of Ohio's Congressional Delegation.

With the defense industry uncertainty, the day served as a valuable reminder of the importance and impact of the Aerospace Center.

The contingent met with four members of Congress and staff for eight others. The contingent met with U.S. Senator Rob Portman at his constituent coffee. On the House side, meetings were held with Congressmen Pat Tiberi, Bob Gibbs, and Steve Stivers as well as with staff for Speaker John Boehner. A lunch reception, the Ohio Delegation Briefing, broadened outreach to more of Ohio's delegation.

Public officials--Mayor Mark Johns, Commissioner Tim Bubb, and County Engineer Bill Lozier--also visited with the White House's local government liaison office and officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce in separate meetings during the day.

The Aerospace Center's largest customers include Boeing, Bionetics, Goodrich, and the U.S. Air Force. The defense-related workloads at the Center are crucial to national defense.

The participants from Licking County included:

Charles Dutch, Boeing

Mike Cadenhead, Bionetics

Al Bonacci, Goodrich

Hon. Tim Bubb, Licking Co. Commissioner

Hon. Bill Lozier, Licking Co. Engineer

Hon. Mark Johns, Mayor, City of Heath

Joy Padgett, COTC

Bart Weiler, Port Authority Board

Bill Wright, Port Authority

Rick Platt, Port Authority

This marked the sixth year of a Port Authority-led fly-in. The day was organized by the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority as part of its caucus-building strategy aimed at increasing knowledge among federal, state, and local officials about the value and impact of the Aerospace Center. No tax dollars were be used to cover the costs associated with the visit and no federal lobbyists were involved in any aspect of the visit. The 18-hour day was a "no frills" event. Participants flew coach and rode mass transit.