Brookings Institution Report Addresses Colorado Space Industry

The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program has issued a report Launch! Taking Colorado’s Space Economy to the Next Level. The report reflects six months of analysis by the Brookings Institution, in consultation with Colorado stakeholders orchestrated by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and takes a look at Colorado’s space industry and new strategies for advancing it. 

The Colorado congressional delegation welcomed the report and pledged to work in Washington to ensure the state’s aerospace industry remains strong and growing. The delegation also announced that it will host regular conferences calls and meetings to improve communication and ensure that Washington and Colorado are working together.

The delegation issued this statement: “Colorado’s aerospace industry is an important part of our 21st century, innovation-based economy. This report underlines that industry, state and federal leaders should better coordinate to more effectively and forcefully advocate for our aerospace economy. This report also shows why we must redouble our efforts to ensure that Colorado remains a leader in aerospace and a welcoming environment for high-tech job-creators. We are dedicated to continuing to work in a collaborative, multifaceted manner that will keep Colorado at the forefront of development on this new and exciting frontier.”

The report shows that the aerospace industry employs more than 66,000 workers across the military, civil and private sectors and contributed $8.7 billion to the Colorado economy in 2011 – roughly 3.8 percent of the state’s private-sector gross domestic product. The report also highlights challenges the aerospace industry will face, including an aging workforce.

Read an executive summary of the report here. Read the full report here.