FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2012

HEATH – The Central Ohio Aerospace & Technology Center has been called one of Ohio’s finest examples of a public-private partnership and the annual “D.C. Fly-In” stands out as a shining example of that. For the sixth year in a row, the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority will lead a contingent of public and private officials to Washington, D.C. to meet with key members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation. The day-long event is set for Wednesday, February 29.

A 10-person contingent is set to meet with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator Rob Portman, U.S. Representative Pat Tiberi, U.S. Representative Steve Stivers, and U.S. Representative Bob Gibbs in their respective Capitol Hill offices. The Port Authority is also hosting an Ohio Delegation Briefing expecting wider participation from Ohio’s Congressional offices.

The day-long visit is 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.

“In a year of looming Defense cuts and threats of government insourcing, the importance of keeping up our D.C. contacts is as elevated as ever,” said Port Authority President and CEO Rick Platt. “I consider this day preventative medicine of sorts. A better informed and better engaged Congressional delegation is critical to sustaining the jobs and economic impact at the Aerospace Center. I shudder to think what could have happened had we not been proactive doing this over the years.”

Officials from major employers at the Port Authority’s Aerospace Center campus—Boeing, Bionetics, and Goodrich—are attending along with local leaders, including City of Heath Mayor Mark Johns, Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb, and Licking County Engineer Bill Lozier. The Port Authority considers the fly-in “no frills” because the contingent flies coach and uses mass transit for ground travel.

For more information, visit http://hnlcpa.com/dcflyin. Also, look for Twitter updates that day with the hashtag #hnlcpa.